Agriculturalist (Risk Analyst)/Biological Scientist

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service•Raleigh, NC

10d•Onsite

About The Position

This announcement will fill six positions: five Agriculturalist (Risk Analyst) positions in Raleigh, North Carolina, and one Biological Scientist position in Edinburg, Texas. The Agriculturalist positions provide quantitative risk analysis, modeling, simulation, spatial analysis, and economic impact assessment related to exotic plant pests. The Biological Scientist position provides biological, diagnostic, and scientific support for pest detection, identification, and methods development for regulatory plant health programs. At the full-performance level, the work provides scientific leadership in qualitative and quantitative analyses supporting management of invasive species, including arthropods, diseases, and other plant pests. It involves assessing the likelihood of invasion, establishment, and movement of quarantine-significant exotic pests in the United States; obtaining, validating, and analyzing biological, ecological, molecular, or program data; and developing sound sampling procedures and detection strategies. The role also reviews research and program materials for scientific validity and prepares reports, memoranda, technical documents, and scientific materials in accordance with agency and program policies. Duties at developmental grade levels are more limited in scope, independence, and complexity. The Raleigh position evaluates the potential introduction, establishment, and spread of plant pests in the United States and supports development of strategies and tools for PPQ programs and pest risk management decisions. The Edinburg position develops, adapts, and evaluates laboratory, diagnostic, or field methods and technologies supporting pest detection, identification, mitigation, and phytosanitary treatment.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status.
Individuals born male after December 31, 1959, must be registered with the 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.
Federal payments must be received by direct deposit.
Successful completion of E-Verify employment verification.
A valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
Enrollment in Continuous Vetting is required for USDA employees.
A degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a related discipline appropriate to the position; OR post-high-school education equivalent to a major (24 semester or 36 quarter hours) in an appropriate field, plus appropriate experience or additional coursework.
For the GS-11 level, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09 supporting plant-pest laboratory, diagnostic, field, risk-analysis, or other analytical activities; plant-pest risk or plant-health safeguarding programs; assessments of pest introduction, establishment, movement, or program impacts; analysis of scientific, technical, or program information; and preparation of related technical documents, reports, or presentations.
As an alternative GS-11 qualification, three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D., or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in biological sciences or a closely related field.
A qualifying combination of education and experience may meet GS-11 requirements; combined percentages must total at least 100 percent.
Transcripts are required when qualifying based on required education or coursework, or on a combination of education and experience.
Applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility requirements by the announcement closing date.

Responsibilities

Provide scientific leadership in qualitative and quantitative analyses supporting management of invasive species, including arthropods, diseases, and other plant pests.
Determine the likelihood of invasion, establishment, and movement of quarantine-significant exotic pests in the United States.
Obtain, validate, and analyze biological, ecological, molecular, or program data related to pest identification, diagnostics, or risk analysis.
Develop scientifically and statistically sound sampling procedures for surveys of quarantine-significant pests, including estimates of detection probabilities based on sampling effort and pest population size.
Estimate spatially dependent probabilities of pest presence or absence using multivariate statistical analyses, spatial methods, or modeling tools.
Design, evaluate, and optimize strategies for detecting incipient pest populations using modeling tools, simulation methods, laboratory analyses, or field studies.
Review work plans, research proposals, experimental designs, manuscripts, and proposed PPQ protocols for scientific validity and meaningful procedures.
Prepare reports, memoranda, technical documents, and scientific materials in accordance with agency, PPQ, and program policies.
For the Raleigh role, evaluate potential introduction, establishment, and spread of plant pests and support development of strategies and tools for PPQ programs and pest risk management decisions.
For the Edinburg role, develop, adapt, and evaluate laboratory, diagnostic, or field methods and technologies supporting pest detection, identification, mitigation, and phytosanitary treatment.