All Consumer Safety Officers may be detailed anywhere inside or outside the Philadelphia District to conduct Food Safety Assessments. Specific Vacancy Information: Pittsburgh, PA Consumer Safety Officer (EIAO) SJ-541, GS-0696-11/12 Location: Pittsburgh, PA- located in Allegheny County

Duties

This position may be filled as a multi-grade career ladder. If position is filled at a developmental grade level, assignments will be of a more limited scope, performed with less independence, and may reflect limited complexity/personal contacts. You may/will: Conduct on site consumer protection assessments to verify the design and proper functioning of a plant's food safety and process control systems. Assess the scientific adequacy of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans, Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs), microbiological verification sampling protocols, or other process control measures. Perform investigative work related to food processing and/or slaughter systems to obtain information, gather evidence, or verify facts in support of administrative or civil enforcement matters. Make recommendations regarding the type of enforcement action that is necessary, and assist in the preparation of enforcement related documentation such as notices of intended enforcement, suspension letters, deferral letters, and letters of warning. Collect necessary information pertaining to product recall activities, consumer complaints, or other public health concerns. Determine the relevance of data and documentation in-plant records, laboratory test data, and observed activities for compliance with provisions of laws and Agency regulations. Assist inspection personnel, as needed, in the consistent nationwide implementation of significant new inspection procedures designed to verify that official establishments meet regulatory requirements for food safety and other consumer protection.

Requirements

• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of a Condition of Employment (TCOE).
• US Citizenship required.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• If you are newly hired, the documentation you present for purposes of completing the Department Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" system. To learn more about E-Verify visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• Selectee may be subject to satisfactory completion of one year probationary or trial period.
• Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of training.
• Must pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/

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: Applicants must meet one year at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-09 grade level for consideration for the GS-11 grade level.) Specialized experience: In order to meet the specialized experience requirement, you will need to have completed 52 weeks of progressively responsible specialized experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level. This experience may be gained under GS, PHHRS, another pay band system, or any combination of GS, pay band, or other experience. Specialized experience is defined as under supervision and/or guidance from senior personnel, verify safety systems for the production of products intended for consumption (e.g., food, pharmaceuticals, drinking water, biological specimens, etc.). This may include verifying of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans, Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs), Sanitation Performance Standards (SPS), Sanitation, pathogen reduction verification procedures, food security verification procedures, and other consumer protection activities (e.g., economic adulteration and misbranding, E. coli or Salmonella reduction procedures, etc.), or any interactions of these systems. This may also include experience working with federal or state regulatory requirements and enforcement actions, applying investigative methodology, documenting case files for administrative or civil enforcement actions including the collection of evidence and testimonies, implementing or monitoring recall activities and/or consumer complaints, assessing the comprehensive design and/or implementation of food safety systems, assessing microbiological sampling and testing programs, and/or monitoring quality control procedures within a food safety environment. Slaughter experience is NOT considered specialized experience. To qualify for the GS-11: 52 weeks or more of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (generally, the GS-9 level). Education can be used in lieu of specialized experience as defined below: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR A combination of education and specialized experience - the minimum education requirement of courses consisting of at least 30 semester hours in the fields of study described above, plus appropriate experience and additional education. To qualify for the GS-12: 52 weeks or more of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (generally, the GS-11 level). Specialized experience is defined as independent and regular responsibility for verifying safety systems for the production of products intended for consumption (e.g. food, pharmaceuticals, drinking water, biological specimens, etc.). In addition to meeting the specialized experience (as stated for the GS-11), your experience for the GS-12 may come from food processing, manufacturing practices, statistical process control, microbiological testing, laboratory analytical procedures, and/or other technical areas that might affect food safety. 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, knowledge, and skills 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

This position has a minimum education requirement to qualify at either of the advertised grades. All applicants need to meet the minimum education requirements for this position. The minimum education requirement is:

A bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in quality assurance or a related degree that included at least 30 semester hours of related course work (i.e. consumer laws, biological sciences, food science, chemistry, pharmacy, physical sciences, food technology, nutrition, medical science, engineering, epidemiology, veterinary medical science, legal investigations, law enforcement, or related scientific fields that provided knowledge directly related to consumer safety officer work). The 30 semester hours may include up to 8 semester hours in statistics, or course work that included the principles, theory, or practical application of computers or computer programming.

OR

Combination of education and experience - courses consisting of at least 30 semester hours in the fields of study described in the paragraph above, plus appropriate experience (as described under the Qualifications section) or additional education.

Please view OPM's Qualifications Standards, Consumer Safety Series, GS-0696.

Contacts

• Address Food Safety and Inspection Service 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Richard Horton
• Phone: 612-852-7670
• Email: [email protected]