Agricultural Commodity Grader (Grain)

US-Agricultural-Marketing-Servic; Jonesboro (AR); On-site; USD 48,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

US Agricultural Marketing Service seeks personnel to make final grade determinations on products graded under federal acts. The role may involve weighing at grain handling facilities and rotating between facilities within the assigned area to ensure coverage across all locations where FGIS services are provided.

Applicants must meet qualifications by the closing date, including specialized experience and/or education.

Qualifications

• Three years of progressively responsible experience for GS-05; duties at or above the next lower level.
• Experience demonstrates ability to identify problems, gather data, and recognize solutions.
• Education plus experience may qualify; other combinations are considered.

Responsibilities

• Make final grade determinations on products graded under Acts.
• Perform weighing activities at grain handling facilities.
• Rotate between facilities within the assigned area and maintain knowledge of facilities served by FGIS.

Skills

Identify problems

Plan and organize work

Office software

Education

Bachelor's degree

Graduate level education (1 year)

Job description

In this position you will make final grade determinations on products standardized under the Acts and may perform weighing activities at grain handling facilities. May rotate between all facilities within his/her assigned area and is responsible for knowledge of those facilities where Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) services are provided.

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

FOR THE GS-05 LEVEL

Applicants must have three years of progressively responsible experience, one year of which was equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level in the Federal Service (equivalent to the GS-04 level) (experience may have been obtained in private or public sectors), that demonstrates the ability to:

• Identify problems, gather pertinent data or recognize solutions.
• Plan and organize work.
• Utilize office software such as: Adobe, Excel, Word.

Experience must provide evidence of the skills shown above. General clerical experience (typing, filing, routine processing, or other non-specialized repetitive tasks) is not creditable.

OR: Successfully completed a 4-year course of study, from an accredited college or university, leading to a bachelor's degree.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL

Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Inspecting/ Grading products utilizing grading standards and regulations.
• Drawing samples of product.
• Prioritize assignments and meet targeted deadlines.

OR 1 full year of graduate level education in Agriculture, Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Business, Economics, or related subjects.

OR Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institutionAND1) have a class standing in the upper third of the graduating class, 2) membership in a national scholastic honor society (excluding Freshman honor societies), or 3) must meet certain GPA requirements. GPA requirements: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on official transcripts or as computed based on 4 years of education, or courses completed during the final 2 year of the curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required course completed in the major field or courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum (GPA will be rounded to one decimal place, e.g., 2.95 rounds to 3.0 and 2.94 rounds to 2.9).

Note: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL

Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Applying quality assurance principles and methods to maintain the integrity of the equipment program.
• Utilizing official grain weighing and inspection processes including making independent decisions regarding normal daily weighing operations and evaluation.
• Applying chemical and physical test procedures to accurately and safely provide grading information.

OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree in Agriculture, Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Business, Economics, or related subjects; OR 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

TRANSCRIPTS are required if:

• You are qualifying for the position based on education.
• You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.
• You are qualifying for this position based on Superior Academic Achievement.
• This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university.

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-05/07/09 GRADE LEVELS:

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.