The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health regulatory agency responsible for ensuring the safety of meat, poultry and processed eggs. The incumbent serves as Laboratory Quality Assurance Manager with designated authorities and responsibilities outlined in the laboratory quality manual and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard for testing laboratories.

Duties

The incumbent has oversight and responsibilities for the Laboratory Quality Assurance Plan, Chemical Hygiene Plan, Biological Safety Program, and Radiation Safety Program The incumbent has direct access and input at the laboratory's highest level of authority at which decisions are made on laboratory policy or resources; provides guidance to laboratory staff and OPHS personnel regarding the laboratory quality system. Serves as quality assurance expert and as an information resource between the Field Service Laboratory (FSL) and representatives from other OPHS divisions, federal agencies, state and local governments, international agencies, etc. The incumbent performs laboratory audits and targeted assessments, acts as liaison during external audits, and prepares and compiles the laboratory response to audit reports. Documents through objective evidence whether the laboratory is compliant with the overall quality assurance system and analytical methodology. The incumbent continually evaluates laboratory safety, health, security and environmental practices and programs and provides technical guidance. The incumbent conducts quarterly inspections of laboratory operations to verify compliance with applicable occupational safety and health regulations and established procedures.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Satisfactory background investigation and/or fingerprint check required.
• If you are selected, you may need to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) prior to being appointed to determine suitability for federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.
• Federal law requires the use of E-VERIFY to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. Under this system, the new hire is required to resolve any identified discrepancies as a condition of continued employment.
• If you are newly hired, the documentation you present for purposes of completing the Department Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 on your entry-on-duty date will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" system.
• You may be subject to satisfactory completion of one-year probationary or trial period.
• You must have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
• False statements or responses on a resume or application can jeopardize employment and may be grounds for disciplinary action, including removal from federal service.
• Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. Failure to successfully meet these requirements could lead to adverse action proceedings including possible termination.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a pre-employment certification statement for selective service registration.

Qualifications

This position is interdisciplinary and may be filled with either the 1320 chemistry series or the 0403 microbiology series. In addition to the specialized experience requirement, both series have a basic requirement that you must meet to qualify. You can meet the IOR for the chemistry series with education or a combination of education and experience: Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics. Combination of education and experience -- course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education. You can meet the IOR for the microbiology series with undergraduate education, a combination of education and experience or graduate education. 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. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in microbiology, biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Graduate Education: Microbiology, or a specific area of study such as bacteriology, virology, mycology, algology, protozoology, parasitology, immunology, serology, microbial genetics, or soil microbiology; or specific applied fields of microbiology such as clinical and public health microbiology, food technology, production processes, industrial fermentation, pollution, etc. Graduate study in related fields such as experimental pathology, infectious diseases, epidemiology, biochemistry, animal or plant physiology, genetics, plant pathology, and insect disease control, may also be pertinent, provided it has direct application to microbiological work. Experience in one of the following areas: developing project objectives, developing a plan to complete goals and objectives, working on a project to complete goals and deliverables, or evaluating methods, policies, or procedures for support of established guidelines. 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

Transcripts are required. You must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, it must include student name, school name, and enough information to validate qualifications such as course names, prefixes, grades, semester or quarter credit hours, date degree was awarded, etc. If you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been obtained from an accredited school, college, or university,

To verify your institution's credentialing, visit Dept. of Education Accredited Schools.

If any education was completed at a foreign institution, you must submit evidence that the institute was accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. Follow this link for a list of private organizations that evaluate education: National Association of Credential Evaluation Services .

Contacts

• Address Food Safety and Inspection Service 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: James Morrin
• Phone: 612-852-7619
• Email: [email protected]