Agricultural Commodity Grader (Grain)

Agricultural Marketing Service•Jonesboro, AR

About The Position

In this position, the employee makes final grade determinations on products standardized under the Acts and may perform weighing activities at grain handling facilities. The employee may rotate among facilities within an assigned area and is responsible for knowing the facilities where Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) services are provided. At developmental grade levels, work is more limited in scope, complexity, and independence than at the full-performance level. The employee determines grades for grain and related commodities, including making independent decisions on difficult and borderline determinations. The role also includes examining storage and handling spaces, checking inspection equipment and diverter samplers, ensuring accurate weights and supporting documentation, and serving as a lead contact for elevator personnel and FGIS field management. The employee may also need to grade additional grains, understand material-handling systems and weighing equipment, and perform the full range of weighing activities. Work may require considerable physical exertion, including climbing in and out of ship holds and onto trucks, barges, hopper cars, and man lifts to obtain samples. Employees may use probes, pelicans, and similar sampling devices and move or lift grain bags or sacks weighing up to 55 pounds. Work occurs in grain elevators, rice mills, processed-product plants, rail yards, dock loading and unloading facilities, and warehouses, where grain dust may reach potentially explosive concentrations. Work may take place at extreme heights in elevators and aboard ships, requiring extensive safety precautions. This federal position requires U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status, applicable Selective Service registration or exemption, background checks, a pre-employment medical statement and/or exam, and a valid state driver's license at application. Employees must complete a one-year probationary period unless previously served, pass E-Verify, use direct deposit, and participate in Continuous Vetting. Geographic mobility is a condition of employment and requires signing a memorandum of understanding. The position is represented by a collective bargaining unit. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses are not paid. Promotion potential may be available under a career development plan, but promotion is not guaranteed.

Requirements

U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
Individuals born male after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
Satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
Successful completion of a one-year probationary period unless previously served.
Pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
Provide a valid state driver's license at the time of application.
Participate in Continuous Vetting.
Sign a memorandum of understanding acknowledging geographic mobility as a condition of employment.
GS-05: Three years of progressively responsible experience, including one year equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to GS-04, demonstrating problem identification and data gathering or solution recognition, work planning and organization, and use of office software such as Adobe, Excel, and Word; alternatively, a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or a qualifying combination of education and experience.
GS-07: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 inspecting or grading products using standards and regulations, drawing product samples, and prioritizing assignments to meet deadlines; alternatively, one year of graduate-level education in a specified or related field, superior academic achievement with a bachelor's degree, or a qualifying combination of education and experience.
GS-09: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07 applying quality assurance principles and methods to maintain equipment program integrity, using official grain weighing and inspection processes and making independent decisions in normal daily weighing operations and evaluation, and applying chemical and physical test procedures to provide grading information accurately and safely; alternatively, a relevant master's or equivalent graduate degree, two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a qualifying combination of education and experience.
Provide transcripts when qualifying based on education, a combination of education and experience, or superior academic achievement.
Meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements for the applicable grade level by the announcement closing date.
Take safety precautions when working around grain dust, equipment, heights, ships, and other potentially hazardous conditions.
Some work phases require climbing, sampling, and moving or lifting grain bags or sacks weighing up to 55 pounds.

Responsibilities

Determine grades for grain and related commodities, including making independent decisions on difficult and borderline determinations.
Conduct stowage examinations of ship holds, barges, hopper cars, and other containers to assess cleanliness and acceptability of storage and handling facilities.
Inspect and check-test equipment and diverter samplers used for official inspection.
Ensure accurate weights and accurate documentation supporting official weight certificates.
Act as a lead and point of contact for elevator personnel and FGIS field management.
Rotate among facilities within the assigned area and maintain knowledge of facilities where FGIS services are provided.
As required, grade additional grains, become familiar with material-handling systems and weighing equipment, and perform weighing activities.