Staff Scientist (Interdisciplinary)
What you'd do
This position is located in the within the Office of Policy and Program Development (OPPD). Risk Management and Innovations Staff (RMIS) handles technical evaluations for new food safety technologies. This position is interdisciplinary and can be filled in one of the following disciplines: General Natural Resources Management And Biological Sciences, Microbiology, Consumer Safety, Chemistry or Food Technology
Major duties
Plans, develops, and drafts Agency policy, directives, notices, and industry guidance. Identifies significant development related to the assigned program area, prepares analyses of the implications and recommends program modifications. Develops, publicizes, and garners support for the program agenda by meeting with other Agency program officials, key executives within the Department and USDA, as well as external agencies and parties. Serves as a scientist, as a lead of a project team, and as a technical professional with USDA. Initiates, plans, and conducts projects, and surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of both operational and public health performance related to food safety policy implementation and modernization to develop recommendations to modify programs. While developing policy documents and leading teams, identifies conflicts or problems, communicates them to leadership and resolves them, as needed.
What you need to qualify
Specialized Experience: 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. One year of specialized experience (equivalent to GS-12) is experience that equipped the applicant with the 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. A GS-13 Staff Scientist requires at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level. Your experience must include all of the following: Serve as a Staff Scientist, lead of a project team, and technical professional; Develop project plans, adjust resources to meet the needs of a project, and stay within timelines; Analyze projects related to public health, which include the study, design, analyses, and interpretation of results; Plan, develop, and draft policy, including directives, notices, or other correspondence designed to clarify and implement Agency policy with a focus on attention to detail and accuracy; Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of professionals to include scientists, attorneys, policy writers, public health specialists, veterinarians, food inspectors, or compliance specialists to coordinate the work of and provide technical leadership to other employees throughout the Agency. Apply independent judgment, sound reasoning, attention to detail, and subject matter expertise to analyze, develop, and implement complex regulatory policy. Serving as a spokesperson and source of information for technical and non-technical audiences in order to advise on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)-based food safety programs, as well as animal and food science principles to produce safe meat, poultry, and egg products from farm-to-table that are properly labeled and packaged. 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. Since this is an interdisciplinary scientific role, you must also prove you meet the Basic Education Requirement for at least one of the parent occupational series that you are applying to. Transcripts required.
Before you apply
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