Plays a major role in coordinating, articulating, and recommending regulatory and operational policies and decisions for importation of plants for consumption, plant products, and plants for planting for PPQ. Work activities range from pest risk management, offshore programs, accreditation, systems approaches, agricultural quarantine inspection. Applies scientific and regulatory knowledge to analyze, recommend, and implement practical and effective strategies to reduce pest risk.

Duties

The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity. The duties may include, but are not limited to: Determining the level and type of risk mitigation needed to achieve the appropriate level of protection on plants and plant product imports, including further restriction or prohibition on imports. Develops effective risk management options and strategies to help gain or retain market access for U.S. plant products for propagation or consumption where a pest (plant pathogens, weeds or insect pests) is a barrier to trade. Works closely with team members from various units and programs to evaluate and recommend effective pest risk mitigation measures hat is operationally feasible and meets mission of the agency. Provides expert opinion and advice on the integration of techniques for sampling, inspection, and other risk mitigations for imported agricultural commodities. Coordinates, writes and reviews Agency reports, especially risk management documents, and regulatory work plans relating to risk management. Represents USDA in international fora. Serves as a technical consultant in developing international standards relating to pest risk management. Makes day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities, obtaining assistance from the supervisor on problems that may arise, such as backlogs which cannot be managed promptly. Maintains a current knowledge and answers questions of other employees on procedures, policies, and directives, and obtains needed information or decisions from supervisor on problems that may come up. Ensures that the Agency's strategic plan, mission, vision and values are integrated into the strategies, goals, objectives, work plans and work products and services.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
• Periodic field visits and frequent travel (domestic and foreign) may be involved.
• You may be expected to travel with little advance notice, to assist with plant pest matters.
• The work is normally sedentary but may require travel and visits to field sites or agricultural production settings that may require mobility or adaptability to harsh conditions.
• Work is frequently conducted in demanding, urgent, and high-profile circumstances requiring the employee to exercise skills in stress management and diplomacy.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. BASIC REQUIREMENT: Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, plant pathology, entomology or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. FOR THE GS-13 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Experience with import market access requests and the regulatory process for imported fruit and vegetable commodities or plants for planting commodities using risk-based measures. Experience reviewing and/or drafting pest risk assessments (PRA), regulatory workplans (RWPs), Commodity Import Evaluation Documents (CIEDs), Treatment Evaluation Documents (TEDs), or Federal Orders (FOs). Experience in using job aids and risk-based decision trees. Experience with the use of manuals. Examples include, but not limited to, Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements (ACIR) database, Fruits and Vegetables Import Requirements (FAVIR) database, Miscellaneous and Processed Products Manual (MPPM), Plants for Planting Manual. and Cut Flowers and Greenery Manual. Experience in the use of Salesforce or similar type of information technology system. Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-13 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Contacts

• Address Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service USDA APHIS MRPBS 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55401 US
• Name: APHIS Human Resources
• Phone: 612-336-3227
• Email: [email protected]