This position serves as the Branch Chief in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS). The Branch Chief is responsible for leading a team through planning and assigning work within the branch to meet established key performance outcomes and monitoring the program's progress toward achieving the performance outcomes.

Duties

The duties may include, but are not limited to: Implement ways to eliminate or reduce significant bottlenecks and barriers to production, promote team building or improve business practices. Responsible for technical determinations in the area of plant and plant pest biotechnology arising from assigned work. Serve as a consultant and advisor on plant and plant pest biotechnology to Federal and State officials. Advisor to the general public concerning program objectives and the scientific and administrative aspects of the biotechnology program. Lead the branch in their review and analysis of applications for the introduction of genetically modified regulated articles and/or petitions for non-regulated status. Participate in the assignment of such notifications, permits, or petitions to the appropriate reviewer or the incumbent. Advise the Director and BRS leadership as to the status of permitting documents, petitions, and to relevant issues created by current, new, or potential applications. Uses available information technology tools designed for the processing and tracking of permits, notifications, and petitions.

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/.
• 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.

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: Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, 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-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: Research or product development experience in the biological or agricultural sciences involving biotechnology and related to any of the following: plant pathology, entomology, molecular biology; plant breeding and genetics; plant ecology, pest and weed management; agronomy; or other closely related discipline. Develop, evaluate, or implement of technical analyses, research reports, issue papers, guidance documents, standard operating procedures, briefing or decision memoranda, or risk or environmental assessments, related to plant pest or weed risk or to agricultural biotechnology. Lead planning, organizing, and executing team projects that are critical to fulfilling the organization's core mission or improve the organization's day-to-day functionality. Served as a subject matter specialist and expert adviser on topics related to biotechnology regulations, providing innovative solutions to complex and/or politically sensitive issues and recommendations for advancing programs and/or methods. 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]