Student Trainee (Consumer Safety)
Student Trainee (Consumer Safety) - Springdale, AR
Summary
The Internship Program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while getting paid for the work performed.
This position is intended to be a SUMMER INTERN POSITION in the Excepted Service, not-to-exceed 1 year. At the agency's discretion, the appointment may be extended in 1 year increments, as long as the student remains eligible for the program.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Students who have been accepted for enrollment or who are enrolled at least half-time in an accredited high school, college, professional, technical, vocational, or trade school pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate.
Duties
- These positions are Excepted Service appointments in the FSIS Springdale District.
- As a Student Trainee (Inspection), your duties will include:
- Working closely with experienced specialists on a variety of program assignments.
- Working directly with the Deputy District Manager (DDM) and/or higher–graded Consumer Safety Officers (CSO).
- Accompanying DDM and or higher-graded CSO on visits to official establishments to perform the more routine aspects of review and assessment of the establishment’s control plans and systems.
- Assisting and/or observing the more difficult assignments associated with the review and assessment of work.
- Receiving training in the preparation of administrative enforcement reports, administrative case files, and the verification Plan.
- Maintaining administrative enforcement case files and the district office recall database.
- Participating in formal training sessions which include spending significant time with in-plant personnel involved with both slaughter and processing activities.
- Learning sample collection and assist in the assessment of a plant’s microbiological sampling plans and its monitoring procedures.
- Learning to assist maintaining all CCMS cases referred to the district office.
- Retrieving data from various databases for reports or other uses.
- Researching and organize information for special projects.
- Performing other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Accepted for or currently enrolled in a qualified educational institution.
- Must be a U.S. citizen.
- Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
- Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you may be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report inquiry.
- Selectee must have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
- 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/.
- Service in the Pathways Program confers no right to further employment in either the competitive or excepted service.
- All USDA Student Interns must be at least 18 years of age at the time of their appointment.
- A signed participant agreement is required for employment under Pathways. Form will be provided upon selection before entry-on-duty date is set.
- All requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. This includes responses to all eligibility assessment and occupational questionnaires, along with submission of your resume and all supporting documentation.
- Must meet Pathways Program requirements. Follow link to the Pathways Handbook (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/students-recent-graduates/reference-materials/pathways-programs-handbook.pdf).
- Must provide transcripts that support the qualifications. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application package. Official transcripts will be required if selected.
- Must be in good academic standing as defined by the educational institution.
- Travel to/from the official duty station and housing expenses, will be at the student's expense.
- Relocation expenses will not be paid.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, you must meet BOTH the (1) Pathway Internship Eligibility requirements as well as (2) the minimum Qualifications for the position:
(1) To Be Eligible For An Appointment Under The Internship Program You Must Meet The Following Requirement: Student applicants must be accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis as defined by the institution in which the student is enrolled. Student Trainees must be in good academic standing, as defined by the institution they are attending. Generally at least a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) for undergraduate programs (cumulative; no rounding) and a 3.0 GPA for advanced degree programs. Individuals must meet the definition of a student throughout the duration of their Internship appointment.
(*NOTE: Certificate Program: This term is defined, in 5 CFR 362.102, and means postsecondary education in a qualifying educational institution equivalent to at least 1 academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum.)
(2) To Qualify At The GS-05 Grade Level: Successful completion of4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree OR Bachelor's degree.
If you are a student veteran, complete the questionnaire and submit documentation: DD-214, VA Letter, SF-15 if claiming 10-point Veterans' preference or DD-214 if claiming 5-point preference or VEOA eligibility (separated under honorable conditions after 3 years or more of continuous service).
Education
Using Education To Qualify: To use your education as a basis for meeting the Minimum Qualification Requirements (MQR) for this position, you MUST submit academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements. If specific course work is required to fulfill the MQR, you must supply transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken to receive credit for that course work. See the "Qualifications" section of this announcement for more details.
COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS: You MUST submit a copy of your college transcripts:
- Your Field of Study
- School Name
- Student's Name
- Current GPA or Academic Standing
- Past and Current Course Work
- Degree Program
- Major/Concentration
An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if selected, an official college transcript will be required prior to entering on duty.
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, candidates are to ensure these requirements are met. If you do not submit sufficient academic documentation demonstrating that you meet the eligibility and MQR for this position, your application will be deemed incomplete & any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service. Visit here for a database of accredited postsecondary institutions and programs.
If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information or you will be ineligible for further consideration.
Additional information
If you are selected, you will 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.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact: USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. See more information at: CHCO Council.
Selectees may be eligible for Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual (CSALA).
Please click Veterans Policy for further information about veteran specific hiring options.
Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
- Benefits
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the education and training you described in your application package.
We will review your application, including the online Occupational Questionnaire, to ensure you meet the job requirements and assess your ability to perform this job. Before any certificate can be issued to the selecting official, the resume and supporting documents are reviewed by a Human Resources Specialist to ensure that (a) minimum qualification requirements are met and (b) the resume and education supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your answers will be verified against information provided in your online resume, application, and transcripts. Be sure that your resume and transcripts clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.
You will also be assessed on the following competencies:
- Oral Communication
- Technical Competence
- Problem Solving
- Attention to Detail
- Interpersonal Skills
- Learning
Applicants who meet basic eligibility criteria will be referred in an unranked list in the following manner: Veteran preference eligibles are considered first, followed, by non-preference eligibles.
**REMINDER** Applicants, be sure that experience/education as described on your resume contains 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. Once the position is closed, no additional information will be accepted.
Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have 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.
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/12636782
HelpRequired Documents
The following documents are required for your application to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in mail service, your system failure or downtime, etc. Encrypted and digitally signed documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
1. Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties, including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; and title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) supervisor's phone number and whether or not the supervisor may be contacted for a reference check; 5) other qualifications. USAJOBS has a template to ensure a complete resume. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk
2. Cover Letter, optional.
3. College Transcripts: If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcripts which show your Field of Study, School Name, Student's Name, Current GPA or Academic Standing, Past and Current Course Work, Degree Program, and Major/Concentration. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts 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 http://www.naces.org/members.htm. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
4. Veterans' Preference: If claiming veterans preference, you must submit a DD-214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If 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 material(s) you submitted.
If claiming 10-point veterans preference, you must provide the DD-214 or certification requirements (see above), plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans Preference and a Department of Veterans Affairs Letter. The SF-15 should be included but 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 see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref.
Note: You must verify that uploaded documents from USAJOBS transfer into the Agency's staffing system. Applicants may combine all like required documents (e.g. veteran's preference) into one or more files and scan for uploading into the application. Each file must not exceed 3MB. Grouping like documents into files will simplify the application process. Documents must be in one of the following formats: GIF, JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG, RTF, or Word (DOC or DOCX). Uploaded documents may not require a password, digital signature, or other encryption to open.
If a document is resubmitted, it replaces the previous submission, which means the previous document is no longer available to the Human Resources Office. If you are adding to, rather than replacing a previous submission, you must upload both the old document and the new document. Please verify that documents you are uploading from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents.