You will serve as a Supervisory Agricultural Commodity Grader at an SCI Division area office and shares fully with the OIC and AOIC the responsibility for carrying out SCI Division programs, including grading, inspection, certification, and audit-based activities covering fresh and processed fruits and vegetables and related products; and supervising office activities and personnel. You are responsible for a designated sub-area within the territory serviced by the SCI Division area office.
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. FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Providing technical guidance to personnel regarding sampling, inspection, and certification of fresh and/or processed fruits and vegetables. Independently, consistently, and accurately apply grade standards, purchase specifications, and/or inspection regulations in making borderline determinations. Communicate logically and concisely in both oral and written form when rendering decisions and/or interacting with management, employees, and industry. OR: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in agriculture, botany, crop production, agronomy, product processing, food chemistry, technology, or quality control. OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in agriculture, botany, crop production, agronomy, product processing, food chemistry, technology, or quality control leading to such a degree. OR LL.M., if related. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. You are qualifying for this position based on Superior Academic Achievement. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. 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.
The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
The duties may include, but are not limited to:
Supervise the sampling, inspection and certification of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables and related products for quality, condition and grade in accordance with official standards.
Assign subordinate personnel to perform services and coordinate the work in such a manner as to provide prompt, efficient, and timely service to meet customer needs.
Assist in the establishment of performance standards of subordinates and evaluates their performance.
Assist with developing plans for overall area operations and recommendations regarding the inspection service and the adoption or modification of policies and procedures.
Collaborate with Division Standardization Branch in the development and testing of grade standards and inspection aids for fresh and processed fruits and vegetables.
Determine work programs, methods, and procedures to be employed to assure uniformity of inspection on the basis of official standards.