District Veterinary Medical Officer
What you'd do
Positions are located in the Office of Field Operations and reports to the District Office with assigned area of in-plant coverage as determined by Agency. This position serves as primary contact for all veterinary duties associated with food safety, animal welfare, foreign animal disease surveillance, ante-mortem and postmortem procedures and dispositions, and export certification. Location negotiable based on current vacancies. For most recent vacancy location(s) click: Here
Major duties
Interpret and analyze guidelines and regulations. Implement guidelines, policies, and regulations to provide personnel support. Conduct research and investigations to make judgments and recommendations. Foster working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Communicate guidelines and process to plant personnel. Draft recommendations, reports, and guidance documents. Apply veterinary medical concepts, principles, and practices. Perform onsite humane handling and good commercial practices verification activities.
What you need to qualify
Please reference the specific Office of Personnel Management (OPM) qualifications standards for the 0701 Job Series. 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 QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR THE SERIES AND THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree, i.e., Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD), obtained at a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education. The AVMA web site has a listing of all AVMA-accredited veterinary medical schools. OR Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools that are not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education must meet one of the following requirements and submit supporting documentation: Proof of certification of their final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) (Completion of ECFVG program). Possession of a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States that includes successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) or its predecessors, the National Board Examination (NBE) and the Clinical Competency Test (CCT). Proof that the education obtained in a foreign veterinary medical program is equivalent to that gained in a veterinary medical program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. Under this provision, equivalency is established only if an AVMA-accredited veterinary medical school or college accepts the graduate's final transcript from the foreign veterinary medical school at full value for placement into an advanced degree, postgraduate educational program, or training program (e.g. Residency or graduate program). Graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must also submit proof of proficiency in the English language by successfully completing one of the nationally and internationally recognized examinations that incorporate assessments of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Examples of examinations that assess mastery of the English language are shown below: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Minimum scores for the TOEFL are 560 for the paper-based version; 220 for the computer-based version; or overall score of 83 for the internet-based version (including 26 or higher in speaking, 26 or higher in listening, and 17 or higher in writing). For the computer-based and paper-based test versions, applicants must also complete the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and the Test of Written English (TWE). Minimum required scores are 55 for the TSE and 5.5 for the TWE; Academic tests (listening, writing, and speaking) offered by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 7.0, with at least 7.0 in speaking, 6.5 in listening, and 6.0 in writing; OR Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 70, with at least 60 in speaking, 60 in listening, and 50 in writing. English language proficiency assessments may also be waived for qualified job applicants whose native language is English (i.e. the official or common language of an individual's country of birth is English) AND they submit a diploma or other official documentation from the school as proof of graduation from a high (secondary) school where the entire curriculum and educational programs of the school are taught in the English language for the entire three or four years of full-time attendance. BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR THE GS-12 GRADE LEVEL - You must meet the basic requirements for the GS-11 grade level as described above in addition to requirements for the GS-12 level to qualify for positions at the GS-12 grade level. Qualification requirements for the GS-12 grade level and above are: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-11 grade level for consideration for the GS-12 grade level). Your 52 weeks of specialized experience must demonstrate the ability to perform, plan or manage veterinary medical activities. Qualifying experience includes: Experience applying and enforcing policies, practices, and regulations. Knowledge of veterinary medical concepts, scientific literature, and emerging issues related to food safety. Experience in coordination of new or revised veterinary medical policies, methods, or procedures. Experience interpreting and applying the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of the inspection program such as humane handling, Ante-Mortem/Post-Mortem inspection procedures conducted in slaughter establishments, Hazardous Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), or Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP). Experience establishing and maintaining relationships with internal and external stakeholders. BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR THE GS-13 GRADE LEVEL - You must meet the basic requirements for the GS-12 grade level as described above in addition to requirements for the GS-13 level to qualify for positions at the GS-13 grade level. Qualification requirements for the GS-13 grade level and above are: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-12 grade level for consideration for the GS-13 grade level). Your 52 weeks of specialized experience must demonstrate the ability to perform, plan or manage veterinary medical activities. Qualifying experience includes: Experience communicating with internal staff, industry personnel, or external partners to share or obtain information related to Ante-Mortem/Post-Mortem inspection procedures, humane handling, animal disease concerns, or field operations. Experience preparing reports or documentation related to inspection findings, animal disease issues, humane handling verification, or regulatory compliance. Experience providing information, training, or technical assistance to inspection personnel or industry employees on humane handling, inspection procedures, or food safety requirements. Experience researching or utilizing scientific literature, animal health information, or regulatory guidance to support veterinary program functions. Experience applying FSIS-approved guidelines or scientific principles to support Ante-Mortem/Post-Mortem inspection procedures, animal disease identification, humane handling practices, or food safety activities. 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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