• Job Description

  Req#: 805428400
  As a Supervisory Plant Protection and Quarantine Officer, you serve in a vital role protecting the health, welfare and agricultural economy of the United States of America and to facilitate agricultural exports. You will supervise a staff of professional employees (e.g., Officers), administrative and a substantial, fluctuating work force of permanent and temporary technical/aid level employees in the Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (AQI) and Domestic programs.
  
  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:
  • Implements regulatory, treatment, and/or inspection programs in order to facilitate exports of agricultural products.
  • Plans and manages the technical approach for inspections, treatments, survey/eradication programs, and quarantine applications.
  • Plans and organizes the work and training of subordinate employees; administers overtime; approves leave of subordinate employees.
  • Prepares annual budget within given allocations ensuring supplies, equipment, and facilities are sufficient for program needs.
  • Evaluates and reviews the work of the subordinates and formulates work accomplishment reports.
  • Determines when additional staffing is required; initiates recruitment requests, conducts interviews, and makes selections.
  • Conducts program assessments and develops long-range work plans at local levels.
  
  
  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 E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
  • 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.
  
  
  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.
  
  BASIC REQUIREMENT: Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
  OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
  FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-9 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
  • Planning, organizing and providing expert support of import, export, survey and/or regulatory quarantine work for a plant pest and disease program. Prioritizes and monitors the progress of work, including adherence with applicable policies, procedures, and regulations.
  • Providing general direction, guidance, feedback and coaching to co-workers.
  • Planning and organizing work due to staffing fluctuations and changing circumstances.
  • Analyzing, identifying and addressing potentially adverse operational issues at the lowest level, before they surface as major problems requiring greater intervention/escalation.
  • Communicating complex issues, directions, guidance, and feedback. Applying political savvy to communicate both verbally and in writing with quarantine program employees and cooperators in local, state and other federal agencies.
  OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position..
  
  TRANSCRIPTS are required if:
  • This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified.
  • 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.

• About the company

  The United States Department of Agriculture, also known as the Agriculture Department, is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. It aims to meet the needs of commercial farming and livestock food production, promotes agricultural trade and production, works to assure food safety, protects natural resources, fosters rural communities and works to end hunger in the United States and internationally.

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