Supervisory Security Specialist

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• 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.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• 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.
• 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. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
• Supervisory Responsibilities (EEO Statement)
• Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License Required.
• Drug Test Required.
• Vaccine(s) Required.
• Special Physical Requirements/Demands (will wear fully encapsulated suit).
• SAC and full background investigation required for positions working with BSL-3 (or higher) agents, or in BSL-3/BSL-4 facilities.
• Department of Justice (DOJ) Security Risk Assessment (SRA) approval is required
• Immunizations may be required.
• Respirator fitting and certification is required.
  
  

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Specialized Experience:

Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-13 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-12 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience working with staff to ensure all onsite SCIF security requirements are met; conduct inspections of the SCIF or any Temporary Secure Working Areas (TSWA); assisting in investigations related to security violations; and conducting physical security assessments.

Physical Demands:

The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as long periods of standing, walking, bending, stooping, reaching, crawling and similar activities. In addition, the work requires an average degree of dexterity and strength with the movement and placement of equipment and objects (up to 50 pounds with support). The incumbent engages in performing facility inspections of various types including general offices, laboratories and animal facilities which may require wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE), including a respirator (N-95 or PAPR) or a fully encapsulated air pressurized suit while entering infectious disease laboratories, or animal facilities areas. Travel may be required.

Working Conditions

The work is performed in an office settings, infectious diseases laboratories, and as required, indoor animal holding facilities, necropsy rooms, insectaries and building mechanical spaces involved with inspections. Temperature extremes may occur as well as exposure to disagreeable odors, working around frightened, unpredictable, and illnatured animals, and exposure to the risks and hazards of harmful biological, chemical, and physical agents. Immunizations with vaccines may be required to enter facilities conducting work with human diseases. The work requires special safety precautions and PPE. Use of protective equipment, such as respirators, disposable personal protective clothing, encapsulated air pressurized suits, and eye protection, may be required. A degree of potential risk is involved due to biohazard laboratories.

The health status of personnel is monitored periodically using biologic and serologic tests and physical examinations.

Restrictions against contact with birds and livestock outside the laboratory may apply after entering high security animal facilities that are working with disease agents foreign to the United States.

To Comply With USDA Personnel Security Requirements And Requirements Of The Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP) For Access To Information And Areas With Biological Select Agents And Toxins (BSAT), Including Tier One Select Agents At NBAF, The Incumbent Must Meet The Following:

• Pre-employment and random testing of substances of abuse
• Participation in and adherence to the facility's Occupational Health Program
• Participation in and adherence to the facility's Personal Reliability Program
• The ability to obtain/maintain favorably adjudicated Background Investigations or Security clearances (required by USDA)
• The ability to obtain/maintain a favorable Security Risk Assessment (required by FSAP)
  
  

This is a Public Trust Position and requires that the incumbent be a United States Citizen. As a condition of employment, the requirements listed above must be met.

The Mission Of NBAF Includes Research, Diagnosis And Training For Animal Diseases Foreign To The United States (U.S.) For The Purpose Of Protecting American Agriculture And Domestic Food Sources From Their Potentially Devastating Effects. NBAF Is Vital To Successfully Protecting U.S. Agriculture From The Intentional Or Non-intentional Introduction Of Foreign Animal Diseases Such As Foot-and-Mouth Disease. The Position Supports The Biocontainment Facilities And May Require Entry Into Biosafety Level (BSL) 3, 3 Enhanced, 3 Ag And BSL-4 Labs. The Incumbent Must Demonstrate The Physical And Psychological Capability To Conduct Normal Duties That Are Appropriate To Their Position. To Prevent The Transmission Of Disease Out Of Biocontainment And Retention Of The Position, The Incumbent Must Meet The Following Medical Standards In a Pre-employment Medical Examination Conducted After The Receipt Of a Preliminary Job Offer And On a Periodic Basis:

• Ability to shower out of biocontainment one or more times per day
• Not have any skin condition which would prevent this
• Body piercings must be able to be removed prior to entry
• External medical assist devices must have the ability to be removed prior to entering or not impede the ability to enter biocontainment, and the individual must still be able to shower out safely without assistance
• Ability to follow instructions regarding decontamination from biocontainment
• Any medical condition which could create an unsafe environment for the individual or his/her co-workers, such as: insufficient control of a medical 13 disorder which could result in sudden loss of consciousness; and inadequate vision and hearing required for safety in a laboratory environment
  
  

Medical confidentiality will be maintained by the examining physician and only fitness (or unfit) for duty determination will be indicated. The incumbent will also be required to pass periodic fitness for duty physicals. In addition, a medical clearance will be required in the event that it becomes necessary to enter an area where an air purifying respirator or other respiratory protection is required.

A baseline blood sample may be required for employees entering and working in the biocontainment facilities. For the health and safety of the incumbent and to prevent the spread of disease, immunization against diseases being studied at NBAF which are transmissible to humans may be required where the vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for safety and effectiveness under the provision of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended 21 USC 321-392. Where the vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for investigational purposes, the incumbent will be advised that such immunization is voluntary.

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. 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 applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
• Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. The final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at the time of job offer.
• This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
• 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.
• Due to the contagious nature to livestock of Foot-and-Mouth disease, and other diseases under study at NBAF, biosafety protocols specify a personal quarantine for employees working on specific infectious agents in designated areas of NBAF. As a condition for employment, all personnel entering these areas at NBAF shall not be in contact with specific susceptible animals and their premises away from NBAF for a period of five (5) days after leaving the area. Currently, restricted species are cattle, sheep, goats, deer, other ruminants, and swine. Contact with horses, birds (agricultural and pet birds) and rabbits are normally permitted, but restrictions may be placed on staff working with or near infectious agents affecting these species. Restricted livestock or other restricted animals may not be housed on the premises where the employee lives and where the quarantine cannot be enforced. Employees who violate this requirement may be removed from employment or subject to other disciplinary actions.
  
  

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• Help Help 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.
  
  

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.