This position is located in the Quality Assessment Division (QAD), Livestock & Poultry Program, AMS. The QAD is responsible for developing, implementing, and administering programs for the grading, verification and/or inspection of beef, veal & calf, lamb, pork, shell eggs, poultry, and rabbit products. The person selected will serve as Federal-State Supervisor and is responsible for administering and implementing the above programs throughout assigned States.

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: Utilize federal and/ or state cooperating employees, supervises and directs programs for voluntary grading. Performs shell egg surveillance inspection at registered plants to assure the control of restricted and inedible eggs under the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA). Assures the uniform interpretation and application of the regulations, instructions, standards, and specifications governing the services. Plans and assigns subordinates’ work. Schedules and approves leave. Provides guidance to employees on both administrative and technical matters. Works closely with Regional Office personnel to recruit employees; conduct interviews, and recommend selections to the Regional Director.

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.
• 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 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.
• Prior to an official offer, selectee will be required to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) acknowledging/accepting that geographic mobility is a condition of employment. Failure to sign the MOU will result in withdrawal of the job offer.
• Regularly conducts on-site inspections and audits of red meat, poultry and shell egg plants. Work requires periods of physical exertion to lift and move boxes and cartons of product often weighing over 50 pounds
• Prolonged periods of standing, walking, stooping, bending, and climbing; physical coordination.
• Finger dexterity in at least one hand for poultry grading assignments. Two hands for red meat and shell egg assignments to perform digital examinations of commodity.
• Ability to detect abnormalities in the commodity through normal or corrected vision in at least one eye for distance, depth perception, and color.
• The ability to assure safety in a highly mechanized noisy environment; adequate or correctable hearing; and the ability to determine product qualities through smell.
• Work environment is split between an office and trips to various locations.
• While conducting field reviews or audits of hatcheries, production sites, feed mills, and in processing plants, the incumbent is exposed to high noise levels, cold temperatures, slippery surfaces, dust, odors, and equipment.
• Subject to one year probationary period unless prior service is creditable.

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: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. 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: Independently grades and/or inspects primary products in commodity group and performs difficult assignments such as: grading and/or inspecting rare or unusual products or product types; regularly making borderline grading decisions on a variety of products or product types; or applying the full range of grading skills and knowledge at an extremely fast pace requiring instant determinations. Performs the full range of grading and/or inspection tasks involved in directly supplying grading services to producers or members of the trade with respect to the primary agricultural products in commodity specialization. Inspects or evaluates more complicated processing equipment procedures, and conditions of storage or transportation, such as is typical of most processed products production and advising industry employees on product quality control methods. Applies grading standards and/or inspection regulations to make difficult, controversial, and borderline determinations and to recognize and identify extremely rare commodity defects and diseases. Advises other graders on difficult determinations and instructs trainee graders. OR: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in Mathematics, Economics, Science, Engineering, Agriculture or Business; OR LL.M., if related. 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 of hands on grading experience in the commodity of Meat or Poultry (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that demonstrates: Independently grades and/or inspects primary products in commodity group and performs difficult assignments such as: grading and/or inspecting rare or unusual products or product types; regularly making borderline grading decisions on a variety of products or product types; or applying the full range of grading skills and knowledge at an extremely fast pace requiring instant determinations. Performs the full range of grading and/or inspection tasks involved in directly supplying grading services to producers or members of the trade with respect to the primary agricultural products in commodity specialization. Inspects or evaluates more complicated processing equipment procedures, and conditions of storage or transportation, such as is typical of most processed products production and advising industry employees on product quality control methods. Applies grading standards and/or inspection regulations to make difficult, controversial, and borderline determinations and to recognize and identify extremely rare commodity defects and diseases. Serves as technical expert performing final grading reviews, making appeal determinations, resolving controversies, and providing broad guidance on difficult and controversial grading inspection problems. Advises other graders on difficult determinations and instructs trainee graders. Note: There is no education substitution at this 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]