Summary

The Program Auditor plans, leads, and conducts audits of domestic and foreign food safety inspection systems for meat, poultry, and egg products. Assesses compliance with the FMIA, PPIA, and EPIA; evaluates facilities, sanitation practices, HACCP systems, and overall program effectiveness. Conducts audits of foreign food safety inspection systems to verify that they are implemented in a manner equivalent to the FSIS inspection system in the United States.

Duties

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• Serves as a Program Auditor at the full performance level of this position.
• Plans, schedules, and performs audits to verify the implementation and effectiveness of State Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs and foreign food safety inspection systems.
• Identifies information sources, analyzes complex issues, and develops findings that support program decisions.
• Evaluates the impact of proposed policies or operational changes and develops clear guidance.
• Monitors emerging developments affecting assigned program areas, assesses potential impacts, and recommends program adjustments.
• Prepares and delivers clear written reports, briefing materials, and oral presentations for leadership or stakeholders.
• Builds understanding and support for program objectives by meeting with FSIS leaders, State officials, and foreign government officials.
• Leads or participates as a team leader on projects requiring coordination across FSIS and with external partners.
• Use technical and scientific expertise in the food safety field to help develop and implement effective audit policies and procedures.
• Responds to inquiries from Federal, State, and international government partners, industry, media, or public interest groups.
• Serves as a recognized authority on auditing foreign food safety inspection systems for countries exporting meat, poultry, and egg products to the United States.
• Represents OIEA before high-ranking officials in FSIS, USDA, foreign embassies, international trade, scientific, and regulatory organizations.

Qualifications

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.

Specialized Experience: You must have at least one year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service performing duties which include:

• Demonstrating knowledge of meat, poultry, and egg product statutes, international equivalence standards, FSIS regulations, policies, and audit methodologies;
• Planning, leading, and managing complex domestic and international audits, including equivalence determinations and program-wide assessments of foreign food safety inspection systems;
• Developing, implementing, and evaluating audit policies, procedures, and operating systems;
• Formulating long-range goals, resource strategies, and program priorities, and adjusting audit methodologies and program direction based on emerging scientific, regulatory, or geopolitical developments;
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with FSIS officials, state authorities, foreign governments, international regulatory bodies, and stakeholder organizations;
• Developing, presenting, and defending policies, conclusions, and recommendations in both written and oral form; and
• Evaluating audit results and interpreting regulatory and scientific information to make recommendations that influence program policies, international equivalence status, or public health outcomes.

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.

Education

In order to meet the basic educational requirements for the GS-0696 series, applicants must have:

1. A bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in quality assurance or a related degree that included at least 30 semester hours in one or a combination of the following: consumer laws, biological sciences, food science, chemistry, pharmacy, physical sciences, food technology, nutrition, medical science, engineering, epidemiology, veterinary medical science, legal investigations, law enforcement, or related scientific fields that provided knowledge directly related to consumer safety officer work.
2. The 30 semester hours may include up to 8 semester hours in statistics, or course work that included the principles, theory, or practical application of computers or computer programming.

Or

Combination of education and experiencecourses consisting of at least 30 semester hours in the fields of study described in paragraph 1 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college, or university, visit Dept of Education Accredited Schools. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit NACES. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

Note:Copies of transcripts are required for this announcement; the CSO letters and worksheets previously issued to FSIS employees that documented meeting CSO educational requirements is not sufficient alone to document education; USDA policy requires copies of transcripts for this position.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.