- Training as a condition of employment (TCOE) is required. You must begin the training within 90 days of the effective date of your selection, and you must successfully complete it within 12 months of the effective date of your selection.
- You must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service System or be exempt from registration
- Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
- Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
- Successful completion of a pre-employment medical examination.
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
- Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
- If you are selected, you may need to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) prior to being appointed to determine suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.
- False statements or responses on a resume or application can jeopardize employment and may be grounds for disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.
- Should be able to read, speak, write, and effectively communicate in the English language.
You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.
Specialized experience:
Specialized experience is experience that provided you with knowledge of the properties and characteristics of regulated food commodities or other products for human consumption. Your experience should be acquired working in positions such as consumer safety inspector or inspection aid, food inspector, public health inspector, quality inspection specialist, or other related positions.
GS-5: You must have at least 52 weeks of qualifying experience that provided knowledge of the properties and characteristics of regulated food commodities and substances, such as: meat, poultry, fish, eggs, or other food or beverages for human consumption, or other ingestible substances, such as pharmaceuticals.
Your resume must show examples such as applying proper techniques for collecting samples and/or performing field tests and examinations (e.g. identifying abnormalities in the product or production environment and recommending corrective actions), developing written reports and/or reporting findings of results orally (e.g. documenting abnormalities in the product or production environment and communicating those findings to others), and/or skill in maintaining effective personal contacts with a variety of individuals (e.g. discussing findings with internal or external contacts regarding the food safety standards established in the production environment), or other similar work making determinations on products for human consumption or the production environment (e.g. ensuring conformance with established standards).
Your experience should have been acquired working positions such as consumer safety inspector or inspection aid, food inspector, public health inspector, quality inspection specialist, or other related position.
GS-7: In addition to the qualifications above, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level, and you must have performed standard and recurrent duties on an independent basis. Your resume should demonstrate at least 52 weeks of experience in independently carrying out routine, standard assignments on a regular and recurring basis that provided you with knowledge of the properties and characteristics of regulated food commodities and substances, such as: meat, poultry, fish, eggs, or other food for human consumption, and other ingestible substances, such as pharmaceuticals.
GS-8: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level. In addition to the qualifications above, your experience must include working with the Federal Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Acts in order to inspect meat, poultry and egg products; working with basic SSOP and HACCP principles and practices in order to verify plant HACCP and SSOP responsibilities; performing basic mathematics and elementary statistical concepts and methods to perform testing and sampling procedures; and experience in reaching and interpreting conclusions.
GS-9: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-8 level. In addition to the qualifications above, you must have experience working at a more independent level than lower graded CSIs, which may include duties such as recommending refusal of exports and providing temporary coverage at locations outside of the official duty station.
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.
Follow this link for more information on OPM's qualifications standards for the CSI position: Consumer Safety Inspector Series, GS-1862
Education may be used to qualify in lieu of specialized experience
GS-5 level:
- Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours/credits in any combination of coursework in the areas of: agricultural, biological, or physical sciences, food technology, epidemiology, home economics, pharmacy, engineering, or nutrition. Specialized government or military training may be creditable if it is related directly to this position, or
- A combination of education and specialized experience. In this instance, only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (with some related coursework, as described in number 2 above) is creditable towards meeting the requirements, along with specialized work experience. The combination must equal 100% of the requirement. For example, if you have 33% of the education requirement, then you will need 67% of the specialized experience requirement.
GS-7 Level:
- One full year of directly related graduate education is qualifying, or
- A combination of education and specialized experience. In this instance, only graduate education directly related to the work of the position is creditable towards meeting the requirements, along with specialized work experience. The combination must equal 100% of the requirement. For example, if you have 33% of the education requirement, then you will need 67% of the specialized experience requirement.
- The course of study must directly reflect the job-related competencies necessary to satisfy the minimum qualifications and perform the duties of the position
GS-9 Level:
- Two full years of graduate education, or a directly related master's degree, or
- A combination of education and specialized experience. In this instance, only graduate education in excess of the first 18 semester hours directly related to the work of the position is creditable towards meeting the requirements, along with specialized work experience. The combination must equal 100% of the requirement. For example, if you have 33% of the education requirement, then you will need 67% of the specialized experience requirement.
- The course of study must directly reflect the job-related competencies necessary to satisfy the minimum qualifications and perform the duties of the position
This position requires a pre-employment physical: Position Requirements.
You must:
- Be physically and medically able to efficiently perform the essential job functions, without being a direct threat to themselves and others.
- Have full range of motion to perform rapid repetitive twisting and working with arms above shoulder level.
- Be able to stand and walk on slippery and uneven floors and catwalks and climbing stairs and ladders.
- Be able to lift, carry, push and pull up to 30lbs, with occasional lifting of up to 50lbs.
- Have manual dexterity of the upper body, including arms, hands, and fingers with a normal sense of touch in both hands.
- Have good near and distance vision, be free of chronic eye disease and have correctable vision of at least 20/40 in one eye.
- Be able to distinguish shades of color. Any significant degree of color blindness (more than 25% error rate on approved color plate test) may be disqualifying.
- Individuals with some hearing loss and/or requiring hearing amplification will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Assignment Restrictions: FSIS Directive 4735.9, Office of Field Operations Assignment Restrictions and Rules on Gifts from Regulated Industry, sets out the Agency's requirements regarding employee assignment restrictions, as it pertains to family and personal relationships. Please read the directive before applying.
This position has promotion potential to the GS-9 level. You must complete a development plan and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. Promotion is not guaranteed
Recruitment incentives are offered based on agency staffing needs and budgetary availability; service agreements apply.
FSIS offers a $5,000 sign on bonus paid out in one lump sum. This recruitment incentive requires a signed two-year service agreement, as well as satisfactory performance and conduct. The service agreement details conditions of receipt and acceptance of the incentive and is provided to new employees prior to entrance on duty. Funds will be collected for any period of uncompleted service.
You may be eligible for Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual (CSALA)
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program visit: PSLF Program
This position also offers a referral bonus of $1,000. More than one award may be given if certain criteria are met. FSIS employees may be eligible if they refer an applicant who enters duty and works at least 90 days with successful performance and conduct. The referred employee will have an opportunity to list the referring employee in the job application.
There are restrictions on this award including: employees whose regular, recurring jobs include the recruitment of new employees, employees who are otherwise excluded from receiving achievement awards; selecting officials or other persons associated with the selection of the referred employee, and any of the following relatives: spouse, parents, children (including stepchildren and adopted children), and spouses thereof; parents, including stepparents; siblings, including stepsiblings, and spouses thereof; individuals related by blood or affinity whose close association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship
This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in Accomac, VA
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures using category rating. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on the applicant's quality of experience and the extent they possess the following competencies:
- Attention to Detail
- Decision Making
- Dependability
- Flexibility
- Interpersonal Skills
- Resilience
- Self-Management
Your application, including the online assessment questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualification requirements and that your 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 basic minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.
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 80 out of a possible 100.
The experience and education described on your resume must be accurate and sufficiently detailed information to clearly demonstrate that you have the listed competencies. All information used to evaluate your application must be received by the closing date of the announcement. No documents can be accepted once the announcement closes.
If we determine that you inflated your qualifications and/or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow 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 and including removal from Federal service.
Follow this link to view the assessment questionnaire:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13025944
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 Your resume cannot be longer than two pages and must include the following:
- 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.
- Your application may be disqualified if you include any of the information listed here: What should I leave out of my resume?
Follow this link more information on writing a resume for a federal job: Writing a federal resume
Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of all relevant 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, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been obtained from an accredited school, college or university
If your education was completed at a foreign institution, you must submit 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
Veterans' Preference: To claim Veterans' Preference, you must submit a DD-214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and must show you were discharged under honorable conditions.
If you are currently on active duty, you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active-duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. Veterans' Preference must be verified prior to appointment. Without this documentation, you will not receive Veterans' Preference, and your application will be evaluated based on the materials you submit.
If you claim 10-point Veterans' Preference, you must provide the DD-214 or certification requirements and proof of entitlement as listed on the SF-15
Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference. The SF-15 should be included but it is not required. Failure to submit these documents could result in the determination that there is insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point preference.
For more information on Veterans' Preference visit FedsHireVets.
CTAP, ICTAP, RPL: Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, ICTAP or 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) that also shows your position, grade and duty station.
- 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.
Encrypted documents will not be accepted.
Failure to submit required and legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
