Agricultural Commodity Grader (Specialty Crops)

Agricultural Marketing Service•Fresno, CA

12h

About The Position

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division develops U.S. grade standards and provides inspection, grading, certification, and audit-based services nationwide, on a user-fee basis, for fresh and processed fruits and vegetables and related products. The incumbent serves as a grader at an inspection point, processing facility, or area office laboratory. Up to three location choices are allowed. At the full-performance level, the grader selects representative product samples and inspects products for quality, condition, wholesomeness, and compliance with U.S. Grade Standards, buyer-seller contracts, or other specifications. The grader determines and issues product certificates, or prepares draft certificates for higher-level review in difficult or unusual cases. The role also involves reporting grading results and production data, observing processing operations and sanitation practices, advising plant management on raw-product suitability, and instructing technicians and aides in grading and inspection techniques. This is a mobile-work position requiring regular travel to customer or other worksites. Work may include weekends, overtime, extended travel, and multiple or rotating shifts. The position has a fluctuating mixed-tour schedule that may combine full-time, part-time, and intermittent work, with no minimum hours guaranteed. Geographic mobility is a condition of employment. The work also involves physical exertion and demanding work environments, including highly mechanized or noisy settings.

Requirements

Be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
Meet applicable Selective Service registration or exemption requirements.
Pass a background investigation and/or fingerprint check and complete the required probationary period, unless previously served.
Successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
Provide a pre-employment medical statement and/or complete a pre-employment medical examination.
Hold a valid state driver's license at the time of application.
Enroll in Continuous Vetting as required of USDA employees.
Have normal or corrected vision in at least one eye for distance, depth perception, and color detection.
Have adequate or correctable hearing to assure safety in highly mechanized and/or noisy environments.
Be able to use both legs, arms, and hands for carrying, pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulder, kneeling, grasping, and working with hands in water.
Be able to assess product quality organoleptically, including through sight, smell, and/or taste.
For GS-05, have three years of progressively responsible general experience, including one year equivalent to GS-04, demonstrating problem identification or solution recognition, work planning and organization, and use of office software such as Adobe, Excel, or Word; qualifying experience must include decision-making responsibility. Alternatively, complete a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree. Equivalent combinations of education and experience qualify.
For GS-07, have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 involving grading or inspecting products using standards and regulations, drawing product samples, and identifying and describing common product defects and/or diseases; or complete one full year of graduate-level education in a listed or related field; or qualify through Superior Academic Achievement with a bachelor's degree. Equivalent combinations of education and experience qualify.
Submit transcripts when qualifying based on education, a combination of education and experience, or Superior Academic Achievement.
Sign a memorandum of understanding accepting geographic mobility as a condition of employment; failure to sign will result in withdrawal of the job offer.

Responsibilities

Select representative samples from product lots according to prescribed sampling plans.
Inspect products to determine quality, condition, and compliance with U.S. Grade Standards or contract specifications.
Prepare and maintain reports on production data and grading results.
Apply official standards and regulations to determine product grade or condition and issue certificates.
Prepare draft certificates with tentative determinations for higher-level review in difficult or unusual cases.
Examine product samples and determine grade, condition, and wholesomeness under official standards, buyer-seller contracts, or other specifications.
Observe plant facilities, operating methods, processing equipment, and personnel for compliance with SCI sanitation requirements and FDA regulations.
Assess raw product material for suitability for processing and advise plant management of the results.
Instruct technicians and aides in proper grading and inspection techniques.