Job Description

Summary The incumbent is a Supervisory Research Scientist serving as either a Biologist (Computational Bioinformatics), Microbiologist, or Veterinary Medical Officer and as the Research Leader for the Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research Unit located at the National Animal Disease Center in Ames, IA. The incumbent will provide leadership and guidance for conducting research in a multidisciplinary program to identify and control foodborne human pathogens and antibiotic resistance in food animals. Responsibilities Incumbent leads, directs, and conducts research whose objectives include: Identifying mechanisms and environmental factors that enable new and emerging food pathogens to adapt to hosts, enhance virulence, and achieve efficient transmission. Investigating the effects of antimicrobials on animal intestinal microbiomes, antimicrobial resistance, and relationship to foodborne pathogen persistence. Developing novel, non-antibiotic intervention strategies and evaluating immune networks and identifying host genes to limit Salmonella/Campylobacter colonization, persistence, and shedding. Characterizing the molecular mechanisms that promote or inhibit colonization, adherence, and persistence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in cattle. Supervisory duties include: Providing vision, establishing an advisory stakeholder base, and developing research programs to address stakeholder priorities. Exercising leadership and supervising personnel assigned to the unit. Maximizing the creativity and productivity of the unit. Hiring personnel and managing the human, fiscal, and physical resources assigned to the unit. Serving as the unit fundholder. Providing technical information and consultation both internal and external to Agricultural Research Service. Ensuring the proper interpretation and reporting of scientific research results. 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. Basic Qualification Requirements for General Natural Resources Managment and Biological Sciences Series, 0401: A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Basic Qualification Requirements for Microbiology Series, 0403: A. Degree: microbiology; or biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included at least 20 semester hours in microbiology and other subjects related to the study of microorganisms, and 20 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences combining course work in organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics, and college algebra, or their equivalent. OR B. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in microbiology, biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Basic Qualification Requirements for Veterinary Medical Science Series, 0701: Degree: A. 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 Council on Education (AVMA). The AVMA web site, link), has a listing of all AVMA-accredited veterinary medical schools. OR B. Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools that are not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education (Refer to AVMA web site, link)for information about schools in this category) must meet one of the following requirements. Proof of certification of their final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG). 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 provide 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. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: In additional to meeting the basic requirements for the series described above, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. GS-14: Applicants must have 1-year (52 weeks of specialized experience (defined below) equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal Service.The specialized experience requirements for this position at the GS-14 grade lever are: Planning and conducting independent research related to technologies or strategies for controlling foodborne pathogens in livestock or poultry; AND Publishing related research results in peer-reviewed scientific journals; AND Being invited to present research findings at scientific conferences, either in person or virtually; AND Experience supervising staff to accomplish a variety of research objectives; AND Working with stakeholders to enhance research efforts or writing grant proposals to expand existing programs. GS-15: Applicants must have 1-year (52 weeks) or specialized experience (defined below) equivalent to at least the GS-14 grade level in the Federal Service.The specialized experience requirements for this position at the GS-15 grade level are: Leading a multidisciplinary team conducting research related to technologies or strategies for controlling foodborne pathogens in livestock or poultry; AND Publishing related research results as first or corresponding author in peer-reviewed scientific journals; AND Being invited to present research finding at scientific conferences, either in person or virtually; AND Experience supervising staff to accomplish research objectives; AND Developing and maintaining relationships with commodity groups or other stakeholders; AND Experience in transferring developed technologies or intervention strategies in the field. Supervisory/Managerial Competencies: The following KSAs will also be used to evaluate candidates in the interview and selection process. Ability to lead and accomplish work through others (i.e., team building, conflict management, cultural awareness, strategic thinking, technology management, and political savvy). Ability to communicate with individuals or groups from diverse backgrounds in a variety of situations. 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. Applicants must be available to report for duty at the time a selection is made. Selections are typically made within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement. Education Please see above for education qualification requirement information. Additional Information This position is designated as Non-Sensitive Public Trust/High Risk (Tier 4) and requires the selectee to undergo a pre-employment check and a full background investigation. Any offer made is considered a tentative job offer pending the outcome of the pre-employment check. Retention in the position is based upon a favorable adjudication of the background investigation. The incumbent will be subject to periodic reinvestigations. CONFIDENTIAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT: Federal employees are subject to prohibitions against officially dealing with outside organizations in which they have a financial interest. If hired for this position, you may be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of the effective date of your appointment and annually thereafter. Research scientists have open-ended promotion potential. Research accomplishments and their impact on the duties and responsibilities of positions are evaluated periodically. The grade level is limited only by the individual's demonstrated ability to perform research of recognized importance to science and technology. *Final grade level may be determined by a peer review panel. 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 71 out of a possible 100. Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer. This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

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