Summary

If selected you will serve as the Chief of New World Screwworm (NWS) Stakeholder Engagement and are responsible for developing, planning, designing, and executing comprehensive stakeholder engagement strategies that support the Agency's overall mission, goals, and policies. This position reports to the supervisor of the NWS Communications and Partnerships team.

Duties

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• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Ensures that APHIS' NWS response is closely coordinated with key stakeholders, state partners, and other Agency programs.
• Implements plans and strategies that result in effective response communication and coordination approach.
• Works collaboratively across multiple program areas to coordinate domestic and international partnerships ensuring transparency of response activities and a coalition of support.
• Makes recommendations and briefs leadership regarding stakeholder engagement strategy regarding day-to-day activities as well as long-term planning.
• Proactively identifies the need to shift activities based on data analysis, and presents the findings to leadership to gain Agency and Departmental support for operational activities that advance NWS eradiation.
• Applies scientific expertise to ensure that NWS communication and partnerships policies initiatives are scientifically sound and effective against the introduction and spread of the pest.
• Balances the needs of state partners and the U.S. livestock industry to ensure a well-rounded response.

Requirements

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Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

All applicants must meet the Basic Requirement outlined in the Education section below.

FOR THE GS-14 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-13 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Collaborating with internal and external partners including federal agencies, contractors, and state governments on sensitive and complex topics to support organizational goals.
• Serving as spokesperson on program activities with the ability to present in a wide range of forums with senior-level industry, state partners, and international officials.
• Translating technical findings into policy-relevant recommendations and align them with long-term strategic goals.
• Appling scientific expertise to ensure initiatives are scientifically sound and effective while also balancing the needs of stakeholders.
• Using stakeholder feedback to assess operational performance, identifying solutions to optimize, and gaining buy-in from senior leaders to implement.

Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level.

TRANSCRIPTS are required. This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. this education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college or university.

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

BASIC REQUIREMENT: 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 Council on Education (AVMA). The AVMA website has a listing of all AVMA-accredited veterinary medical schools. AVMA website: https://www.avma.org

ORGraduates of foreign veterinary medical schools that are not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education must meet one of the following requirements:

a) Proof of certification of their final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG);

b) 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); OR

c) 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. An AVMA-accredited veterinary medical school or college must have accepted the 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).

In addition, graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must also provide 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:

a) 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.

b) 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

c) 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.

Graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must submit test results with their application. Results of more than one test or testing session cannot be combined to meet the standard.

Waiver Provision: English language proficiency assessments may be waived for qualified job applicants whose native language is English (i.e., the official or common language of an individuals country of birth is English) who submit a diploma or other official documentation as proof of graduation from a high (secondary) school where the entire curriculum and educational programs were taught in the English language for the entire 3 or 4 years of full-time attendance.

*Please Note: Current USDA employees, regardless of the series occupied, DO NOT have to meet the English language proficiency requirement. These candidates are covered under the In-service Placement Provisions if they meet the minimum education and experience requirements.

Additional information

• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP or RPL eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP 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 applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
• Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.
• First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected.
• Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

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.

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.