Supervisory Plant Protection & Quarantine Officer

Austin Community College; Oregon (IL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job description

As a Supervisory Plant Protection and Quarantine Officer, you serve in a vital role protecting the health, welfare and agricultural economy of the United States of America and to facilitate agricultural exports. You will supervise a staff of professional employees (e.g., Officers), administrative and a substantial, fluctuating work force of permanent and temporary technical/aid level employees in the Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (AQI) and Domestic programs.

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

Key Responsibilities

• Implements regulatory, treatment, and/or inspection programs in order to facilitate exports of agricultural products.
• Plans and manages the technical approach for inspections, treatments, survey/eradication programs, and quarantine applications.
• Plans and organizes the work and training of subordinate employees; administers overtime; approves leave of subordinate employees.
• Prepares annual budget within given allocations ensuring supplies, equipment, and facilities are sufficient for program needs.
• Evaluates and reviews the work of the subordinates and formulates work accomplishment reports.
• Determines when additional staffing is required; initiates recruitment requests, conducts interviews, and makes selections.
• Conducts program assessments and develops long-range work plans at local levels.

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• 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.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Successful completion of one-year trial period.
• All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting.

Qualifications

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 REQUIREMENT: Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Planning, organizing and providing expert support of import, export, survey and/or regulatory quarantine work for a plant pest and disease program.
• Providing general direction, guidance, feedback and coaching to co-workers.
• Planning and organizing work due to staffing fluctuations and changing circumstances.
• Analyzing, identifying and addressing potentially adverse operational issues at the lowest level.
• Communicating complex issues, directions, guidance, and feedback.

OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements.

Additional Information

• 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.
• First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected.
• Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid.
• This is a term appointment not to exceed 13 Months.
• Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan.
• Worksite Information: This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week.