Summary

Serves as a Supervisory Chemist in a Chemistry Branch of the Laboratory Regulatory Operations (LRO), OPHS. Provides oversight of laboratory operations, including the chemical analysis of official samples submitted nationwide, and the leads adaptation and validation of methods and test systems for meat, poultry, egg, and Siluriformes products. Ensures timely completion of analyses, adherence to quality and safety standards, and effective resource management.

Duties

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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.

Requirements

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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.

Education

** Applicants must provide copies of all transcripts that show you meet the requirement below. DO NOT simply submit your highest level of education.

Individual Occupational Requirements, IOR

Basic Requirements:

1. Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics.

OR

2. Combination of education and experience course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Educational and Training Provisions:you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application as long as it includes: student name, school name, and enough information to validate qualifications (course names, prefixes, grades, semester or quarter credit hours, date degree was awarded, etc.). If 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. Verify accreditation here: Dept. of Education Accredited Schools. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit evidence that the institute was accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and is equivalent to U.S. education standards. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit NACES. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional information

This announcement may be used to fill additional like vacancies should any occur in the announced duty location(s).

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.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).

Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.

For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website.

Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Refer to PUBLIC LAW 114-47-AUG. 7, 2015 for more information.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based 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 Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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