All Consumer Safety Officers may be detailed anywhere within their District to conduct Food Safety Assessments.
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: Applicants must meet one year at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-09 grade level for consideration for the GS-11 grade level.) Specialized Experience To meet specialized experience requirements, the applicant's work experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary to perform at the grade level of the position. Qualifying experience involves enforcing laws and regulations to protect consumers from foods, drugs, cosmetics, fabrics, toys, equipment, and household products that are defective, dangerous, impure, unwholesome, ineffective, or improperly or deceptively labeled or packaged. For the GS-11 Level: Applicants must have at least 52 weeks of qualifying experience at the GS-9 (or equivalent) grade level that includes: Assessing the design and effectiveness of food safety control systems (e.g. utilizing data, reviewing documents, analyzing lab test results, etc.) Completing form and/or documents to report suspected violations of meat, poultry, or egg product inspection regulations. Making recommendations for enforcement action. Collaborating with and advising a variety of individuals to answer questions or perform informational briefings regarding food safety. Maintaining knowledge of regulations and policies for meat, poultry, and egg product inspection. Collecting, submitting and taking appropriate action in response to sample results. For the GS-12 Level: In addition to the specialized experience described above, applicants must have at least 52 weeks of qualifying experience at the GS-11 (or equivalent) grade level that includes: Preparing assessment reports explaining a plant's food safety system and drawing conclusions on the effectiveness of the programs. Making determinations on whether corrective action plans adequately address noncompliance issues. Collecting evidence and testimony to support administrative or civil enforcement matters. Making determinations on whether food safety controls adequately address the relevant food safety concerns. 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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
This position may be filled as a multi-grade career ladder. If position is filled at a developmental grade level, assignments will be of a more limited scope, performed with less independence, and may reflect limited complexity/personal contacts.
You may/will:
Conduct on site consumer protection assessments to verify the design and proper functioning of a plant's food safety and process control systems.
Assess the scientific adequacy of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans, Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs), microbiological verification sampling protocols, or other process control measures.
Perform investigative work related to food processing and/or slaughter systems to obtain information, gather evidence, or verify facts in support of administrative or civil enforcement matters.
Make recommendations regarding the type of enforcement action that is necessary, and assist in the preparation of enforcement related documentation such as notices of intended enforcement, suspension letters, deferral letters, and letters of warning.
Collect necessary information pertaining to product recall activities, consumer complaints, or other public health concerns.
Determine the relevance of data and documentation in-plant records, laboratory test data, and observed activities for compliance with provisions of laws and Agency regulations.