Interdisciplinary - Veterinary Medical Officer / Agriculturist (DASAT Senior Inspector)

Full Job Description

The Division of Agricultural Select Agents and Toxins (DASAT) Senior Inspector enforces APHIS policies, procedures, and regulations pertaining to the entity registration for the possession, use and transfer of APHIS listed select agents and toxins.

They ensure compliance by monitoring proper procedures are in place and the required forms and documents are on file and in order.

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including 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.

All applicants must meet the Basic Requirement outlined in the Education section below.

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: Applying a broad range of veterinary medical science, plant pathology, agricultural science and/or microbiology concepts to oversee, inspect and mange registered entities which possess, use, or transfer select agents to ensure compliance with the Agriculture Bioterrorism Act of 2002.

Making significant decisions or recommendations impacting the possession, use or transfer of select agents using knowledge of agricultural or veterinary medical sciences such as epidemiology, immunology, serology, microbiology, pathology, parasitology, toxicology, and animal and public health.

Evaluating the implementation of new developments, policies, procedures and guidance of the select agent program to ensure compliance of select agent requirements by entities and assuring uniform enforcement using extensive knowledge of laws, regulations and other requirements relating to the Agricultural Bioterrorism Act of 2002.

Conduct briefings and make presentations on select agent program activities, make recommendations to improve policies and procedures, and generate written documents such as inspection reports, standard operating procedures, presentations, and other products in a clear, concise, professional manner.

OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-13 GRADE LEVEL: 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.

This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified.

this education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college or university. 0401 series: Transcripts are required.

See details in the Qualifications section above. If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts.

An unofficial copy is sufficient if it includes your name and all course information. If selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entering on duty.

Education must have been obtained from an accredited institution.

Education completed in a foreign institution must include an evaluation by an organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs that it was deemed equivalent to an accredited U.S.

education program. For further information, see: Foreign Education Evaluation. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

0701 series: Proof of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Degree or equivalent is required. See additional requirements for this in the Required Documents section below.

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:
• Reviews biosafety and containment protocols; security infrastructure; incident response procedures and protocols; records; and other requirements for compliance with the select agent regulations.
• Provides veterinary medical or biological expertise on the uniform and accurate application of national standards for biosafety and animal or plant containment standards.
• Monitors compliance with regulations on issues pertaining to registrations, possession and use, as well as security, containment, and transfer of select biological agents and toxins.
• Inspects and provides oversight over an established number of entities applying to register, or registered entities which possess, use, or transfer select agents, to ensure compliance.
• Interprets policy and regulatory requirements, determines their impact on program needs and provides recommendations for improvements.