Biological Scientist (Emergency Coordinator)
What you'd do
The Biological Scientist (Emergency Coordinator) is responsible for providing advice and guidance to Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL) leadership at the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility (NBAF) on emergency requirements and homeland security issues, especially those relating to animal health, plant health, and planning for all-hazards incidents. Your work may have national implications in protecting animals, plants, and personnel from disease of epidemic proportions.
Major duties
The duties may include, but are not limited to: Designs, executes, interprets, and reports on laboratory emergency response plans associated with laboratory activities involved in an emergency involving a high consequence disease of livestock. Maintains accurate training and logistics records regarding the development of response plans and after action reports. Ensures emergency response equipment is always maintained at the highest level of operability, and modifications and related equipment are completed in accordance with agency standards. Provides recommendations to leadership on laboratory emergency response activation levels and coordinates appropriate staffing to support real-world and training events. Facilitates emergency support to significant recurring exercises and continuity training for laboratory staff. Develops solutions to administrative, equipment, or resource complications that may arise in an emergency laboratory response. Responds to internal and external requests for information, provides situational reporting and executes notifications from disease response platforms and other program offices and agencies as necessar Meets all program obligations and procedures required in maintaining biological agent and select agent inventories and records.
What you need to qualify
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: Successfully completed bachelor's or higher degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, 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. The quality of the combination must demonstrate that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of the position and is comparable to that normally acquired through the completion of a full four-year course of study with a major as described above. FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: 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: Applying foundational knowledge of biological sciences to support emergency response preparedness. Developing, reviewing, or updating emergency response plans, procedures, or other documents related to laboratory, scientific, or disease response events. Designing or assisting in emergency response exercises, drills, or other training programs, collecting observations and preparing after action documentation to improve readiness and response procedures. Using qualitative and quantitative methods to gather, analyze, and interpret information needed to support continuity and contingency planning, hazard assessments, and preparedness guidance. Communicating technical information related to emergency roles and response measures to stakeholders to support coordinated preparedness efforts. Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: 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. 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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