District Veterinary Medical Officer

Clarification from the agency

This direct hire public notice is to gather applications that may or may not result in a referral or selection. Applications will be retained for 90 days and reviewed once the announcement closes.

This job is also open in another announcement to:

Internal to an agency

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

• Interpret and analyze guidelines and regulations.
• Implement guidelines, policies, and regulations to provide personnel support.
• Conduct research and investigations to make judgments and recommendations.
• Foster working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Communicate guidelines and process to plant personnel.
• Draft recommendations, reports, and guidance documents.
• Apply veterinary medical concepts, principles, and practices.
• Perform onsite humane handling and good commercial practices verification activities.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born 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. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
• 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/.
• False statements or responses on a resume or application can jeopardize employment and may be grounds for disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.
• If you are selected, you may need to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) prior to being appointed to determine suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.
• Should be able to read, speak, write, and effectively communicate in the English language.
• Training as a condition of employment (TCOE) is required. You must begin the training within 90 days of the effective date of your selection, and you must successfully complete it within 12 months of the effective date of your selection.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment medical examination.

Qualifications

Please reference the specific Office of Personnel Management (OPM) qualifications standards for the 0701 Job Series.

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 QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR THE SERIES AND THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL:
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree, i.e., Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD), obtained at a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education. The AVMA web site has a listing of all AVMA-accredited veterinary medical schools.

OR

Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools that are not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education must meet one of the following requirements and submit supporting documentation:

Proof of certification of their final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) (Completion of ECFVG program).

Possession of a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States that includes successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) or its predecessors, the National Board Examination (NBE) and the Clinical Competency Test (CCT).

Proof that the education obtained in a foreign veterinary medical program is equivalent to that gained in a veterinary medical program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. Under this provision, equivalency is established only if an AVMA-accredited veterinary medical school or college accepts the graduate's final transcript from the foreign veterinary medical school at full value for placement into an advanced degree, postgraduate educational program, or training program (e.g. Residency or graduate program).

Graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must also submit proof of proficiency in the English language by successfully completing one of the nationally and internationally recognized examinations that incorporate assessments of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Examples of examinations that assess mastery of the English language are shown below:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Minimum scores for the TOEFL are 560 for the paper-based version; 220 for the computer-based version; or overall score of 83 for the internet-based version (including 26 or higher in speaking, 26 or higher in listening, and 17 or higher in writing). For the computer-based and paper-based test versions, applicants must also complete the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and the Test of Written English (TWE). Minimum required scores are 55 for the TSE and 5.5 for the TWE; Academic tests (listening, writing, and speaking) offered by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 7.0, with at least 7.0 in speaking, 6.5 in listening, and 6.0 in writing; OR Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 70, with at least 60 in speaking, 60 in listening, and 50 in writing.

English language proficiency assessments may also be waived for qualified job applicants whose native language is English (i.e. the official or common language of an individual's country of birth is English) AND they submit a diploma or other official documentation from the school as proof of graduation from a high (secondary) school where the entire curriculum and educational programs of the school are taught in the English language for the entire three or four years of full-time attendance.

BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR THE GS-12 GRADE LEVEL - You must meet the basic requirements for the GS-11 grade level as described above in addition to requirements for the GS-12 level to qualify for positions at the GS-12 grade level. Qualification requirements for the GS-12 grade level and above are:

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-11 grade level for consideration for the GS-12 grade level).

Your 52 weeks of specialized experience must demonstrate the ability to perform, plan or manage veterinary medical activities. Qualifying experience includes:

• Experience applying and enforcing policies, practices, and regulations.
• Knowledge of veterinary medical concepts, scientific literature, and emerging issues related to food safety.
• Experience in coordination of new or revised veterinary medical policies, methods, or procedures.
• Experience interpreting and applying the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of the inspection program such as humane handling, Ante-Mortem/Post-Mortem inspection procedures conducted in slaughter establishments, Hazardous Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), or Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP).
• Experience establishing and maintaining relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR THE GS-13 GRADE LEVEL - You must meet the basic requirements for the GS-12 grade level as described above in addition to requirements for the GS-13 level to qualify for positions at the GS-13 grade level. Qualification requirements for the GS-13 grade level and above are:

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-12 grade level for consideration for the GS-13 grade level).

Your 52 weeks of specialized experience must demonstrate the ability to perform, plan or manage veterinary medical activities. Qualifying experience includes:

• Experience communicating with internal staff, industry personnel, or external partners to share or obtain information related to Ante-Mortem/Post-Mortem inspection procedures, humane handling, animal disease concerns, or field operations.
• Experience preparing reports or documentation related to inspection findings, animal disease issues, humane handling verification, or regulatory compliance.
• Experience providing information, training, or technical assistance to inspection personnel or industry employees on humane handling, inspection procedures, or food safety requirements.
• Experience researching or utilizing scientific literature, animal health information, or regulatory guidance to support veterinary program functions.
• Experience applying FSIS-approved guidelines or scientific principles to support Ante-Mortem/Post-Mortem inspection procedures, animal disease identification, humane handling practices, or food safety activities.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The Office of Personnel Management has granted Direct Hire Authority government-wide for Veterinary Medical Officer Positions. There is a critical veterinarian hiring need in severe shortage locations and these positions play an important role in protecting the nation's food supply. This authority permits hiring without regard to certain competitive requirements. For more information: Incentives

Prior to issuing a list of best qualified applicants, we will review your resume and transcript(s) to ensure that you meet the qualification requirements for the grade(s) selected.

Applicants are not rated or ranked numerically. Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide complete information about their job-related experience and education. Your resume must document that you meet the Qualification Requirements detailed above.

Applicants who meet the qualifications and requirements, and have selected the geographic location of the vacant position, will be referred to the selecting official in last name order.

Veterans' Preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position. Applicants are still strongly encouraged to provide documentation related to Veterans' Preference.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) your resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

NOTE: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to and including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12993977

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

Resume that includes: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages.

• Your application may be disqualified if you include any of the information listed here: What should I leave out of my resume?

If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of all relevant college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

If claiming Veterans' Preference, you must submit a DD-214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty, you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. Veterans' Preference must be verified prior to appointment. Without this documentation, you will not receive Veterans' Preference, and your application will be evaluated based on the material(s) submitted.

If claiming 10-point Veterans' Preference, you must provide the DD-214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference. The SF-15 should be included but is not required. Failure to submit these documents could result in the determination that there is insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference visit FedsHireVets.

Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), current performance appraisal with rating of at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.

Next steps