This position serves as the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) Science Transition Manager and is responsible for coordinating the transition of the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL) science program from the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) in Orient Point, NY to the NBAF in Manhattan, KS. Current activities must be transitioned fully to the new facilities with no gap in response capabilities.

Duties

The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity. 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. Serves as the senior APHIS science individual at NBAF. Provides technical and subject matter expertise on the development and stand-up of science groups at NBAF. Manages all aspects of the NBAF science transition, working closely with the FADDL section heads and Associate FADDL director. Oversees the Science Preparatory Phase and Phase 0-4 of the NBAF science transition, including all aspects of select agent registration and ISO accreditation requirements. Communicates with FADDL Section Heads on their plans and needs at NBAF. Identifies gaps in planning and works with Section Heads to address. Develops workflows and the overall integration of FADDL laboratory work at NBAF. Assures the physical Information Technology infrastructure is in place. Serves as subject matter expert for the development and maintenance of master equipment lists to logically identify and place equipment needed for performance of scientific operations at NBAF. Serves as a technical advisor for the biorepository transfer receipt of materials at NBAF, including providing scientific support for all aspects of planning for the transfer.

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 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.
• Top Secret - SCI security clearance (SF-86— Questionnaire for National Security Positions) and Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) database check required for work involving Biological Select Agents and Toxins.
• For information regarding the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, KS visit the following website by copying and pasting the address into browser: https://www.usda.gov/nbaf
• Work is performed in an office, laboratory, warehouse, or outdoor facilities and involves standing, sitting, moving about the laboratory carrying equipment and reaching into incubators and centrifuges.
• When working with animals, especially cattle and pigs, physical exertion is required in restraining and administering inoculations, humanely euthanizing, and collecting tissues and blood.
• Normal physical demands include walking, standings sitting, bending and lifting up to 75 pounds.
• Monthly travel to Plum Island, NY and/or Beltsville, MD is required for oversight of facility transition preparations.
• The work involves the risk of exposure to viruses and bacteria that may be human pathogens (Class 3 Agents) and requires working with viruses exotic to the United States. Immunizations may be required.
• Requires use of biological safety cabinets and all clothing must be changed and a complete shower taken upon leaving the biological containment laboratory (agricultural biosafety level 3).
• There may be a high noise level due to the air supply/exhaust system (no recalculated air) and laboratory equipment which is used almost continuously.
• Protective devices such as gloves, goggles, facial hair restrictions, face mask, or respirators may be required including full face respirator when working in biological control areas.
• Must apply strict agent safety regulations against contact with birds, sheep, goats, cattle, swine and other animals (in exclusion of dogs and cats) outside the laboratory.
• May tour the facility while under construction and will be subject to site safety training, safety rules and personal protection equipment rules.

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: Biological Scientist (0401): Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience: post high school education with courses equivalent to a major, which is defined as 24 semester/36 quarter hours, in the biological sciences, agriculture, natural resources management, chemistry or related disciplines appropriate to the position, PLUS appropriate experience or additional course work. The quality of the combination must demonstrate that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of the position and is comparable to that normally acquired through the completion of a full four-year course of study with a major as described above. 0401 SERIES FOR THE GS-13 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Developing laboratory workflows of multiple disciplines including but not limited to diagnostics, reagent production, proficiency testing, validation, and methods development of biological specimens. Supervising or managing staff to coordinate laboratory activities, identify issues, and delegate or assign tasks to staff. Managing laboratory standup, develop schedules, and provide recommendations to operational units on establishing laboratory workflows. Note: There is no education substitution for series 0401 GS-13 grade level. 0401 Series Transcripts are required. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program. For further information, visit the following: Foreign Education Evaluation. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation. BASIC REQUIREMENT: Veterinary Medical Officer (0701) outlined in the "Education" section below. 0701 SERIES FOR THE GS-13 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Developing laboratory workflows of multiple disciplines including but not limited to diagnostics, reagent production, proficiency testing, validation, and methods development of biological specimens. Supervising or managing staff to coordinate laboratory activities, identify issues, and delegate or assign tasks to staff. Managing laboratory standup, develop schedules, and provide recommendations to operational units on establishing laboratory workflows. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-13 GRADE LEVEL: Successful completion of a PhD degree in an area of specialization including, but not limited to: animal science, avian medicine, food safety, infectious diseases, veterinary clinical sciences, pathobiology, biomedical sciences, veterinary anatomy, veterinary preventive medicine, comparative biological sciences, epidemiology, veterinary parasitology, molecular veterinary biosciences, public health, microbiology, pathology, immunology, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, wildlife, zoological animal medicine, or other sciences related to the work of a veterinary medical officer position. OR RESIDENCY/POST GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE GS-13 GRADE LEVEL. Successful completion of three years of an internship, residency program, or fellowship training program in a discipline related to the position. Applicants should provide a certificate or letter documenting the completion of this program. OR BOARD CERTIFICATION FOR THE GS-13 GRADE LEVEL-Specialty boards that are recognized by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) certify eligible candidates as specialists in specific veterinary medical fields. Veterinarians who successfully complete all requirements for Diplomate status in an ABVS-recognized veterinary specialty organization may qualify for the GS-13 grade level. Applicants should provide a certificate or letter documenting their diplomate status. 0701 Series see Required Document section for transcript requirement. 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

0701 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]