Agriculturist

About this role

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.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must demonstrate the below: FOR THE GS-13 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Experience in leading and coordinating the development of protocols for identifying new pests, plant health concerns, and other issues relevant to domestic plant health programs.

Experience contributing to the development and refinement of policies and procedures that support diagnostic activities for domestic plant health programs, contributing to efforts that promote efficiency and consistency across operations. Participating in fostering collaborative relationships and coordinating resources among subject-matter experts to support access to diagnostic expertise, while engaging in interagency efforts to maintain capacity for reviewing and screening materials related to target pests or pest groups.

Supporting coordination with Agency staff and partner institutions to inform policies and procedures for testing and implementing new methods in sample screening and pest identification. 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.