The Veterinary Biologics Science and Policy Advisor is in the Office of the Director, Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB), and provides policy and scientific advice in planning, organizing, and evaluating broad biologics programs, particularly involving tools and systems for the prevention, detection, treatment, and control of diseases which threaten the nation's livestock resources.

Duties

The duties may include, but are not limited to: Provides scientific and technical guidance in the management of formulating, organizing, and executing veterinary biologics regulations and policies, and regulation of veterinary biologics. Provide subject matter expertise in efforts to conduct assessments and evaluations of animal disease causation, risk factors, diagnostic methods and approaches, and disease control strategies. Develop strategies and standard methods of evaluating animal health information for the purpose of establishing global awareness of potential threats to U.S. animal agriculture. Serves as a CVB representative in activities related to detection and response to emerging diseases such as developing, reviewing and providing communication materials to a variety of audiences. Serving as member on various boards and committees and making presentations involving highly complex professional and technical subjects. Leads or contributes to efforts to plan and implement systems and processes for the collection and analysis of statistical and other data related to animal disease distribution, detection, and risks. Provides expert advice in formulating and ensuring overall development, administration, and coordination of scientific and technical guidance, and policies. Serves as the animal biologics expert in issues related to developing and providing policy documents, briefings, and presentations, and working with partners to ensure APHIS concerns are addressed.

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.
• 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.
• Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
• 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.
• Most work is performed in a typical office setting with the normal safety precautions.
• Some work time will also be spent traveling domestically and internationally via airline, car, train, or other forms of transportation to remote locations with few amenities.
• Field site visits in harsh conditions or where a zoonotic animal disease is present may require vaccinations, personal protective clothing and equipment, and a requirement to shower in and out.
• Long term assignments for disease investigations may occur and will require the incumbent to work at a temporary duty station from one-to-four weeks or longer in extreme cases.
• May be required to walk in a variety of weather conditions and on a variety of surfaces, including wet, uneven surfaces.
• Domestic and international travel is required as an essential function of the job and may require obtaining an Official Government Passport.

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. All applicants must meet the Basic Requirement outlined in the Education section below. 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: Evaluating veterinary biological products, and disease situations as applicable to a biologics program. Analyzing scientific and/or policy information/documents in addressing and resolving the public, stakeholder group, other agency official, and staff issues/concerns. Preparing written communications, briefings, and policy documents regarding animal biologics programs, biological products, or animal disease situations. 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

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]