You will serve as Section Leader within Veterinary Services, Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB), Policy, Evaluation, and Licensing (PEL) for one of the two testing and review sections and will be responsible for supervision of employees and coordinating the activities within the section. Your work will help to protect the health of animal populations, the biologics and livestock industries, disease eradication programs, and national and world supply of animal foods and products.

Duties

The duties may include, but are not limited to: Supervising subordinates more than 25% of the time including, but not limited to, recruitment, selecting, appraising, rewarding, addressing performance problems, and fostering an inclusive workplace. Participates with the Director of Policy, Evaluation, and Licensing in the determination of needs and ways to accomplish short- and long-range goals and objectives of the CVB. Participates with Director of Policy, Evaluation, and Licensing in the determination of needs and ways to accomplish short- and long-range goals and objectives of the CVB. Plans, organizes, and participates in the execution of national programs to establish adequate testing standards to assay all veterinary biologics. Develop methods to evaluate various biological products to prevent the marketing of worthless, contaminated, dangerous, or harmful products. Interprets, designs, and implements quality assurance standards to assure that laboratory testing meets world recognized standards. Cooperates with CVB Inspection and Compliance (IC) personnel for the purpose of assuring that the biologics program is being effectively administered. Participates with other scientists within CVB and National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in maintaining a comprehensive laboratory program in a shared facility. Reviews proposed regulations and policies for currency, applicability, and conformance with the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and other applicable government regulations.

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.
• Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• 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 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.
• Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
• In accordance with Office of Government Ethics regulations concerning conflict of interest, the incumbent will be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of their effective date of appointment and annually thereafter.
• Work is primarily sedentary in an office and will require occasional travel to biological production facilities and laboratories which require special safety precautions including protective clothing.
• Must maintain precautionary immunizations, if appropriate, against certain pathogens or to avoid any area where work is being done with such materials.
• May occasionally be required to handle large and small animals in laboratory and field conditions.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. BASIC REQUIREMENT for Supervisory Microbiologist (403): Degree: microbiology; or biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included at least 20 semester hours in microbiology and other subjects related to the study of microorganisms, and 20 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences combining course work in organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics, and college algebra, or their equivalent. or Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in microbiology, biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included courses as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. BASIC REQUIREMENT for Veterinary Medical Officer (701): All applicants to 0701 series must meet the Basic Requirement outlined in the Education section below. 0403/0701 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE FOR THE GS-14 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-13 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: GS-14 Specializing as a Veterinary Medical Officer or Microbiologist in the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act and biologics laws, rules, regulations, and Agency policies and procedures, the pursuant regulations (9 CFR 101 through 117), and/or the National Environmental Policy Act Preparing decision memoranda and engaging in discussions with internal staff as well as national and international Agency and commercial entities to coordinate and collaborate on vaccine and diagnostic kit (conventional and biotech) licensure processes, explain agency requirements as related to licensure or importation of new or modified commercial products, and effectuate program policies to meet common goals and objectives. Evaluating vaccines and diagnostic kits (conventional and biotech) involving the protection and diagnosis of animals against diseases to protect the nation's livestock resources and potential impact to human health using experience in veterinary medical sciences and/or allied fields such as veterinary medical sciences such as virology, microbiology, immunology, molecular biology, or a related scientific field. FOR 0403/0701 SERIES: 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. 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

701 SERIES BASIC REQUIREMENT: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree, i.e., Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD), obtained at a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA). The AVMA website has a listing of all AVMA-accredited veterinary medical schools. AVMA website: https://www.avma.org

OR Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools that are not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education must meet one of the following requirements:

a) Proof of certification of their final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG);
b) Possession of a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States that includes successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) or its predecessors, the National Board Examination (NBE) and the Clinical Competency Test (CCT); OR
c) Proof that the education obtained in a foreign veterinary medical program is equivalent to that gained in a veterinary medical program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. An AVMA-accredited veterinary medical school or college must have accepted the final transcript from the foreign veterinary medical school at full value for placement into an advanced degree, postgraduate educational program, or training program (e.g., residency or graduate program).

In addition, graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must also provide proof of proficiency in the English language by successfully completing one of the nationally and internationally recognized examinations that incorporate assessments of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Examples of examinations that assess mastery of the English language are shown below:

a) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Minimum scores for the TOEFL are 560 for the paper-based version; 220 for the computer-based version; or overall score of 83 for the internet-based version (including 26 or higher in speaking, 26 or higher in listening, and 17 or higher in writing). For the computer-based and paper-based test versions, applicants must also complete the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and the Test of Written English (TWE). Minimum required scores are 55 for the TSE and 5.5 for the TWE.

b) Academic tests (listening, writing, and speaking) offered by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 7.0, with at least 7.0 in speaking, 6.5 in listening, and 6.0 in writing; OR

c) Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 70, with at least 60 in speaking, 60 in listening, and 50 in writing.

Graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must submit test results with their application. Results of more than one test or testing session cannot be combined to meet the standard.

Waiver Provision: English language proficiency assessments may be waived for qualified job applicants whose native language is English (i.e., the official or common language of an individuals country of birth is English) who submit a diploma or other official documentation as proof of graduation from a high (secondary) school where the entire curriculum and educational programs were taught in the English language for the entire 3 or 4 years of full-time attendance.

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]