In this position, you would be responsible for developing, implementing, and administering programs for the grading, certification, and inspection of commodities. This includes all phases of grading, inspection, and certification activities, including those involving complex or borderline issues, for the assigned commodity.
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-10 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: Independently grades and/or inspects primary products in the commodity group and performs difficult assignments such as: regularly making borderline grading decisions on a variety of products; or applying the full range of grading skills at an extremely fast pace requiring instant determinations. Performs the full range of grading and/or inspection tasks involved in supplying grading services to producers or members of the trade in the commodity specialization. Inspects or evaluates more complicated processing equipment and procedures, and conditions of storage or transportation and advising industry employees on product quality control methods. Serves as technical expert, performing final grading on reviews, making appeal determinations, resolving controversies, or providing broad technical guidance. OR: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Agriculture, Mathematics, Engineering, Economics, Business, Science or a related field. OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education 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. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-10 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 may include, but are not limited to:
Provides technical guidance to others in the performance of difficult inspections and grade determinations.
Maintains hands-on understanding of emerging technology and explains to graders how the technology works in relation to grading services.
Makes determinations for all situations including those involving borderline characteristics; prepares and issues certificates.
Prepares and maintains a variety of reports and records related to work such as plant production data, grading results, certificates, grading dashboards, etc.
Assists the regional director, supervisor, or designee in conducting interviews for hiring new employees within their area of responsibility