Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer

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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.
• 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).
• 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.
• Required to maintain an active Maryland state veterinary medical license, federal DEA controlled substance license, and USDA Category II accreditation.
• National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI) clearance is required.
• Respirator fitting and certification is required.
• Immunizations with vaccines may be required to enter facilities conducting work with zoonotic diseases.
• The health status of personnel is monitored periodically using biologic and serologic tests and physical examinations.
• Required to pass a background investigation sufficient to provide (PSL2) clearance.
• The incumbent must reside in a residence within 30 minutes of the Center in order to provide veterinary care in case of emergencies during off-duty hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
  
  

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.

Basic Requirements

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree, i.e., Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD), obtained at a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA). The AVMA web site, http://www.avma.org(external link), has a listing of all AVMA-accredited veterinary medical schools. OR
• Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools that are not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education (Refer to AVMA web site, http://www.avma.org(external link)for information about schools in this category) must meet one of the following requirements.
• Proof of certification of their final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG)
• Possession of a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States that includes successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) or its predecessors, the National Board Examination (NBE) and the Clinical Competency Test (CCT).
• Proof that the education obtained in a foreign veterinary medical program is equivalent to that gained in a veterinary medical program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. Under this provision, equivalency is established only if an AVMA-accredited veterinary medical school or college accepts the graduate's final transcript from the foreign veterinary medical school at full value for placement into an advanced degree, postgraduate educational program, or training program (e.g. residency or graduate program).
  
  

Skills

Graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must also provide proof of proficiency in the English language by successfully completing one of the nationally and internationally recognized examinations that incorporate assessments of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Examples of examinations that assess mastery of the English language are shown below:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Minimum scores for the TOEFL are 560 for the paper-based version; 220 for the computer-based version; or overall score of 83 for the internet-based version (including 26 or higher in speaking, 26 or higher in listening, and 17 or higher in writing). For the computer-based and paper-based test versions, applicants must also complete the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and the Test of Written English (TWE). Minimum required scores are 55 for the TSE and 5.5 for the TWE;
• Academic tests (listening, writing, and speaking) offered by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 7.0, with at least 7.0 in speaking, 6.5 in listening, and 6.0 in writing; OR
• Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 70, with at least 60 in speaking, 60 in listening, and 50 in writing.
  
  

Additional Requirements

In addition to meeting the basic requirements described above and in the education section below, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below.

Gs-14

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-14 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-13 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 providing primary veterinarian care to agricultural livestock and poultry and small laboratory animals; leading an animal care program; performing major and minor surgery on agricultural or small lab animals; providing veterinary training and supervision to staff personnel; analyzing and understanding regulations (The Guide and Ag Guide) and policies governing animal welfare, and keeping abreast of scientific developments for the proper care and maintenance of animals.

Physical Demands: Work requires considerable physical exertion in cramped or restricted areas, long periods of standing in surgery, some heavy lifting (50 pounds and above) using appropriate aids, strenuous effort in handling large animals, and caution in defending against physical attack by these animals. Work also requires examining, treating, and collecting animal specimens; directing or supporting personnel in the care and maintenance of animals; and providing training. This work involves physical effort such as prolonged standing, walking in various kinds of farm conditions, stooping, bending, lifting, pushing, pulling, climbing, and handling restrained, large animals or large heavy carcasses. The ability to move quickly around unrestrained, often frightened, unpredictable, and ill-natured animals is also required. Travel is required especially by motor vehicle or other farming vehicles.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office setting (40%), indoor and outdoor animal housing facilities, necropsy rooms, surgery suite, animal BSL-2 facilities, and laboratories. Temperature extremes are common. Exposure to disagreeable odors, working around frightened, unpredictable, and ill-natured animals, and exposure to the risks and hazards of harmful biologicals, carcinogens, and physical agents are possible. BSL-2 animal housing facilities require special precautions and coordination of personnel, animals, equipment, and facility safety controls. Proper safety procedures must be observed and proper protective clothing and gear (hard hats, rubber boots, medical long coats, and medical sanitized such as gloves, masks and gowns) and equipment to ensure personnel safety are required. Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes masks or respirators, medically sanitized rubber boots and gloves, medical long coats, and coveralls when providing care to animals that represent a potential source of zoonotic disease or other biohazard. Various forms of respiratory protection equipment must be worn when working with certain infectious agents, chemicals, and animal allergens. Certain environments may also necessitate the use of hearing protection.

PPE may limit vision, hamper communication, and limit mobility and dexterity. Physical well-being may be compromised by the prolonged usage of the PPE, which may lead to labored respiration, heat stress and dehydration. Strict agent safety regulations are applied to prevent the escape of animal pathogens from the work environment.

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

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

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 based on an evaluation of the following competencies: Leadership, Organizational Awareness, Technical Competence, and Veterinary Science. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job.
• Selections made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would therefore be given a new appointment to the civil service.
• 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.
• Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.
• If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report.
• Selections made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would therefore be given a new appointment to the civil service. For information on benefits available to federal employees, please visit: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/Guide-Me/New-Prospective-Employees/. Please see the Benefits section below for additional information.
• 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.
  
  

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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.