In this position you will provide expertise in fungal biology, taxonomy and risk analysis as a recognized specialist and consultant or team member to agency import policy staff, survey design groups, survey personnel, and Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) program managers. You will also review, evaluate and suggest modifications of inspection methodologies and approaches as an enhancement to plant pest and plant disease surveillance systems.
Responsibilities
- 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:
- Identifies or verifies identification of plant associated fungi and may identify other pathogens, viruses and isolate nematodes; to genus and/or species level.
- Develops and maintains specimen collections of fungi and other plant pathogens pertinent to programs in the incumbent's area of coverage.
- Maintains, develops, and supplements information on taxonomy, hosts, distribution and other related information pertaining to intercepted and/or survey plant associated fungi.
- Develops or aids in developing training modules and appropriately illustrated identification aids and works with national program staff to deliver training to PPQ, DHS and State employees.
- Determines options for quarantine actions to be enforced by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ).
- Consults advises DHS, State departments of agriculture and other cooperators on the identity and biology of and procedures for detecting plant associated fungi.
- Monitors samples submitted for identification, pest interception, survey data, and pest detection techniques.
- Works with local and regional regulatory personnel to analyze and characterize pest risk of pathways, contributing critical expertise on pest biology, taxonomy and detection methods.
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.
- Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
- Overtime will be mandatory.
- Must be able to perform work while wearing a respirator while overseeing fumigations.
- Essential functions require the work to be performed in an inspection station or a laboratory setting.
- There are regular and recurring risks associated with working around and with chemicals.
- This position is telework eligible in special, rare circumstances.
- Must be able to travel on a routine basis and be willing to work at odd times, including overtime, weekends, holidays and shifts.
- A visual test of mycology identification may be part of the interview process for this position.
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: plant pathology; or a related scientific discipline that included at least 20 semester hours in basic botany or plant science, and 10 semester hours in plant pathology.
Graduate Education: must have been in plant pathology, or in one of the recognized subject-matter fields of plant pathology, or have followed a curriculum or pattern of training that placed major emphasis on plant pathology or one of the recognized subject-matter fields of plant pathology.
FOR THE GS-9 LEVEL
Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-7 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
- Experience with agricultural quarantine principles, regulations, methods, and policies in a plant pest and disease program.
- Detect, identify, intercept, and characterize microscopic pathogens of a wide variety of plant genera, with an emphasis on classification/ taxonomy.
- Developed and maintained specimen collections of plant pests pertinent to programs on the identity and biology of and procedures for detecting plant pests and pathogens.
- Preparing and processing biological and commodity shipments to national identification services.
- Aids in developing informative and educational training material and identification aids for plant diseases and assists in delivering training to the general public.
OR
2 years of graduate-level education leading to a master's degree in plant pathology, or a related scientific discipline.
Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-9 GRADE LEVEL
Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements.
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