Supervisory Plant Protection and Quarantine Officer

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.

The duties may include, but are not limited to:

• 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.

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 science, 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-12 LEVEL: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement, applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Planning, coordinating, and conducting all aspects of operational activities, including special programs, newly emerging programs or operational functions with subordinates, cooperators, industry and other government entities for a plant pest and disease program.
• Analyzing data and developing recommendations regarding solutions to technical problems.
• Managing the work of subordinates, developing and monitoring short and long-range work plans.
• Planning and managing the technical approach for inspections, treatments, survey/eradication programs, and quarantine applications for a plant pest and disease program. Initiating and modifying techniques and procedures to meet changing program requirements.
• Evaluating and reviewing the work of subordinates to meet program requirements through direct observation, report review, periodic spot-checks of work in progress and following up on problematic situations as they arise.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any specialized experience and/or selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, your application is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To preview the application questionnaire, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12446070