Program Analyst
What you'd do
This position is in the Regulations Development Staff (RDS) of the Office of Policy and Program Development. RDS has primary responsibility for the analysis and development of all FSIS regulations published in the Federal Register and subsequently incorporated into the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). This vacancy is also being announced concurrently with vacancy announcement FSIS-26-MCE-12981158-JKM under Pathways (Recent Graduates Program) procedures.
Major duties
Develop regulations for food safety and consumer protection activities, including drafting instructions for field staff and regulatory programs. Plan, coordinate, and execute the development, clearance, and publication of new FSIS regulations. Collaborate with subject matter experts to create the form and content of regulations, directives, and notices. Implement innovative approaches to regulatory activities to enhance the quality of FSIS regulations. Analyze industry issues and developments affecting meat, poultry, and egg products, recommending changes to FSIS program operations and regulatory requirements. Determine necessary regulatory actions and instructions for FSIS personnel after operational changes are planned. Schedule and carry out the implementation of regulatory actions ranging from straightforward to complex rulemaking. Draft regulations with clear and legally sufficient expressions of FSIS program requirements and policies. Oversee the development and writing of directives and notices, resolving conflicts and ensuring consensus among management officials. Provide analytic and evaluative assistance to improve FSIS regulatory analysis and development functions by investigating and disseminating regulatory initiatives and studies. Propose improvements to FSIS regulatory documents, including readability enhancements and incorporation of graphics, charts, and tables. Inform FSIS management of regulatory and strategic initiative progress through briefing papers and personal briefings. Coordinate with FSIS staff on public affairs and congressional relations related to regulatory initiatives. Assist in setting up new FSIS regulatory programs or significantly impacting the implementation of existing programs. Evaluate public comments on proposed regulations, recommend appropriate changes, and coordinate review of responses by program staff. Work closely with the Office of the General Counsel to resolve legal issues in proposed regulations and consult with relevant stakeholders to address concerns.
What you need to qualify
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 the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled (e.g. one year at the GS-11 grade level for consideration for the GS-12 grade level). MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience for the respective grade level in which you are applying. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: At the GS-12 level, applicants must demonstrate one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level that includes particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. This experience must include all of the following or equivalent: Drafting proposed and final rules and other Federal Register documents, ensuring they are accurate, complete, and compliant with agency standards and procedural requirements. Conducting research and analysis of statutes, regulations, policy documents, prior rulemakings, and program information to develop the rationale and content for regulatory documents. Drafting written responses to stakeholders, such as petition responses, that clearly explain statutory and regulatory requirements, agency policy, and program processes. Drafting guidance for industry and drafting internal instructions, such as notices or directives, that communicate regulatory or program requirements. Serving as the lead for dockets, coordinating with economists, risk assessors, policy analysts, and technical specialists to obtain and incorporate needed information. Planning and managing regulatory projects, including establishing timelines, tracking milestones, coordinating reviews, resolving routine drafting issues, and preparing materials for clearance. Collaborating with legal counsel to address comments or revisions needed to ensure documents comply with the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and other statutory or procedural requirements. Preparing memos, briefings, reports, and decision materials that communicate regulatory issues, analytical findings, and policy context to leadership. At the GS-13 level, applicants must demonstrate one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level that includes particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. This experience must include all of the following or equivalent: Drafting significant proposed and final rules that involve novel policy issues or have greater economic or programmatic impact, producing work that generally requires limited supervisory revision. Conducting complex research and analysis of statutes, regulations, policy documents, public comments, and technical information to address challenging or emerging regulatory issues and develop the rationale and content for regulatory actions. Preparing written responses to stakeholders, such as petition responses, that clearly explain statutory and regulatory requirements, agency policy, and program processes, including those involving more complex or sensitive matters. Leading the development of guidance for industry and internal instructions, such as notices or directives, ensuring content is clear, accurate, and aligned with regulatory requirements, including for more complex or high-priority topics. Serving as the lead for significant dockets, coordinating with economists, risk assessors, policy analysts, and technical specialists to ensure all components supporting the rule are completed accurately, consistently, and on schedule. Managing significant regulatory projects, including planning work, monitoring timelines, identifying and addressing complex drafting or coordination challenges, and ensuring documents are ready for internal and external clearance. Collaborating with legal counsel to confirm that significant documents comply with the APA and other statutory or procedural requirements. Preparing memos, briefings, reports, and decision materials for leadership that present complex regulatory issues, alternatives, impacts, and recommended actions clearly and effectively. For positions with a career ladder up to GS-13, specialized experience is progressively more demanding at each level and must clearly demonstrate increasing technical knowledge, independence, and responsibility related to drafting regulations, analyzing program issues, and developing instructions or policy documents. 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.
Before you apply
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