The position is located in the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Specialty Crops Program (SCP), Specialty Crops Inspection Division (SCI). Incumbent will serve as the Assistant Officer-In-Charge at a SCI Division area office and shares with the OIC the responsibility for carrying out Division programs, including grading, inspection, certification, and audit-based activities covering fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, related products; and supervising office activities and personnel.

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: Assists the OIC in providing administrative and technical supervision to all personnel assigned to the office, including supervisors, trainers, office staff and graders in field assignments. Supervises the sampling, inspection and certification of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables and related products for quality, condition and grade in accordance with official standards. Assists in the establishment of performance standards of subordinates and evaluates their performance. Assigns subordinate personnel to perform services and coordinates the work in such a manner as to provide prompt, efficient, and timely service to meet customer needs and assure financial stability. Collaborates with SCI Division Standardization Branch in the development and testing of grade standards and inspection aids for fresh and processed fruits and vegetables. Directs the preparation and issuance of certificates covering grading services. In conjunction with the OIC, develops plans for overall area operations and formulates recommendations regarding the inspection service and the adoption or modification of policies and procedures. Directs and/or coordinates requests for service, authorizes services to be performed, and makes necessary arrangements for service. 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.

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/.
• 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.
• Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
• You must be able to perform work that requires long periods of physical exertion to lift and move boxes, cartons and heavy packages of product (often weighing over 50 pounds).
• The work requires prolonged periods of standing, walking, stooping, bending, and climbing; physical coordination and finger dexterity in both hands to perform digital examinations of commodities.
• You must be able to use both legs, arms and hands to perform carrying, pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulder, kneeling, grasping, and working with hands in water and the ability to determine product quality organoleptically.

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: Experience supervising a staff and managing operations of a field office. Experience in program changes and developing new initiatives within the program to adapt to changes. Experience developing, maintaining and expanding relationships with government and industry shareholders in the fruit and vegetable sector. Experience communicating with and advising supervisors, trainers, and field employees on technical and administrative policies and procedures. 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. 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 applying grading standards and/or inspection regulations to make the most difficult, controversial, and borderline determinations and to recognize and identify extremely rare commodity defects and diseases. Experience 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. Experience communicating logically and concisely in both oral and written form when rendering decisions and/or interacting with management, employees and industry. Experience providing oversight, direction and coordination to operational activities. Experience providing technical supervision to personnel regarding sampling, inspection and certification of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables. 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

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]