The Livestock and Poultry Program is responsible for formulating and administering policies for marketing services and regulatory activities related to commodity grading and certification for meat, eggs, and poultry. The incumbent of this position performs the full range of meat grading and quality assurance monitoring duties. A Recruitment Incentive may be available for this Announcement.

Duties

The duties may include, but are not limited to: Independently examine meat (in carcass or in cases where the USDA standards permit whole sale cut form) to evaluate factors relating to product quality. Determine the yield grade of carcasses and applicable cuts by applying official standards. Reevaluate carcasses previously identified for grade after they have been ribbed. Following prescribed procedures, select samples, and examines meat food products for compliance with contract specifications. Independently defend grade or certification determinations to plant personnel, resolving most protests. Prepare and issue certificates, maintains permanent records relating to their work, and performs similar administrative tasks. Coordinate the work of several graders assigned to a specific location and at times, depending upon the location and workload, may serve as ?grader in charge. Assist supervisors in the technical and administrative on the job training of GS 5 and GS 7 meat graders and intermittent employees. Conduct public demonstrations; reviews retail meat outlets (i.e., supermarkets, meat markets, hotels, restaurants, etc.) for compliance with Public Law 272. 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. 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).

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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Selectee will be subject to a pre-employment medical statement and/or exam.
• 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.
• Commodity grading 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 and finger dexterity in both hands to perform digital examinations of commodities.
• Ability to detect abnormalities in the commodity through normal or corrected vision in at least one eye for distance, depth perception, and color.
• Ability to detect abnormalities in the commodity through normal or corrected vision in at least one eye for distance, depth perception, and color.
• The work environment includes exposure to cold temperatures of coolers, which are 25 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit (and on occasion for short periods at subzero temperatures).
• High noise levels of industrial processing equipment; the risks of forklifts, meat hooks and/or meat products and other items moving or falling.
• Slippery floors and stairs; and the risks of cutting and sawing equipment.

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-09 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 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 the commodity group and performs difficult assignments such as: regularly making borderline grading decisions on a variety of products. Performs the full range of grading and/or inspection tasks involved in supplying grading services to producers or members of the trade in the commodity specialization. Inspect or evaluate more complicated processing equipment and procedures, and conditions of storage or transportation and advising industry employees on product quality control methods. Serve as technical expert, performing final grading on reviews, making appeal determinations, resolving controversies, or providing broad technical guidance. OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree in agriculture, mathematics, engineering, science, business, or economics. OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. OR LL.B. or J.D., if related. 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. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-09 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

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]