This position is located in the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Livestock & Poultry Program (LP), Quality Assessment Division (QAD), Grading Services Branch. The incumbent serves as Regional Director, carrying out a variety of assignments related to the administration and management of QAD commodities and Shell Egg Surveillance inspection activities throughout designated areas of the United States. A Recruitment Incentive may be available for this Announcement.

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: Grade the full range of poultry and poultry products and/or shell egg products in the assigned facility. Prepares and maintains a variety of reports related to production data and grading results. Trains selected plant personnel to grade according to U.S. standards. Grades different types of poultry and eggs, by applying official standards and regulations. Serve as the sole resident grader for the plant or, in large plants, as the sole grader for the shift. Grade products consistently by making distinctions on quality factors to resolve borderline cases. Ensure shell eggs are produced in a sanitary environment on properly maintained equipment. Ensure packaging bearing USDA trademark has been approved for all marketing claims. Serve as the officially designated contact and maintains relations with plant management and employees explaining decisions.

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/
• Selectee will be subject to a pre-employment medical statement and/or exam.
• Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
• 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.
• All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.
• The work requires periods of considerable physical exertion to push, pull, lift, carry, and move boxes, cartons and heavy packages, buckets, sacs or bags of product (often weighing up to/over 50/55 pounds).
• Prolonged standing, walking, stooping, bending, twisting, and climbing; physical coordination and balance on ladders, and when required to get into and out of commodity, chilling/freezing, holding, and storage facilities.
• Finger dexterity in at least one or both hands/fingers to perform digital examinations of commodities, and grasping/handling or moving equipment.
• Normal or corrected vision in at least one eye for distance, depth perception, and color to detect abnormalities in product.
• Work environment includes regular and reoccurring moderate discomforts working in and exposure to: freezing, humid, and/or hot temperatures; dust; odors; and wet and/or slippery surfaces, equipment, floors, and stairs.
• Water, which may be cold or at high temperatures (sub-freezing to reaching 180 degrees Fahrenheit); commodity/animal’s bodily fluids and waste; the presence of moving and non-moving commodity and processing equipment
• Work may also be performed outdoors under varying weather conditions; within poultry, poultry product and/or shell egg processing and storage facilities.
• Incumbent may be required to work on weekends, holidays, and overtime; multiple shifts and/or changing/rotating shifts (i.e., rotating all shifts, including required working/rotating first, second and third shifts.
• Traveling for extended periods of time, which may require overnight (hotel) stays, flight(s) or other transportation(s), personal or government vehicle, and/or vehicle rental; operating a GOV motor vehicle using a valid driver’s license.
• Travel while commuting to work or on travel; commuting and/or driving to and from home (or travel), in darkness or sunlight, for long timeframes or over long distances, to and from a plant or service area(s).

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. FOR THE GS-05 LEVEL: General experience: Applicants must have three years of progressively responsible experience, one year of which was equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level in the Federal Service (equivalent to the GS-04 level) (experience may have been obtained in private or public sectors). The experience must demonstrate the ability to: Analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data and recognize solutions. Plan and organize work. Experience must provide evidence of the skills shown above. OR 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Knowledge of the standards, regulations, and product characteristics relevant to poultry grading and/or shell eggs to grade or inspect products. Determine the grade, quality, acceptability of livestock or food grade product, refrigeration, processing, packing, storage, and transportation. OR: 1 full year of graduate level education in Agriculture, Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Business, Economics or a related field. OR: Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND 1) have a class standing in the upper third of the graduating class, 2) membership in a national scholastic honor society (excluding Freshman honor societies), or 3) must meet certain GPA requirements. GPA requirements: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on official transcripts or as computed based on 4 years of education, or courses completed during the final 2 year of the curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required course completed in the major field or courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum (GPA will be rounded to one decimal place, e.g., 2.95 rounds to 3.0 and 2.94 rounds to 2.9). Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying 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. You are qualifying for this position based on Superior Academic Achievement. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-05/07 GRADE LEVELS: 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

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

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]