Supervisory Microbiologist

Agricultural Research Service • Manhattan, KS

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position is located at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Services (ARS), The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), located in Manhattan, Kansas. The mission is to provide leadership, subject-matter expertise, quality maintenance, and operational support in implementing biosafety, biosecurity, training and written instructions to safely operate the complex, critical laboratory infrastructure and support the execution of science research.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable.
• New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period depending on your appointment type, unless previous federal service is creditable.
• Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License Required.
• Drug Test Required.
• SAC and limited background investigation required for Research Leader positions.
• Department of Justice (DOJ) Security Risk Assessment (SRA) approval is required.
• Tier 3 clearance required for positions working with BSL-3 (or higher) agents, or in BSL3/BSL-4 facilities.
• Select Agent.
• Participation in Occupational Medical Surveillance Program.
• Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.
• Implementing a BSL-3 and BSL-4 containment operations program.
• Performing validation activities related to autoclaves, thermal tissue autoclaves, effluent decontamination systems, gamma irradiation, Vaporized hydrogen peroxide or Chlorine dioxide gas decontamination.
• Performing risk assessments and incident investigations.
• 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.
• Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in microbiology, virology, biology, genetics, biochemistry, chemistry, or basic medical science that included courses as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Nice To Haves

• Graduate study in related fields such as experimental pathology, infectious diseases, epidemiology, biochemistry, animal or plant physiology, genetics, plant pathology, and insect disease control, may also be pertinent, provided it has direct application to microbiological work.
• For GS-14 clinical and public health microbiology positions, certification by the American Board of Medical Microbiology/American Board of Medical Laboratory Immunology, or election to Fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology fully meets the experience requirement for such positions.

Responsibilities

• Applies expertise of high and maximum containment operations, biosafety, and biosecurity to develop, manage, and implement the Biorisk Management Unit max and high containment operations program.
• Coordinates operations related to critical containment and decontamination systems including routine validation of sterilization programs and incident response for autoclaves, thermal tissues autoclaves, and effluent decontamination.
• Performs risk assessments, incident investigations, root cause analysis, and develops new and updates high and maximum containment Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and other documents for the facility.
• Serves as a recognized expert in the field of high and maximum containment operations, providing consultation and advice to international, Federal, State and local agencies.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Associate degree