Summary
The State Operations Coordinator shares the responsibility for formulating, organizing, distributing, and responding to information reports or requests relating to the overall management of the state(s) or the operation of major plant programs to protect the health, welfare, and agricultural economy of the United States.
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Duties
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- The duties may include, but are not limited to:
- Implements safeguarding risk management measures to mitigate identified pest associated with imported commodities.
- Assists management with identifying and organizing training as necessary for Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance and Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) personnel at Ports of Entry.
- Contributes to effective communication to stakeholders on importation requirements to facilitate trade and prevent introduction of plant pests of regulatory significance.
- Helps provide oversight for domestic programs within state(s) of coverage, reviewing program activities to ensure alignment with PPQ priorities, resource utilization, and identifying deficiencies.
- Utilizes pest risk data and information provided from PPQ pest risk analysts to develop and implement timely detection surveys with PPQ management and personnel.
- Assists with the identification of plant pest pathways through analysis and utilization of risk data and assists with developing pest detection activities targeting the identified pathways.
- Evaluates existing as well as new work plans for export of plants, flowers, and commodities to facilitate trade.
- Assists the SPHD to coordinate, manage, and oversee emergency response using Incident Command System (ICS) protocols and procedures and may serve as Incident Commander for pest programs in the state(s
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
- You must be a US Citizen or US National.
- Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
- Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
- Successful completion of one-year probationary 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.
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
- Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
- All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.
- Travel occurs on a routine basis and a visit to remote locations or isolated rural areas is required.
- Occasional field survey/investigations or collection trips require walking, bending, crouching, and climbing for prolonged periods in rough terrain subject to a variety of weather conditions.
- Must obtain and maintain valid pesticide certification.
- May be required to perform work while wearing a respirator to oversee fumigations, may be required to maintain certification to wear a respirator such as Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).
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 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.
BASIC REQUIREMENT: Degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR Combination of education and experience: post high school education with courses equivalent to a major, which is defined as 24 semester/36 quarter hours, in the biological sciences, agriculture, natural resources management, chemistry or related disciplines appropriate to the position, PLUS appropriate experience or additional course work.
FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
- Interpreting plant pest and quarantine regulations and policies in order to provide guidance to colleagues and customers.
- Working with personnel from other Federal and State agencies to implement plant pest regulations.
- Conducting annual and ongoing planning of operations, including developing of appropriate budgets, forecasting future expenses, and remaining current with status of funds.
- Preparing and presenting to leadership about emerging issues or potential complications in implementation of program policy and operations.
- Following established protocols for implementation of pest activities related to survey, demolition, and/or eradication.
Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level.
TRANSCRIPTS are required if:
- 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
Please see above for education qualification requirement information.
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/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.
- 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.
- Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection.
- Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.
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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
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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.
