Interdisciplinary Supervisory Biologist or Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer

Full Job Description

This position will help implement USDA's Veterinary Biologics Program under the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act, will lead efforts that uphold scientific integrity, regulatory compliance, and laboratory standards.

This work will strengthen animal health systems, support disease control and eradication, and safeguard public confidence in veterinary biologics.

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility 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 time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: 0701 - Veterinary Medical Officer: see Education section 0401 - Biologist Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, 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.

The quality of the combination must demonstrate that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of the position and is comparable to that normally acquired through the completion of a full four-year course of study with a major as described above.

In addition to the basic requirement above, applicants must also meet the following: FOR THE GS-13 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Experience in managing multiple projects and priorities and/or communicating scientific decisions and recommendations to colleagues and management.

Instructing and guiding others regarding conduct of diagnostic tests, vaccine quality control or potency tests or molecular biology tests including trouble-shooting, improving methods, and facilitating collaboration.

Developing, evaluating, and/or improving diagnostic methods and processes, such as molecular (PCR/NGS) or serological assays (ELISA/Western Blot).

EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION: 0401 - There is No Education Substitution.

0701 - Successful completion of a PhD degree in an area of specialization including, but not limited to: animal science, avian medicine, food safety, infectious diseases, veterinary clinical sciences, pathobiology, biomedical sciences, veterinary anatomy, veterinary preventive medicine, comparative biological sciences, epidemiology, veterinary parasitology, molecular veterinary biosciences, public health, microbiology, pathology, immunology, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, wildlife, zoological animal medicine, or other sciences related to the work of a veterinary medical officer position.

OR RESIDENCY/POST GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE GS-13 GRADE LEVEL.

Successful completion of three years of an internship, residency program, or fellowship training program in a discipline related to the position.

Applicants should provide a certificate or letter documenting the completion of this program.

OR BOARD CERTIFICATION FOR THE GS-13 GRADE LEVEL-Specialty boards that are recognized by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) certify eligible candidates as specialists in specific veterinary medical fields.

Veterinarians who successfully complete all requirements for Diplomate status in an ABVS-recognized veterinary specialty organization may qualify for the GS-13 grade level.

Applicants should provide a certificate or letter documenting their diplomate status.

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-0701-13 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. Major Duties:

• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Establish work schedules during high volume periods and establishing long-term (1 year or more) staffing needs with sufficient lead time for positions to be filled without work disruption.
• Responsible for developing, documenting and interpreting licensing and testing policy for the assigned area of expertise for which they have responsibility.
• Oversight, performance, and problem resolution of biologics testing assays.
• Plans, organizes, and develops investigational studies for developing new methodology, improving, evaluating, and validating new testing techniques.
• Serves as a resource expert for issues involving vaccine testing and evaluation.