Supervisory Plant Protection & Quarantine Officer - California

As a Supervisory Plant Protection & Quarantine Officer, you will have statewide program responsibilities for federal employees, state cooperative agreement personnel, and/or private contract employees, managing Agricultural Quarantine Inspection and/or Domestic programs, and regulating insect survey, control, and eradication programs.

Duties

• The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Schedules inspections and other program activity for the work unit, much of which is at remote locations.
• Plans and manages the technical approach for inspections, treatments, survey/eradication programs, and quarantine applications.
• Gathers data to prepare annual budgets and operates within the allocation received.
• Ensures supplies, equipment, and facilities are sufficient for program needs, and makes recommendations for replacement, maintenance, and upgrades of equipment.
• Directs, assigns, and adjusts work for the local work unit according to changing circumstances.
• Provides scientific and technical advice on programs such as gypsy moth and/or treatments, and represents the agency at inter/intra governmental meetings.
• Evaluates and reviews the work of subordinates to meet program requirements through direct observation, report review, periodic spot-checks of work, and following up on problematic situations.
• Evaluates the organization’s success in meeting program objectives by implementing systems and techniques for ongoing work unit program reviews and work accomplishments.
• Performs physical reviews of trap lines, aerial application sites, mapping reports, and other activities related to domestic operations.

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.
• 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.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
• Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
• All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.
• Holiday and weekend overtime will occasionally be required.

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 in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, entomology, plant pathology, botany, taxonomy, zoology or other biological science or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR Combination of education and experience: post high school education with courses equivalent to a major, which is defined as 24 semester/36 quarter hours, in the biological sciences, agriculture, natural resources management, chemistry or related disciplines appropriate to the position, PLUS appropriate experience or additional course work.

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. Prioritizes and monitors the progress of work, including adherence with applicable policies, procedures, and regulations.
• 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, before they surface as major problems requiring greater intervention/escalation.
• Communicating complex issues, directions, guidance, and feedback. Applying political savvy to communicate both verbally and in writing with quarantine program employees and cooperators in local, state and other federal agencies.

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.

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

TRANSCRIPTS are required if:

• This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified.
• You are qualifying for the position based on education.
• You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.
• This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university

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. 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.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

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 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.
• 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. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee.
• Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
• Worksite Information: This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. Additional information regarding ad hoc, occasional, or reoccurring telework may be obtained at a later time from the hiring manager or program during the hiring process.