Clarification from the agency

Current permanent Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) employees with competitive status and employees eligible under the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Reemployment Priority List (RPL).

• Manages the Laboratory Quality Assurance Plan, Chemical Hygiene Plan, Biological Safety Program, and Radiation Safety Program.
• Serves as QA expert and information liaison between the Field Service Lab (FSL) and OPHS divisions, federal, state, local, and international agencies, ensuring compliance, scientific integrity, and effective collaboration on laboratory standards.
• Provides input at the laboratory's highest level of authority at which decisions are made on laboratory policy or resources; provides guidance to laboratory staff and OPHS personnel regarding the laboratory quality system.
• Maintains laboratory ISO 17025 accreditation status through developing, revising, reviewing, approving, issuing, monitoring, and controlling quality system policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with other FSL and Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) personnel to ensure any developments or modifications to the quality system are reflected and considered within LIMS.
• Performs laboratory audits and targeted assessments, acts as liaison during external audits, and prepares and compiles the laboratory response to audit reports.
• Documents through objective evidence whether the laboratory is compliant with the overall quality assurance system and analytical methodology and determines if corrective actions are required.
• Continually evaluates laboratory safety, health, security and environmental practices and programs and provides technical guidance.
• Oversee the laboratory’s hazardous waste management program by assuring hazardous wastes are properly classified, accumulated, transported and stored.
• Conducts quarterly inspections of laboratory operations to verify compliance with applicable occupational safety and health regulations and established procedures.

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.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary or trial 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.

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 the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

Specialized Experience: For the GS-13 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 level) that demonstrates the following experiences: (You MUST demonstrate these requirements within your resume to show how you meet the experience requirements for this position).

• Performing microbiological or chemical laboratory analyses in a food laboratory setting.
• Working in a laboratory with a quality assurance or quality control program.
• Analyzing or reviewing microbiological or chemical data.
• Providing oral briefings, updates, or presentations involving microbiology or chemistry.
• Writing or participating in the creation or revision of scientific or quality system documents involving microbiology or chemistry.
• Experience in one of the following areas: developing project objectives, developing a plan to complete goals and objectives, working on a project to complete goals and deliverables, or evaluating methods, policies, or procedures for support of established guidelines.

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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications and competencies listed in this vacancy announcement. Only those highly rated by the subject matter experts will be referred to the selecting official. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the preliminary resume and education (if applicable) reviewrequired for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Leadership
• Planning and Evaluating
• Technical Competence
• Written Communication

In addition to the online questionnaire, applicants for this position will be evaluated by one or more subject matter experts. Please ensure that your resume does not simply list job duties, but also highlights accomplishments that demonstrate possession of the required competencies.

To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and assessment questionnaire, this position requires a preliminary resume and education review to evaluate competencies and education required to perform the job. Applicants meeting the basic eligibility and education requirements will have their resumes reviewed by a SME panel prior to qualifications. The SME panel review is an independent review of select competencies related to the duties and experience of the position.

Preference will be applied to applicants who move forward after the pre-certificate evaluation. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Non-competitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities need only meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

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 including removal from the Federal service.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12902550

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 being used 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, official transcripts will be required 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.

Current and former Federal employees:

• Most recent non-award (award SF-50's DO NOT contain all the information HR needs from this document) Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND
• Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute.

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