This position is in the Safety, Health, and Environmental Management (SHEM) section of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), and serves as an Environmental Technician responsible for ensuring maintenance of and compliance with all Federal, State, Local, Departmental, and Agency environmental laws, regulations and standards.

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: Works as part of a team to ensure NBAF compliance with environmental issues directly affecting regulatory compliance, the health and safety of personnel, and well-being of the surrounding community. Communicates to Supervisory Environmental Protection Specialist on potential issues and concerns associated with ensuring and maintaining environmental compliance. Maintains and displays professional work ethic when developing, maintaining, and implementing programs for environmental compliance. Effectively communicates issues associated with environmental maintenance and compliance to NBAF personnel and other government agencies. Implements program action items in support of NBAF environmental management efforts detailed in Executive Order 13834. Utilizes databases, spreadsheets and organizational systems as needed to track workflow and project process. Provides training in areas of expertise to NBAF personnel or others as assigned. Assists NBAF staff in the reporting of environmental incidents in a timely manner according to ARS, APHIS or Departmental reporting requirements, whenever necessary.

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.
• 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/
• Successful completion of one-year trial period.
• Testing Designated Position: Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
• Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
• Work is mainly completed in an office setting, laboratories, and field locations. However, duties such as satellite accumulation point inspections, spill response, and hazardous waste removal operations will be conducted outside of the office.
• Occasionally, there may be exposure to the risks and hazards of work environments and conditions requiring special safety precautions and protective clothing.
• The work requires some agility, dexterity, and personal strength to move moderately heavy (up to 50 pounds) objects and climb ladders to respond and reach areas of interest.
• The work involves risk of exposure to contagious diseases of livestock and birds, to toxicants, and to unmanageable and highly distressed animals that may be health and/or safety hazards to humans and/or other animals.
• Some of diseases may be exotic to the United States, and some work in a pressurized or non-pressurized protective suit, mask or respirator, biological safety cabinet, chemical fume hood and high security laboratories is required.
• May be expected to enter the biocontainment facility on a regular basis.
• Due to the contagious nature to livestock of diseases under study at NBAF, Biological Safety Regulations specify a personal quarantine for employees working in BSL-3, 3 enhanced, 3 Ag and 4 biocontainment.
• Skill and ability with defensive driving techniques are required in order to prevent accidents which could result in bodily injury and/or damage to equipment and supplies and for anyone driving government vehicles.
• Periodically, the workload may require overtime.
• For information regarding the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, KS visit the website: https://www.usda.gov/nbaf (must copy and paste to browser)
• Criminal Justice Information Services database check required for work involving Biological Select Agents and Toxins.

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. FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level) that demonstrates: Writing detailed documents to support a program. Learning new concepts to improve their professional skillset. Working diverse groups of people, units, or programs. OR One year of full-time graduate education in an accredited college or university. OR Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND 1) have a class standing in the upper third of the graduating class, 2) membership in a national scholastic honor society (excluding Freshman honor societies), or 3) must meet certain GPA requirements. GPA requirements: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on official transcripts or as computed based on 4 years of education, or courses completed during the final 2 year of the curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required course completed in the major field or courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum (GPA will be rounded to one decimal place, e.g., 2.95 rounds to 3.0 and 2.94 rounds to 2.9). Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. You are qualifying for this position based on Superior Academic Achievement. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-07 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]