General Biologist

Summary

This position is located in the USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist (OCE), Office of Pest Management Policy (OPMP).

OPMP’s mission is to integrate and coordinate pest management efforts; provide data, information, and analyses to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to better inform pesticide regulatory decisions; and provide a Departmental focal point for farmers, grower organizations, EPA, and State Land Grant institutions regarding pesticide and pest management issues.

Duties

• Serves as an authoritative source and nationally recognized expert in the assessment of pest management practices in risk/benefit evaluations.
• Independently plans and coordinates environmental evaluations and risk assessments involving complex crop production systems, including specialty crops, and large ecological systems.
• Provides scientific briefings orally or in writing for senior officials. As needed, aids in assessing risks associated with chemical, biological, physical hazards, and other threats to agriculture and the food supply.
• Represents OPMP and USDA at national and international events for risk assessment and ecological or human health concerns related to pest management and pesticides. Participates in expert panels, leads workshops, and participates as appropriate.
• Provides scientific and technical guidance based on knowledge about crop production practices, particularly as they relate to pest management and pesticides.
• Represents OPMP and USDA on various pesticide/human health/ecological-related committees. Provides independent scientific and regulatory advice on pest management and pesticide issues to USDA agencies.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with agency officials, other government officials, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, university personnel, industry representatives, grower groups, etc.
• Serves as a liaison with EPA, USDA staff, and Land Grant and industry scientists involved in risk assessment and decision making related to pest management/pesticides to ensure assessment of technology is characterized correctly.
• Presents results of analyses to USDA, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders, and prepares plans to mitigate the biological and economic impacts of proposed pesticide and pest management regulatory decisions.
• Assignments require extensive analysis to determine the nature and scope of the problems. Using a variety of analytical methods and techniques to assess a wide range of scientific, legal, and risk issues related to pest management and pesticides.
• Develops and coordinates the sharing of information scientific advice within OPMP and providing coordination/guidance to risk assessors across the Department on pesticide and pest management issues as needed.
• Writes scientific documents for internal/external purposes on risk assessment, the environment, and regulatory impacts. Recommendations have a continual/lasting effect on governmental or private organization programs/policies.
• Independently identifies developments in science policy issues and/or pesticide regulatory decisions that have implications for agriculture, including implications of international pesticide-related activities.
• Provides unifying expertise in interpreting science and advanced risk assessment techniques on high-level multi-disciplinary teams, including identifying novel risk assessment methods, as appropriate.

Education

All applicants must meet at least one of the Basic Requirements as outlined in the above Qualifications section.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below: Risk Assessment Technical Analysis and Science Synthesis Leadership Communication Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions.

Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.

Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities need only meet minimum qualifications to be referred. Structured Resume Review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. SMEs will review ONLY two (2) pages of your resume, starting at your work experience.

SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., links embedded in your resume will not be opened). Applicants passing the resume review will move on to the next phase of the assessment process.

Note: If after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service. Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process.

To initiate the online application process, click the “Apply” button to the right. To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12979633

Required Documents

• The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
• Resume that includes: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications.
• Resume cannot exceed 2 pages.
• Transcripts: If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts.
• An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entering on duty.
• Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university.
• If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards.
• There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service.
• For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website.
• All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
• Current and former Federal employees: Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable.
• A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute.
• Current permanent FSA County employees must submit your most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing your highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) per above.
• Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), current performance appraisal with rating of at least “Fully Successful” or equivalent, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.