Summary
These positions are assigned to the Eastern, Midwestern, and Western Laboratories, which are multidisciplinary laboratories under the Office of Public Health Science (OPHS), Laboratory Regulatory Operations (LRO). OPHS develops (collects, analyzes, and reports) scientific information related to meat, poultry, and egg products, from their production to consumption and uses that information to assess potential human health risks throughout the farm-to-table continuum.
Duties
Responsible for the receipt, identification, preparation, distribution, and storage of all types of monitoring, surveillance, special agent and compliance investigative samples.
Ensures the proper handling and storage of incoming/reserve samples and ensures the legal integrity of those samples.
Assures the correct target tissues are distributed to the appropriate laboratory sections and maintains control of samples designated for multiple disciplines.
Maintains sufficient inventory and distributes all shipping supplies and sampling kits for FSIS sampling programs and special programs, upon request.
Ensures all work adheres and meets the requirements under International Organization for Standardization 17025 (ISO 17025).
Prepares sample boxes for return to inspectors. Cleans or recovers overwraps, restocks appropriate supplies, and affixes project-specific labels to boxes.
Receives/delivers all laboratory supplies, equipment, furniture, and chemicals purchased by the laboratory.
Processes related documentation, inputs items in laboratory inventory database, and obtains certificates of analysis.
Maintains contract carrier’s (e.g., Federal Express, UPS) shipping database.
Provides input to the Lead Supply and Sample Handling Specialist before the start of new projects to ensure timely and proper shipment of sampling supplies.
Enters information relative to the receipt and shipment of supplies and reagents into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
Maintains forklift certification, knowledge of warehouse safety rules, Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, and regulations governing hazardous waste.
Determines which samples involve chain of custody requirements for legal samples to be used as evidence and maintains required documentation.
Maintains knowledge of directives, memos, work instructions, rules, and regulations to monitor safety, health, and the environment of surrounding areas.
Education
For the GS-05: You can qualify based on education alone for this grade with four years of education above high school. For the GS-06: You cannot qualify based on education alone for this grade. For the GS-07: You cannot qualify based on education alone for this grade. Transcripts are required and must be submitted with your application. An unofficial copy is sufficient; however, it must include student name, school name, and enough information to validate qualifications such as course names, prefixes, grades, semester or quarter credit hours, date degree was awarded, etc. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. Additional information regarding this requirements can be found here. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to entering on duty. Education must have been obtained from an accredited school, college, or university, Follow this link to verify your institution's credentialing: Follow this link to verify your institution's credentialing: Dept. of Education Accredited Schools If any education was completed at a foreign institution, you must submit evidence that the institution is accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. Follow these links to those credentialing organizations: National Association of Credential Evaluation Services Association of International Credential Evaluators
How you will be evaluated
Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of two or three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent to which they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies: Compliance Conscientiousness Customer Service Physical Strength and Agility Teamwork If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire competency-based assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the email or the closing of the announcement. NOTE: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to and including removal from the Federal service. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) your resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13065238