Clarification from the agency

Current permanent federal employees with competitive status, Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, Farm Service Agency permanent county employees, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP, VEOA eligible, and Military Spouses.

• Supervise a team of chemists, physical science technicians, and related fields in a high-throughput analytical laboratory that provides technical expertise and support to other offices within FSIS and other governmental agencies.
• Execute a quality control program to ensure that all testing meets or exceeds the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17025 and FSIS quality system policies.
• Provide scientific expertise in chemistry to plan, develop, update, and implement laboratory methods to meet the needs and public health priorities of the agency.
• Prepare and present oral and written reports on program assignments to agency officials, and at scientific meetings.
• Collaborate with the laboratory director and other officials planning, coordinating long-range objectives and resolving problems related to the inspection of meat, poultry, Siluriformes, and egg products to protect the health of the consumer.

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.
• 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.
• If you are newly hired, the documentation you present for purposes of completing the Department Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 on your entry-on-duty date will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" system.
• 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.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all eligibility and qualification 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: Your resume must demonstrate how you have one year of experience at the GS-12 grade or its equivalent in the following areas. It is important to show your demonstrated experiences for all of the experience listed below 1-4.

1. Conducting multi-analyte chemical analyses using advanced instrumentation (e.g., LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, ICP-MS, or equivalent platforms). Your resume must show in detail the types of analyses you have performed and the instruments you have used.
2. Developing, modifying, validating, or verifying analytical methods to perform chemical testing and identifying the need to develop new testing methods and approaches.
3. Working within an established quality management system (e.g., ISO/IEC 17025), including adherence to documented procedures, audits, corrective actions, proficiency testing, and/or traceability requirements.
4. Preparing or revising laboratory documents such as standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, method validation reports, corrective action documents, or quality assurance records.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps or AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, or 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 listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Attention to Detail
• Decision Making
• Managing Human Resources
• Oral Communication
• Technical Competence
• Technical Credibility

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the 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. 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 to 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 rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. 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.

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/12843202

If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire competency based assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the email or the closing of the announcement.

USA Hire reasonable accommodation (RA) requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Pub. L. 93-112) (Rehab. Act), as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application.

We must receive your request for RA prior to starting the assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire assessments, based on your adjudication decision.

To determine if you need a reasonable accommodation, please review the procedures for requesting a reasonable accommodation for online assessments here: USA Hire reasonable accommodation

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 so focus on the experience requirements for the position.

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

Education is required or being used to determine eligibility and/or 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 Federal employees:

• Most recent non-award 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.

Current permanent FSA County employees must submit your most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing your highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) per above.

Veteran Hiring Authorities: VEOA: DD-214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, that 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.

Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act: Copies of Notification of Personnel Action(s) (SF-50) showing the employee served in eligible appointment(s) for a period(s) of more than 24 mos. w/o a break between appointments of two+ years. Include initial hire actions, extensions, conversions and separation Sf-50s for each period. Submit performance rating(s) showing acceptable performance for each period counted towards eligibility signed by supervisor(s). If documentation does not exist for one or more periods, submit a statement from supervisor(s) indicating acceptable performance. Applicants who do not have performance documentation for any period shall provide a reason why the documentation is not available and statement that performance for all periods was at an acceptable level.

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. If your displacement came during your probationary period you would not be eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP.

If claiming eligibility under a special hiring authority or an interchange agreement with another merit system not listed above, see the requirements for that authority and submit the required supporting documentation. Go to USAJOBS Hiring Path for Special Authorities or Special Hiring Authority for more information.

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