The Internship Program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school and while getting paid for the work performed. Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent job in the civil service.

Duties

These positions are Excepted Service appointments in the FSIS Alameda District. Employees coordinate inspection/enforcement activities in more than 6,000 federally inspected establishments nationwide, as well as at import establishments, ensuring that the products that FSIS regulates are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled. As a Student Trainee (Veterinary) you will: Assist in the examination of livestock and poultry for the purpose of detecting diseases or abnormalities which would render the meat unfit for human food purposes. Work with line inspectors to perform visual, tactile and incisory inspections of heads, viscera, carcasses, and edible offal. Assist in making dispositions on abnormal animals/carcasses/birds retained for veterinary examination. These dispositions will include infectious diseases, neoplasms, trauma, contamination, poisonings, residues, metabolic disorders, etc. Assist a program veterinarian in performing activities to verify that animals are handled and treated humanely. Observe conditions in the plant to ensure the plant is following its Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs). Observe conditions in the plant to ensure that sanitary conditions meet prescribed requirements. Performs other duties as assigned. This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Requirements

• All requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. This includes responses to all eligibility assessment and occupational questionnaires, along with submission of your resume and all supporting documentation.
• Must meet Pathways Program requirements. Follow link to the Pathways Handbook (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/students-recent-graduates/reference-materials/pathways-programs-handbook.pdf).
• A signed participant agreement is required for employment under Pathways. Form will be provided upon selection before entry-on-duty date is set.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Selectee must be able to obtain a successful completion of pre-employment medical examination.
• Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you may be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report inquiry.
• Currently enrolled full-time or have been accepted into a U.S. accredited and U.S. AVMA accredited college or university Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program or equivalent full-time.
• Must provide transcripts that support the qualifications. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application package. Official transcripts will be required if selected.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must be in and remain in good academic standing as defined by the educational institution throughout the program.
• Selectee must have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
• Your schedule during the academic year is negotiable. During school breaks and summers, travel to/from the official duty station and housing expenses, will be at the student's expense.
• Relocation expenses will not be paid.
• 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/.
• Service in the Pathways Program confers no right to further employment in either the competitive or excepted service.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must meet the 1. Pathway Internship Eligibility requirements, 2. minimum Qualifications for the position, as well as the 3. Selective Placement factor for this announcement: 1. To Be Eligible For An Appointment Under The Internship Program You Must Meet The Following Requirement: Student applicants must be accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis as defined by the institution in which the student is enrolled. Student Trainees must be in good academic standing, as defined by the institution they are attending. Generally at least a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) for undergraduate programs (cumulative; no rounding) and a 3.0 GPA for advanced degree programs. Individuals must meet the definition of a student throughout the duration of their Internship appointment. *NOTE: Certificate Program: This term is defined, in 5 CFR 362.102, and means postsecondary education in a qualifying educational institution equivalent to at least 1 academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum.) 2. To qualify at the GS-7 grade level: Completion of 1 full academic year of graduate level education (18 semester hours, 27 quarter hours or equivalent) towards earning a DVM at a school or college of Veterinary Medicine OR Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) after completing a bachelor's degree. S.A.A. is based on (*) class standing, (**) grade-point average, or (***) honor society membership. * Class standing. Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. ** Grade-point average (G.P.A.). Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required course completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. *** Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed below. These honor societies are listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (external link). Agencies considering eligibility based on any society not included in the following list must ensure that the honor society meets the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. To qualify at the GS-9 grade level: Completion of 2 academic years of graduated level education, or a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree. 3. The following Selective Placement Factor (SPF) requirement is being used to determine whether an applicant fully qualifies for this position. Therefore, it is MANDATORY that all applicants meet this requirement in order to receive further consideration for this job vacancy. Applicants are required to submit transcripts as outlined below and proof of enrollment, if current enrollment is not identified on the transcripts to support the selective placement factor. If requirements are not met, you will be determined as not eligible. Applicants who fail to meet the Selective Placement Factor may lose further consideration. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: Students must be currently enrolled in a U.S. accredited college degree seeking Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program or has been accepted. To see a list of AVMA accredited colleges, click Accredited Colleges. All colleges must also be a registered Entity in the System for Award Management. SPECIAL CONDITIONS: ALL Students MUST submit proof of current enrollment or provide proof of acceptance and or enrollment in a U.S. accredited college degree seeking Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program by 11:59pm, the closing date of this vacancy announcement. ALL academic degrees of course work must be completed in an educational institution that has obtained accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council of Education. For more info click here. Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed. This Internship/Scholarship confers eligibility for a noncompetitive conversion to a permanent or term position in the competitive service contingent upon meeting all applicable Internship Program requirements and the needs of the agency. You will be considered for conversion to a permanent or term position upon the successful completion of your Internship and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program or equivalent. However, please note that eligibility for conversion does not guarantee the agency will opt for conversion. PROGRAM COMPLETION: This is an indefinite appointment. Upon successful completion of the program and at the agency's discretion, the appointee may be non-competitively converted to a term or career or career-conditional appointment, upon conversion this position has a full performance level of GS-12 an may have supervisory duties assigned. Service in the Pathways Program confers no right to further employment in either the competitive or excepted service. An agency wishing to convert a student must therefore execute the required action to do so within 120 days of successful completion of the degree and program requirements. CONVERSION FROM STUDENT TRAINEE: Prior to conversion to a term or career or career conditional appointment, Student Trainees must satisfactorily complete all training, program, and educational requirements. Be a U.S. citizen. Successfully complete academic course of study. Complete a minimum of 640 hours of work experience under the Internship Program. Complete 40 hours of mandatory AgLearn Training. Meet the OPM Qualification Standard for the position the Intern may be converted to. 0701 Veterinary Medical Science Series (target grade GS-12) Maintain acceptable performance under the agency's approved performance management system. Receive favorable recommendation for conversion from supervisor. If you are a student veteran, complete the questionnaire and submit documentation: DD-214, VA Letter, SF-15 if claiming 10-point Veterans' preference or DD-214 if claiming 5-point preference or VEOA eligibility (separated under honorable conditions after 3 years or more of continuous service).

Education

COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS: You MUST submit a copy of your college transcripts which show the following:

• Your Field of Study
• School Name
• Student's Name
• Current GPA or Academic Standing
• Past and Current Course Work
• Degree Program
• Major/Concentration

An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if selected, an official college transcript will be required prior to entering on duty. For students newly accepted to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program or equivalent for Fall 2024 you must also submit proof of your acceptance or enrollment along with your previous unofficial transcripts as part of your complete application package.

Contacts

• Address Food Safety and Inspection Service 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Jamie Mitchell
• Phone: 612-852-7730
• Email: [email protected]