Summary

This position is assigned to the Office of Policy and Program Development (OPPD) in the FSIS of the USDA. One of the functions of OPPD's Labeling and Program Delivery Staff (LPDS) is to develop labeling policies and administer programs to promote and protect public health and protect consumers from misbranded and economical adulterated meat, poultry and egg products.

Duties

Help

• Participates in the development of labeling policies, regulations, and labeling compliance procedures for label approval, including labeling requirements, generic label approval and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) programs.
• Participates in the prior label approval process by evaluating meat, poultry, and egg product labels submitted for FSIS approval.
• Reviews and analyze food processing techniques to assess their impact on labeling and standards policies.
• Examines professional and scientific sources on food processing, ingredient technology, and labeling issues to inform policy development.
• Provides technical advice on labeling terminology to ensure clarity for consumers of meat, poultry, and egg products.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary or trial period, unless previously served. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• False statements or responses on a resume or application can jeopardize employment and may be grounds for disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.
• If you are selected, you may need to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) prior to being appointed to determine suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

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.

Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-12 is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 level. (Must submit your non-award SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade.)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 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 Officer requires at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level. Your experience must include:

• Plans, implements, and conducts complex food safety research.
• Enforces laws regarding consumer product safety, and labeling.
• Manages complex investigations and resolves high-level compliance issues.
• Develop new food processing methods.
• Identifies misbranded and adulterated products.

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

Staff Officer GS-0696-13 - Consumer Safety Series 0696

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

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.

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 A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Click here for more information on this series: Consumer Safety Series 0696

Staff Officer GS-0630-13 - Dietetics and Nutrition Series 0630

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in the fields of dietetics, food, nutrition, food service management, institution management, or related science. The educational program must have been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics(external link) (ACEND), or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. For dietitian positions, the curriculum must have been in accordance with the qualifying requirements established by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND)(external link) (formerly American Dietetic Association(external link) (ADA) prior to January 1, 2012) in effect at the time of graduation.

OR

Completion of a coordinated undergraduate program, internship, or other clinical component approved by AND (formerly ADA) for dietitians or nutritionists.

OR

Professional registration as a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).

Click here for more information on this series: Dietetics and Nutrition Series 0630

Staff Officer GS-1382-13 - Food Technology Series

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

Basic Requirements:

Degree: food technology, or dairy technology, microbiology, biology, chemistry, physics, or a related discipline or field of biological or physical science. The course work must have been comprised of at least 30 semester hours in the basic biological and physical sciences, and included at least 20 semester hours in food technology and closely related subjects, or 20 semester hours in subjects that can be applied directly to food technology.

OR

Combination of education and experience courses equivalent to a major, including the course work specified, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Click here for more information on this series: Food Technology Series 1382

MUST SUBMIT TRANSCRIPTS

The education must have been obtained at a college, university, or an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

Expand Hide additional information

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

Help

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.

Review our benefits

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.