The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division is responsible for developing U.S. grade standards and providing inspection, grading, certification, and audit-based services nation-wide on a user-fee basis for fresh and processed fruits and vegetables and related products. The incumbent serves as the OIC and carries out Division programs including grading, inspection, certification, and audit based activities and supervising office activities and personnel.

Duties

The duties may include, but are not limited to: Assists in the establishment of performance standards of subordinates and evaluates their performance. Plans work of subordinates, including supervisors, by reviewing area operations in light of changing workloads, types of inspection, volume of work, priority of requests, and other factors. Provides information to appropriate Division management regarding major complaints and actions. Conducts orientation training, commodity workshops, and refresher training sessions. Discusses work-related issues with subordinates and refers those of unusual difficulty to the Regional Branch Chief/Assistant Branch Chief. Resolves complaints from the industry on grade determinations made by subordinate graders.

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.
• 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/.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 may be required which may include periods of physical exertion to lift and move boxes and cartons of product which may weigh in excess of 50 pounds.
• The incumbent may be required to work in a highly mechanized and/or noisy environment.
• Travel to training sessions and meetings and to conduct reviews of inspection operations at in- plant or in-house assignments, inspections or reviews, and other assigned duties at various Division and Federal-State work sites is required.
• The work environment may require working on weekends and overtime, traveling for extended periods of time, and working multiple shifts.

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-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: Applying grading standards and/or inspection regulations to make difficult, controversial, and borderline determinations and to recognize and identify commodity defects and diseases. Serving as technical expert performing final grading on reviews, making appeal determinations, resolving controversies, or providing broad technical guidance on difficult and controversial grading inspection problems. Providing oversight, direction and coordination to operational activities. Providing technical supervision to personnel regarding sampling, inspection and certification of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables and specialty crops. Developing new initiatives and processes when programs change. Reviewing and directing the work of self and others. Communicating logically and concisely in both oral and written form when rendering decisions and/or interacting with management, employees and industry. Note: There is no education substitution for this 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]