Specific Vacancy Information: Consumer Safety Officer (District Case Specialist): GS-0696-13 Location: Des Moines District Office - Des Moines IA- located in Polk County. This is a 120 day temporary position. For Addt'l Information: Mr. Jeffery Jacobsen @ 515-858-5803

Duties

Serves as the District expert in the development and documentation of administrative enforcement cases. Documents and builds technical and legal arguments to support District cases for enforcement. Reviews evidence and ensures that case files are documented in the required format and contain complete information. Analyze case files, including documentation collected, to verify that an establishment is effectively carrying out its food safety responsibilities. Provides advice and guidance to CSOs, EIAOs, PHVs and Supervisory SPHVs. Assist FLS and inspection team in preparing plans to verify that an establishment's corrective action plan is effective. Ensure that cases are supportable and defensible from a technical/scientific standpoint. Formulate strategies and rationale supporting District cases regarding the public health significance associated with appeals/challenges. Assist the DM/DDM in managing District Office responsibilities associated with recalls and consumer complaints. Provide guidance and direction regarding potential criminal violations that might result in actions to formally withdraw inspection or enter into a consent order. Maintain liaison with attorneys of USDAs OGC, US Attorneys, and court officials pertaining to legal proceedings. Cooperates in developing information related to administrative and civil enforcement matters.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born 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.
• Must pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
• Complete OGE Form 450 (Confidential Financial Disclosure Report) within 30 days from entrance on duty date

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and the basic education, as defined below. Time in grade: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-12 grade level for consideration for the GS-13 grade level.). Specialized experience: Your 52 weeks of specialized experience must demonstrate your ability to perform, plan or manage complex food safety activities. Qualifying experience typically includes compliance work related to the verification of food safety systems for the production of products intended for consumption (e.g., food, pharmaceuticals, drinking water, biological specimen, etc. This may include the application of the methodology for verifying Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans, Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs), Sanitation Performance Standards (SPS), pathogen reduction verification procedures, food security verification procedures, and other consumer protection activities (e.g., economic adulteration and misbranding, E-Coli or Salmonella reduction procedures, etc.), or any interactions of these systems. This may also include experience working with federal or state regulatory requirements and enforcement actions, applying investigative methodology, documenting case files for administrative or civil enforcement actions including the collection of evidence and testimonies, implementing or monitoring recall activities and/or consumer complaints, assessing the comprehensive design and/or implementation of food safety systems, assessing microbiological sampling and testing programs, and/or monitoring quality control procedures within a food safety environment. Slaughter experience is NOT considered specialized experience. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: GS-0696 Series 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

This position has a minimum education requirement to qualify at the grade announced. All applicants need to meet the minimum education requirements for this position. The minimum education requirement is:

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:

1. A bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in quality assurance or a related degree that included at least 30 semester hours in one or a combination of the following: consumer laws, biological sciences, food science, chemistry, pharmacy, physical sciences, food technology, nutrition, medical science, engineering, epidemiology, veterinary medical science, legal investigations, law enforcement, or related scientific fields that provided knowledge directly related to consumer safety officer work.
2. The 30 semester hours may include up to 8 semester hours in statistics, or course work that included the principles, theory, or practical application of computers or computer programming.

OR

1. Combination of education and experience--courses consisting of at least 30 semester hours in the fields of study described in paragraph A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Note: Copies of transcripts are required for this announcement; the CSO letters and worksheets previously issued to FSIS employees that documented meeting CSO educational requirements is not sufficient alone to document education; USDA policy requires copies of transcripts for this position.

Contacts

• Address Food Safety and Inspection Service 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Thomas Raper
• Phone: 6128527676
• Email: [email protected]