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Consumer
Safety Inspector - Chicago, IL
US Department
of Agriculture
Job
details
Salary
$39,109 - $62,981 a year
Job Type
Full-time
Full Job Description
Duties
Summary
This announcement will remain open until 04/14/2021.
It will be used to collect applications and fill vacant positions as they
become available in the Chicago District. Cut-off dates for referral to
hiring managers for selection consideration will be established as needed by
the agency. When a request is received to fill a vacant CSI in a
specific geographic location a list of the qualified applicants interested in
that location will be sent to the hiring manager for further consideration.
Responsibilities
- YOU WILL/MAY:
- Ensure that regulated establishments
produce a safe product by executing appropriate inspection methods,
determining noncompliance with regulatory requirements, documenting
noncompliance and initiating enforcement action, where warranted.
- Verify that meat and poultry slaughter
and/or processing establishment's Sanitation Standard Operating
Procedures (SSOP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)
Plans meet regulatory requirements.
- Execute Sanitation Standard Operating
Procedures (SSOP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)
Plans effectively to prevent unsanitary conditions and adulteration of
product.
- Review records, observe plant operations
and conduct hands-on verification to ensure compliance with regulatory
requirements and prepare detailed documentation (Non-Compliance Records)
of non-compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Determine when regulatory control action
is necessary. You will assess whether the plant's corrective or
preventative actions are acceptable and effective, if there are trends
in noncompliance, or if enforcement action is warranted.
- Conduct regulatory oversight activities
inside plants in matters relating to other consumer protections (e.g.,
economic adulteration and misbranding).
- Have contact with plant managers, owners
and others to explain legal and regulatory requirements, discuss
operation of the plant's SSOP, HACCP plan and other food safety
programs.
- Communicate and defend determinations on
non-compliance issues and discuss plans for addressing non-compliance.
- Work with a variety of individuals to
resolve problems, clarify differences of interpretation concerning HACCP
and other food safety or consumer protection requirements.
- Advise other Agency inspectors,
supervisors and officers on inspection and enforcement matters for which
you are involved.
- Conduct various samplings, surveys and
tests to obtain pertinent data on potential problem areas, industry
trends, or other issues of current interest to the Agency.
- Be involved in performing health and
safety verification sampling and tests for detection of specific
microbes (e.g., salmonella, listeria, etc.), residues or contaminants.
- Assure that products approved for import
are in full compliance with all applicable Federal regulations governing
the importation of meat and poultry products.
- Authorize entry of all meat or poultry
products considered to comply with Federal regulations or refuse entry
of any products which violate any of the requirements for admission into
this country.
- Coordinate with other Federal agencies
(e.g., the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on such matters as animal health
restrictions and refused entry lots.
Travel Required
76% or greater - You may be expected to travel for this
position.
Supervisory status
No
Promotion Potential
9
1862 Consumer Safety Inspection
Requirements
Conditions
of Employment
- Training as a condition of employment
(TCOE) is required. You must begin the training within 90 days of the
effective date of your selection, and you must successfully complete it
within 12 months of the effective date of your selection.
- Selectee must be able to obtain and
maintain a Public Trust security clearance. If selected you may be
subject to a Moderate Risk Background Investigation.
- Selectee may be subject to satisfactory
completion of one year probationary or trial period.
- U.S. Citizenship required.
- Passing a pre-employment medical
examination is required.
- Male applicants born after December 31,
1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for
Selective Service Registration.
- Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134
every Federal employee is required to have federal payments made by
direct deposit to a financial institution of that employee's choosing.
Qualifications
You must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent
to the experience that would have been gained if working in this position or
a similar, closely related position at the next lower level by the closing
date of this announcement or the appropriate education substitution. See
specialized experience definitions below.
Specialized experience:
For all grade levels:
This experience should encompass at least two of the
following areas:
- Skill in applying proper techniques for
collecting samples and performing field tests and examinations,
- Skill in developing written reports and
reporting findings or results orally,
- Skill in maintaining effective personal
contacts with a variety of individuals.
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility
requirements by the closing date of the announcement including the following
specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Your
application or resume must clearly show that you possess the appropriate
experience requirements.
For the GS-05 Level: At least 52 weeks of qualifying experience gained under close
supervision that provided you with knowledge of the properties and
characteristics of regulated food commodities and substances; such as: meat,
poultry, fish, eggs, or other food for human consumption, and other
ingestible substances, such as pharmaceuticals. This experience should
include several or all of the following: Skill in applying proper techniques
for collecting samples and performing field tests and examinations, skill in
developing written reports and reporting findings or results orally, and
skill in maintaining effective personal contacts with a variety of
individuals. Such experience may have been acquired in work such as consumer
safety inspector or inspection aid, food inspector, public health inspector,
quality inspection specialist, or similar position with responsibility for
sampling, quality control and sanitation in a food manufacturing or
production environment, or similar environment for other ingestible items.
For the GS-07 Level: In addition to the qualifications above, incumbents are
expected to perform standard and recurrent duties on an independent basis.
Your resume should demonstrate at least 52 weeks of experience in
independently carrying out routine, standard assignments on a regular and
recurring basis that provided you with knowledge of the properties and
characteristics of regulated food commodities and substances; such as: meat,
poultry, fish, eggs, or other food for human consumption, and other
ingestible substances, such as pharmaceuticals.
Such experience may have been acquired in work such as
consumer safety inspector or inspection aide, food inspector, public health
inspector, quality inspection specialist, or similar position with
responsibility for sampling, quality control and sanitation in a food
manufacturing or production environment, or similar environment for other
ingestible items.
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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable
training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will
receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Please view OPM's Qualifications Standards, Consumer Safety Inspector Series,
GS-1862.
The duties of a Consumer Safety Inspector are performed in a hazardous
working environment. For additional information, please click here. The below
requirements are not an all-inclusive list. Failure to fully meet a functional
requirement is not automatically disqualifying.
Applicants must:
- Be physically and medically able to
efficiently perform the essential job functions, without being a direct
threat to themselves and others.
- Have full range of motion to perform
rapid repetitive twisting and working with arms above shoulder level.
- Be able to stand and walk on slippery
and uneven floors and catwalks, and climbing stairs and ladders.
- Be able to lift, carry, push and pull up
to 30 pounds, with occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.
- Have manual dexterity of the upper body,
including arms, hands, and fingers with a normal sense of touch in both
hands.
- Have good near and distance vision, be
free of chronic eye disease and have correctable vision of at least
20/40 in one eye.
- Have the ability to distinguish shades
of color. Any significant degree of color blindness (more than 25
percent error rate on approved color plate test) may be disqualifying.
- Individuals with some hearing loss
and/or requiring hearing amplification will be assessed on a case by
case basis.
Education
Education may be used to qualify in lieu of specialized
experience as described below.
For the GS-05 level: Successful completion of a full 4 year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with
major study or at least 24 semester hours/credits in any combination of
coursework in the areas of: agricultural, biological, or physical sciences,
food technology, epidemiology, home economics, pharmacy, engineering, or
nutrition. Specialized government or military training may be creditable if
it is related directly to this position.
OR
A combination of education and specialized experience. In this instance, only
education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study
leading to a bachelor's degree (with some related coursework, as described in
the paragraph above) is creditable towards meeting the requirements, along
with specialized work experience. The combination must equal 100% of the
requirement. For example, if you have 33% of the education requirement, then
you will need 67% of the specialized experience requirement.
For the GS-07 Level: One full year of directly related graduate education is
qualifying for GS-7.
OR
A combination of education and specialized experience. In this instance, only
graduate education directly related to the work of the position is creditable
towards meeting the requirements, along with specialized work experience. The
combination must equal 100% of the requirement. For example, if you have 33%
of the education requirement, then you will need 67% of the specialized
experience requirement.
Additional
information
- Shifts, activities, travel and overtime
requirements will vary by individual vacancy.
- The USDA Food Safety and Inspection
Services has authority to recruit and fill Permanent
(Career/Career-Conditional) positions under Direct Hire Authority.
Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.
- Pay rates vary depending on location and
may be higher or lower than the amount shown. Please visit the Office
of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay
rates.
- This is a Bargaining Unit position
covered by the National Joint Council (NJC) of Food Inspection Locals.
- This position has the potential for
mandatory overtime, weekend and holiday work, variable tours of duty,
travel and other work life challenges.
- Promotion Potential: If you are selected
for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed
under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted
if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by
management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
- This announcement may be used to fill
additional like vacancies should any occur in the announced duty
location(s).
- If you are retired from the Federal
Government and are selected for this vacancy, your retirement annuity
may be offset from your pay.
- Career Transition Assistance Plan
(CTAP), Reemployed Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career
Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): 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 applications must receive a rating of at least 70 out of a
possible 100.
- E-Verify: Federal law requires agencies
to use the E-Verify system to confirm the employment eligibility for
all new hires. If you are selected as a newly hired employee, the
documentation you present for purposes of completing the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 on your entry-on-duty date will be verified
through the DHS E-VERIFY system. Under the system, the new hire is
required to resolve any identified discrepancies as a condition of
continued employment.
- If you are selected, you may need to
complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) prior to being
appointed to determine suitability for federal employment and to
authorize a background investigation. False statements or responses on
a resume or application can jeopardize employment and may be grounds
for disciplinary action, including removal from federal service.
- Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact: USDA's TARGET Center at
202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).
- It is the policy of the Government not
to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or
has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the
individual. See more information at: CHCO Council.
- Please click Veterans Policy for further
information about veteran specific hiring options.
How You Will
Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you
meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you
meet the qualifications above.
The Office of Personnel Management has granted Direct Hire
Authority for FSIS Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) positions. There is a
critical hiring need and these positions play an important role in protecting
the nation's food supply.
Due to the Direct-Hire Authority (DHA), applicants are not
rated and ranked numerically, and Veteran's preference does not apply. Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide
complete information about their job-related experience and education. Your
resume must document that you meet the Qualification Requirements detailed
above. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements established
for the position and geographic location selected will be placed in the
Eligible category.
Although Veteran's preference does not apply due to the
existence of the DHA for this position, applicants are still encouraged to
provide documentation related to veteran's preference.
You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for
this position as evidenced by the education, experience, and training you
described in your application package, as well as the responses to the
Occupational Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the
knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below:
- Oral Communication
- Written Communication
- Attention to Detail
- Mathematics
- Problem Solving
- Dependability
Your application, including the online Assessment
Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum
qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided
to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your
responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to
this position. Those determined to be qualified will be referred to the
selecting official.
Note: If, after reviewing your
resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have
inflated your qualifications and/or experience, your rating may be lowered to
more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow
instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing
inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for
non-selection or disciplinary action up to and including removal from Federal
service.
Clicking the link below will present a preview of the
application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link
below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application
process. To initiate the online application process, click the
"Apply" button to the right.
To view the application form, visit:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11060204
Background
checks and security clearance
Security clearance
Other
Drug test required
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness
Required
Documents
The following documents are required for your applicant
package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible
software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in the mail service, your
system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to
submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name,
address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience
related to this position as described in the major duties, including work
schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; and title, series,
grade (if applicable); 4) supervisor's phone number and whether or not the
supervisor may be contacted for a reference check; 5) other qualifications.
If you need assistance in creating a federal resume click here.
College transcripts: If education is required or you are using education to
meet a qualification requirement, you must submit a legible copy of your
college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application;
however, it must include student name, school name, and enough information to
validate qualifications such as course names, prefixes, grades, semester or
quarter credit hours, date degree was award, etc. Further, if you are
selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to
entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an
accredited school, college, or university, visit Dept of Education Accredited
Schools. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must
submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately
accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of
Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private
organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally
associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that
evaluate education, visit NACES. All transcripts must be in English or
include an English translation.
Veterans' Preference: If claiming you must submit a DD-214,
Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and
discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty, you must
submit a statement of discharge/certification of release or an official
written document from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be
discharged or released from active duty service under honorable conditions no
later than 120 days from the date the certification is signed. Enlisted Record
Briefs and military identification do NOT qualify as official documentation.
The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military
branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including
the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. If
claiming 10-point veterans preference, you must
provide the DD-214, plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as
listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans Preference. The SF-15
should be included but is not required. For more information on veterans preference see Feds Hire Vets.
Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or
ICTAP must provide: Proof of
eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining
a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area,
notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as
applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and
duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
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. Opens in a new windowLearn
more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position
you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.
Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits
offered.
Help
This job is open to
- Career
transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees who meet the definition of a
"surplus" or "displaced" employee.
U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to
the U.S.
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