Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer/Public Health Veterinarian (SVMO/SPHV - Multiple Incentives/Nationwide)
Want to make a difference? Help protect public health as a Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV) at USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)--the #1 employer of Federal veterinarians. FSIS veterinarians hold critical positions that uphold our mission to ensure food safety.
Multiple positions are available open across many locations nationwide. Salary range of $72,533-$140,713/year is based on the Rest of the US and not specific locations that may be in a Locality Pay Area with a higher salary range. Excellent benefits, some unique to FSIS to support work/life balance, for you and your family equating to approximately 38% over salary.
For more information on locality pay in areas you are interested in, view: 2024 General Schedule (GS) Locality Pay Tables or use the General Schedule Salary Calculator . View the Federal General Schedule pay scale for more information on step/pay increases (updated annually). Employees are also eligible for performance awards. View the Available Locations list with duties/shift/overtime/travel (updates regularly; check back every 2-4 weeks).
Opportunities for career path growth. Incentives: $20,000 Sign-On Bonus, Government-Assisted Relocation, Accelerated Promotion Program, Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual (CSALA) Incentive, Referral Bonuses and more available, including:
- FSIS is pleased to offer a $20,000 sign-on bonus paid out in four $5,000 lump sum payments. The bonus requires a four-year service agreement and is paid out at the annually at the completion of each year of service.
- Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program eligible agency.
- Student Loan Repayment Program (Eligible after 1 year).
- Accelerated promotion program available for eligible GS-11s.
- Former employees with at least a 90-day break in service may also be eligible.
- FSIS currently is administering a retention incentive program for in-plant veterinarians. In-plant PHVs with 5-11 years of service as an in-plant PHV can receive biweekly retention incentive payments. In-plant employees with 15 or more years of service can receive a retention incentive after completion of key 5-year milestones after 15, 20, 25, and 30+ years of service.
- Newly appointed in-plant PHVs are eligible for a first post of duty move in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations.
- Selectees may be eligible for Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual (CSALA). Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual (CSALA)/additional vacation time may be granted for directly related non-Federal or military experience for leave accrual purposes, allowing those that meet the requirements to potentially be placed in a higher leave earning category than they would otherwise have been placed. CSALA must be granted prior to entrance on duty.
Contact
Kimberly Evans, HR Specialist
Phone: 612-852-7607
Email: Kimberly.Evans2@usda.gov
Duties
- Plan, organize, coordinate and adapt the full range of meat and poultry inspection operations in slaughter and/or processing establishments;
- Ensure establishments meet requirements of the Pathogen Reduction and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulations;
- Oversee consumer protection, non-food safety concerns such as proper labeling and packaging;
- Serve as team leader who works with and supervises other public health professionals to ensure establishments under our jurisdiction comply with sanitation standards and properly implement systems that control hazards from entering the food supply;
- Enforcing Federal meat and poultry inspection procedures prior to slaughter and throughout the entire process, including humane handling;
- Conduct ante-mortem inspection, post-mortem inspection, processing, dispositions, transportation and distribution of meat, poultry, and egg products to markets and retail stores;
- Consult with union officials, plant management and discuss with subordinates new or revised regulations, policies and procedures;
- Maintain meaningful labor-management relationships with subordinates by representing and expressing management's viewpoints to daily communications;
- Promote EEO and Safety principles/programs, train subordinates, assign and review work, evaluate and rate performance, counsel employees on performance, resolve complaints and grievances, recommend disciplinary action as necessary.
View the full vacancy announcement for specific locations plus all required information, documents, duties, and qualifications as well as how to apply. You can also view a short video there on how PHVs are critical in keeping food safe.
Qualifications
Please reference the specific Office of Personnel Management (OPM) qualifications standards for the 0701 Job Series.
BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL:
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree, i.e., Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD), obtained at a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education. The AVMA web site has a listing of all AVMA-accredited veterinary medical schools.
OR
Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools that are not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education must meet one of the following requirements and submit supporting documentation:
Proof of certification of their final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) (Completion of ECFVG program)
Possession of a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States that includes successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) or its predecessors, the National Board Examination (NBE) and the Clinical Competency Test (CCT).
Proof that the education obtained in a foreign veterinary medical program is equivalent to that gained in a veterinary medical program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. Under this provision, equivalency is established only if an AVMA-accredited veterinary medical school or college accepts the graduate's final transcript from the foreign veterinary medical school at full value for placement into an advanced degree, postgraduate educational program, or training program (e.g. Residency or graduate program).
Graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must also submit proof of proficiency in the English language by successfully completing one of the nationally and internationally recognized examinations that incorporate assessments of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Examples of examinations that assess mastery of the English language are shown below:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Minimum scores for the TOEFL are 560 for the paper-based version; 220 for the computer-based version; or overall score of 83 for the internet-based version (including 26 or higher in speaking, 26 or higher in listening, and 17 or higher in writing). For the computer-based and paper-based test versions, applicants must also complete the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and the Test of Written English (TWE). Minimum required scores are 55 for the TSE and 5.5 for the TWE;
Academic tests (listening, writing, and speaking) offered by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 7.0, with at least 7.0 in speaking, 6.5 in listening, and 6.0 in writing; OR
Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 70, with at least 60 in speaking, 60 in listening, and 50 in writing.
English language proficiency assessments may also be waived for qualified job applicants whose native language is English (i.e. the official or common language of an individual's country of birth is English) AND they submit a diploma or other official documentation from the school as proof of graduation from a high (secondary) school where the entire curriculum and educational programs of the school are taught in the English language for the entire three or four years of full-time attendance.
BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR THE GS-12 GRADE LEVEL - You must meet the basic requirements for the GS-11 grade level to qualify for positions at the GS-12 grade level. Qualification requirements for the GS-12 grade level and above are:
1. EXPERIENCE: Mastery of clinical medicine (veterinary practice experience); scientific presentations before professional groups; publication of medical reports in professional journals or publications; participation in seminars, advisory/working groups, and research groups; or other related activities that contribute to the advancement of veterinary medical science are positive indicators of the quality of an applicant's experience. However, articles on the care of pets would not be considered professional publications or qualifying specialized experience.
OR
2. EDUCATION: Master's degree conferred from an accredited college, in an area of specialization; or successfully completed two years of an internship, Residency program or fellowship training program in a discipline related to this position. Area of specialization, including but not limited to, animal science, avian medicine, food safety, infectious diseases, veterinary clinical sciences, pathobiology, biomedical sciences, veterinary anatomy, veterinary preventive medicine, comparative biological sciences, epidemiology, veterinary parasitology, molecular veterinary biosciences, public health, microbiology, pathology, immunology, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, wildlife, zoological animal medicine, or sciences related to the work of a veterinary medical officer position.
THIS POSITION REQUIRES A PRE-EMPLOYMENT PHYSICAL: Position Requirements.
Applicants must:
- Be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the job functions, without hazard 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 30 pounds, with occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.
- Have manual dexterity of the upper body, including arms, hands, and fingers with a normal sense of touch in both hands.
- Must have good near and distance vision, be free of chronic eye disease and have correctable vision of at least 20/40 in one eye.
- Have the ability to distinguish shades of color. Any significant degree of color blindness (25 percent or more 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.
Education
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine professional degree is required. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine transcript must show your name, college name, and date degree was awarded.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The Office of Personnel Management has granted Direct Hire Authority government-wide for Veterinary Medical Officer Positions. There is a critical hiring need in severe shortage locations and these positions play an important role in protecting the nation's food supply. This authority permits hiring without regard to certain competitive requirements. For more information: Incentives
Prior to issuing a list of best qualified applicants, we will review your resume and transcript(s) to ensure that you meet the qualification requirements for the grade(s) selected.
Applicants who meet the qualifications and requirements, and have selected the geographic location of the vacant position, will be referred to the selecting official in last name order. 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. Veterans' Preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position. Applicants are still strongly encouraged to provide documentation related to Veterans' Preference. Applicants must demonstrate possession of the following skills and competencies within the body of their resume:
Communication Skills - The ability to listen effectively, demonstrate understanding, clarify meaning for others, and speak with clarity and precision; to communicate with a diverse audience; and to write clearly and concisely.
Leadership - The ability to organize tasks and to lead people effectively; to guide and coach others to improve their skills and achieve challenging goals; to inspire and motivate others; and to solicit and consider others' opinions. The ability and willingness to make recommendations to improve inspection systems or procedures; demonstrate a strong work ethic, meet commitments, and seek out and accomplish professional development activities.
Facilitation Skills/Negotiation - The ability to facilitate productive meetings or groups, generating discussion and involvement from others, achieving mutually beneficial resolutions to issues, bringing conflicts toward resolution by bringing issues into the open and attempting to resolve them in a collaborative manner, and giving fair consideration to everyone's views.
Problem Solving/Judgment - The ability to gather, examine, and interpret information from different sources to generate or evaluate effective solutions to problems and make sound decisions to generate alternate approaches to solving problems.
Planning/Time Management - The ability to plan and organize time in order to work both productively and efficiently as well as to maximize the quantity and quality of work; and to set priorities, determine long-term vs. short-term priorities, and complete assigned tasks within schedule constraints.
Selecting 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 Online" button to the right. To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12614988
***View the full vacancy announcement on USAJobs for full details on how to apply and next steps.***
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The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent.