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Summary In this position you will serve as an Agricultural Commodity Grader responsible primarily for conducting plant survey inspections of dairy processing plants by evaluating plant premises, equipment, operations, and products to determine compliance with official specifications/requirements and eligibility for official plant approval status. You may also perform grading and inspection of dairy food products. Responsibilities 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: Conducts a methodical check and evaluation of facilities, processing equipment, processing and packaging methods Prepares detailed inspection reports covering a large number of carefully examined items in each inspection to determine plant compliance with the specifications and overall program requirements. Meets with plant management to explain plant evaluation findings and makes recommendations for correction of conditions that are not in compliance with specifications. Conducts follow-up visits, as required, to monitor and assess problem areas at specific plant locations and to assure ongoing eligibility of plants to produce approved product. Selects representative samples of product for test weighing and for container and product quality examination, and prepares samples for transmittal to designated laboratory for chemical and bacteriological analysis. Applies and interprets official standards, contract specifications, and instructions in the inspection or grading of butter, cheese, dry milk and other dairy or related products. As required, inspects product at time of loading in order to identify the commodity as that which was previously inspected and found to meet quality requirements of the contract or specification. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. FOR THE GS-05 LEVEL: Applicants must have three years of progressively responsible experience, one year of which was equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level in the Federal Service (equivalent to the GS-04 level) (experience may have been obtained in private or public sectors), that demonstrates the ability to: Identify problems, gather pertinent data, or recognize solutions. Plan and organize work. Utilize office software such as: Adobe, Excel, Word. Experience must provide evidence of the skills shown above. General clerical experience (typing, filing, routine processing, or other non-specialized repetitive tasks) is not creditable. OR: Successfully completed a 4-year course of study, from an accredited college or university, leading to a bachelor's degree. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Evaluating sanitary procedures such as processing and packaging of commodities, plant facilities, and/or equipment. Recognizing, identifying, and describing common product characteristics relevant to the products graded such as taste, smell, color, shape, or texture. Experience preparing inspection reports. OR 1 full year of graduate level education in Agriculture, Science. Biology, Dairy Science, Dairy Processing, Animal Science, Food Science, Food Processing, or related subjects; OR Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND 1) have a class standing in the upper third of the graduating class, 2) membership in a national scholastic honor society (excluding Freshman honor societies), or 3) must meet certain GPA requirements. GPA requirements: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on official transcripts or as computed based on 4 years of education, or courses completed during the final 2 year of the curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required course completed in the major field or courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum (GPA will be rounded to one decimal place, e.g., 2.95 rounds to 3.0 and 2.94 rounds to 2.9). Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Grading and inspecting a variety of dairy products Inspecting processing equipment and procedures used in the production of dairy products Conducting plant surveys and providing feedback to plant management. OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in Agriculture, Science. Biology, Dairy Science, Dairy Processing, Animal Science, Food Science, Food Processing, or related or LL.B. or J.D., 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-05/07/09 GRADE LEVELS: 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. Education There is no education requirement for this position. Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee. Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed. Commodity grading work, which requires limited to extended periods of: physical exertion to push, pull, lift, carry, and move boxes, cartons and heavy packages, buckets, sacs or bags of product (often weighing up to/over 50/55 pounds) Prolonged standing, walking, stooping, bending, twisting, and climbing; physical coordination and balance on ladders, elevated and non-elevated apparatus, and when required to get into and out of commodity, chilling/freezing, holding, and storage facilities. Finger dexterity in at least one or both hands/fingers to perform digital examinations of commodities, and grasping/handling or moving equipment. Normal or corrected vision in at least one eye for distance, depth perception, and color to detect abnormalities in product. Work environment includes regular and reoccurring moderate discomforts working in and exposure to freezing, humid, and/or hot temperatures; dust; odors; and wet and/or slippery surfaces, equipment, floors, and stairs. May be required to work on weekends, holidays, and overtime; multiple shifts and/or changing/rotating shifts (i.e., rotating all shifts, including required working/rotating first, second and third shifts).