What are the responsibilities and job description for the Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer/Research Microbiologist (Research Leader) position at U.S. Department of Agriculture?

This position is located within the ARS, Plains Area, National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), Foreign Animal Disease Research Unit (FADRU) in Manhattan, KS.

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In this position, you will serve as Research Leader and will provide leadership to the Unit and coordinate with other scientists, the Area Office, the NBAF Center Director, and the Office of National Programs to determine the most fruitful research directions to accomplish the goals and objectives within the approved project plans.

Duties

Conduct basic and applied research on foreign, high consequence diseases of livestock that have high socio-economic consequences and that could be introduced naturally, accidentally, or deliberately into the US.
Maintain relationships with the scientists with other NBAF research units in order to identify collaborations and facilitate a complementary research program.
Maintain responsibility for personnel and facilities issues, oversee congressionally and other mandated specific cooperative agreements with state experiment stations, universities, and other federal agencies, and prepare annual reports for the Unit.
Recommend and implement changes in the Unit research programs in consultation with the FADRU scientific staff, the NBAF Center Director, Area Director, and the Office of National Programs.
Develop budgets and accounts for proper expenditure of funds assigned to the Unit.
Identify research needs in line with research unit capabilities and customer expectations. Some research must be conducted in BSL2, BSL3, and BSL3 Ag containment with select agents and potentially coordinated with BSL4 biocontainment facilities.
Advise leaders in the livestock industry and state and federal action / regulatory agencies on technical and practical matters related to transboundary animal diseases (TADs) of domestic livestock.
Plan, conduct, and report personal research addressing objectives supporting the Unit mission.
Develop and maintain collaborations and relationships with international scientists, laboratories, and agencies in the area of transboundary animal diseases and its global distribution.

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.

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.

Successful completion of a three year probationary period.

Supervisory Responsibilities (EEO Statement).

Financial Disclosure Required.

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 and Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP) requirements for access to information and areas with Biological Select Agents and Toxins (BSAT), including Tier 1 Select Agents at NBAF, the following must be met :

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.

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.

Additional Requirements

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements described in the Education section below, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below.

GS-14

Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-14 level of this position are : Experience planning, conducting, and leading research related to virology, immunology, or pathology in animals; publishing research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals; presenting research findings at national scientific meetings; managing funds on research grants; providing guidance to technicians and stakeholders in accomplishing research objectives; and ensuring the development of well-trained scientific and technical staff.

GS-15

Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-15 level of this position are : Experience developing and leading an interdisciplinary, collaborative research related to virology, immunology, or pathology in animals; publishing research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals; presenting research results at national and international scientific meetings; managing funds on research grants; developing collaborative relationships with government officials, scientific organizations, and internal and external industry stakeholders to coordinate research efforts and validate research results; and serving as Principal Investigator on collaborative research grants.

Other Significant Factors

The National Bio-and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) is an animal disease research facility. Its mission is research, diagnosis and vaccinations 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. This position is required to work in a biosafety level 3Ag environment where high threat livestock biologic agents can be transmitted by aerosol. 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 and :

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 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 disorder which could result in sudden loss of consciousness;

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 is required (may not apply depending on the duties of the position).

Due to potential exposure to zoonotic agents and recommendations of CDC and OSHA some individuals must also be vaccinated for rabies or demonstrate a protective titer and also be currently vaccinated for tetanus and human influenza. (may not apply depending on the duties of the position)

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.

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.

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

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Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer/Research Microbiologist (Research Leader)

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