Plant Protection and Quarantine Officer (Plant Health Safeguarding Specialist)

Full Job Description

If selected for this position, you will serve as a primary liaison for the Agency on operational activities working with state officials, other agencies, related industry officials, colleges and universities and other internal and external stakeholders interested in activities affected by Agency regulatory and plant quarantine programs.

Major duties include plant pest treatments, import/export activities, permit and compliance reviews, and pest detection activities.

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, 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.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must demonstrate the below: FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-5 grade level) that demonstrates: Carrying out survey measures for the presence and extent of plant diseases.

Deploying and monitoring survey traps. Inspecting routine agricultural products for import/export. Conducting approved control and eradication measures. Maintaining daily records of inspection work.

OR 1 year of graduate level education in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

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 institution AND 1) 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).

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. 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-7 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 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.
• Plans, coordinates, and conducts all aspects of operational activities including special programs, newly emerging programs or operational functions with cooperators, other government entities, industries, private citizens and other stakeholders.
• Serves as accredited certifying official regarding export certification.
• Performs inspections using various detection tools, regulation and clearance of propagative plant material, plant products and identification at Plant Inspection Stations and/or other facilities.
• Plans, conducts and/or monitors various treatments and remedial measures such as disinfection, sterilization, fumigation, cold treatment, hot water treatment, irradiation of regulated articles for plant and animal pests and diseases.
• Monitors and enforces compliance agreements, conducts inspections for containment facilities, permit conditions, and BRS inspections.
• Other duties, as assigned.