Incumbent will serve in the Emergency and Regulatory Compliance Services (ERCS), Division on Agricultural Select Agents and Toxins (DASAT) and implements the provisions of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002.

Duties

The duties may include, but are not limited to: Responsible for the inspection and oversight of an established number of registered entities which possess, use, or transfer select agents to ensure compliance with the Agriculture Bioterrorism Act. Review biosafety and biosecurity protocols, security, infrastructure, incident response procedures and protocols. Inspect registered spaces and interviewing principal investigators and laboratorians. Schedule, organize, and conduct entity inspections to determine compliance with applicable biosafety/biosecurity, security, incident response, and reporting requirements of agent regulations. Provide a written report along with all applicable checklists and documentation as needed with recommendations on all inspection findings. Communicate with entity officials to explain select agent requirements and provide applicable guidance. Provide expertise on the uniform and accurate application of national standards for biosafety and biosecurity for research with plant pathogen select agents. Prepare and present technical and general informational talks, training presentations and written guidance on the select agent program. Interpret policy and regulatory requirements, determining their impact on program needs.

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/
• 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.
• The work is performed in offices, laboratories, cold storage areas, animal containment areas (rooms with caged animals or primary containment rooms), greenhouses, walk-in growth chambers, and basement and roof spaces of entities.
• There is potential for exposure to causative agents of contagious diseases or to gases and fumes.
• This position is subject to unscheduled overnight details of undetermined lengths in the event of agricultural emergencies or other conditions requiring immediate response, as required by the agency.

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: plant pathology; or a related scientific discipline that included at least 20 semester hours in basic botany or plant science, and 10 semester hours in plant pathology. Graduate Education: must have been in plant pathology, or in one of the recognized subject-matter fields of plant pathology, or have followed a curriculum or pattern of training that placed major emphasis on plant pathology or one of the recognized subject-matter fields of plant pathology, such as those dealing with particular types of pathogens, diseases of particular kinds of crops, or chemical or biological controls. Graduate study in related fields such as microbiology, entomology, plant physiology, genetics, agronomy, horticulture, forestry, or chemistry may also be qualifying, provided it placed a sufficient amount of emphasis on plant pathology. Evaluation of Education: courses in botany, plant physiology, plant taxonomy, plant pathology, agronomy, forestry, horticulture, or similar subjects may be used to meet the 20-semester-hour requirement in basic botany or plant science. To meet the specific 10-semester-hour requirement in plant pathology, the courses must have been in plant pathology, or have dealt with specific subject matter areas of plant pathology such as those concerned with viruses, fungal or bacterial diseases, host-plant relationships, biotic or chemical controls, environmental or physiological diseases, parasitic diseases, etc. In addition to the basic requirement applicants must also possess: FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Experience working with the principles and concepts of applied biology (plant pathology, microbiology, virology, nematology, mycology, bacteriology, soil science, entomology, pest and disease containment, etc.) in order to inspect laboratories with various work objectives. Experience using the principles and concepts of applied biology to determine the agricultural, environmental, and economic consequences of compliance infractions related to regulations. Experience communicating effectively (orally and written) in order to defend controversial or unpopular decisions, promote Agency policies, develop effective working relationships and communicate sensitive and highly technical information. Experience working in a biological laboratory, growth chamber and/or greenhouse. Experience using automated resources to search databases, develop documents and reports, conduct Web-based searchers, and conduct analytical work. Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required: This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. 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: MRP Human Resources
• Phone: 612-336-3227
• Email: [email protected]