The Fair Trade Practices Program (FTPP) Packers and Stockyards Division (PSD) administers the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921, as amended and supplemented. The Packers and Stockyards Act is a competition, trade practice and financial protection law. Its principal purpose is to maintain effective competition and fair trade practices in livestock, meat, and poultry marketing

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: Assisting in the coordination of the regional office’s investigative work and related work pertaining to Operations in the assigned national livestock, meat and poultry industry. Performs investigations in the assigned national livestock, meat and poultry industry and in the assigned geographic area that impacts local markets of the livestock, meat and poultry industries. Plans, designs, organizes and conducts investigations of anti-competitive, unfair, unjustly discriminatory or deceptive practices or devices in the livestock, meat and poultry industries and markets. Review relevant published articles that may enhance the surveillance and investigative activities of the agency. Responsible for conducting complex research, legal analysis, and technical and investigative assistance on issues related to enforcing competitive and trade practice provisions of the Act. Analyzes the factual and legal issues dealing with antitrust and other case law for guidance on statistical collection during investigations. Consults and advises on necessary investigations and research from individual firm records, legal periodicals, public information, and suggests methods for correcting problems. Makes judgments and offers opinions about the competitive effects of mergers and acquisitions in terms of the long-range impact upon the freedom of both buyers and sellers to maintain competition. Makes oral and written presentations describing investigation procedures, results, and relevant developments to other interested personnel.

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 a background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of the 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/
• 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.

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. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR - Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. The following special or additional competencies or special qualifications are needed for this position.: Legal training and experience necessary to serve as a legal subject matter advisor, conduct complex legal research and analysis, and provide technical assistance on complex legal issues and investigations FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Conducting legal research and analysis, or participating in investigations of complaints related to unfair or deceptive business practices, antitrust or anticompetitive activities, commodities or financial market regulation, or similar areas of business law and regulation. Providing recommendations based on legal analysis, investigative results, rulemaking activities, legislative analysis, or document review to senior staff for further approval. Presenting technical and legal information in verbal or written format to meet the intended audience's needs. OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. Note: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Experience working on issues related to unfair or deceptive business practices, antitrust or anticompetitive activities, commodities or financial market or institution regulation, or the regulation of agricultural, livestock, or poultry markets. Participating in legal or regulatory enforcement investigations, rulemaking activities, or legislative or regulatory policy development or implementation. Experience reviewing documents, researching, and writing legal memoranda on novel issues, including discussing facts and legal authority, developing litigation documents, and providing legal recommendations regarding investigations and formal complaints. Independently prioritize one or more projects, cases, or investigations when assigned simultaneously. Developing legal, regulatory, or policy recommendations or proposals on matters involving complex applications of law to factual, market, or policy circumstances. Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level. 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: Experience participating in legal or regulatory enforcement investigations, rulemaking activities, or legislative or regulatory policy development or implementation. Experience conducting complex legal research, legal analysis, and technical and investigative assistance on issues related to the enforcement of unfair or deceptive business practices, antitrust or anticompetitive activities, commodities or financial market or institution regulation, or the regulation of agricultural, livestock, or poultry markets. Experience with antitrust problems and knowledge of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Administrative Procedures Act; engaging in all aspects of discovery; deposition preparation; conducting or assisting senior attorneys in depositions; and assisting senior attorneys in preparation for and conducting trials in State and Federal Court. Experience in multiple aspects of the preparation of legal documentation, such as but not limited to, the preparation of legal memoranda, participating in deposition preparation, conducting, or assisting senior attorneys in depositions, assisting senior attorneys in preparation for and conducting trials, preparing proposed or final rules or administrative records, drafting or preparing legislation, drafting legal contracts or disclosure documents involving legal, due diligence, or drafting legal filings before a court or regulatory body. Experience preparing investigative or rulemaking work plans to ensure that every element necessary to establish a violation or rule is supported by adequate, competent, and sound evidence and participating as the lead investigator or rule writer. Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. 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

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Marketing Service USDA APHIS MRPBS 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55401 US
• Name: MRP Human Resources
• Phone: 612-336-3227
• Email: [email protected]