Summary If selected for this position, you would perform the full range of meat grading and quality assurance monitoring duties. Responsibilities The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity. The duties may include, but are not limited to: Examines meat to evaluate factors related to product quality. Selects samples and meat products within specifications. Explains evaluation determinations to plant management. Prepares and issues certificates based on quality standards. Assists supervisors with on-the-job training of meat graders and other employees. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. FOR THE GS-05 LEVEL: General experience: Applicants must have three years of progressively responsible experience, one year of which was equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level in the Federal Service (equivalent to the GS-04 level), experience may have been obtained in the private or public sectors. The experience must demonstrate the ability to: Identify problems, gather pertinent data, or recognize solutions. Plan and organize work. Utilize office software such as: Adobe, Excel, Word. Experience must provide evidence of the skills shown above. General clerical experience (typing, filing, routine processing, or other non-specialized repetitive tasks) is not creditable. OR 4-year course of study leading to a Bachelor's degree. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Determining the grade, quality, acceptability, processing, packing, storage, and/or transportation of food grade product, refrigeration, processing, packing, storage, and transportation. Ensuring compliance with food grade and/or sanitation regulations in a processing plant, warehouse, livestock operation, food establishment, or similar workplace to determine quality against regulations and/or standards. OR 1 full year of graduate level education in Agriculture, Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Business, Economics, or a related field. OR Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND 1) have a class standing in the upper third of the graduating class, 2) membership in a national scholastic honor society (excluding Freshman honor societies), or 3) must meet certain GPA requirements. GPA requirements: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on official transcripts or as computed based on 4 years of education, or courses completed during the final 2 year of the curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required course completed in the major field or courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum (GPA will be rounded to one decimal place, e.g., 2.95 rounds to 3.0 and 2.94 rounds to 2.9). Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. You are qualifying for this position based on Superior Academic Achievement. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-05 & 07 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. 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 There is no education 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. First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee. Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection. This position is represented by a collective bargaining unit (union), specifically the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). Applications can be accepted from students who expect to complete qualifying education by 3/31/2026. 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. Worksite Information: This position is located at the duty station(s) listed in this vacancy announcement and is not eligible for telework or remote work. Work environment includes regular and reoccurring moderate discomforts working in and exposure to: freezing, humid, and/or hot temperatures, dust, odors, and wet and/or slippery surfaces, equipment, floors, and stairs. Prolonged standing, walking, stooping, bending, twisting, and climbing; physical coordination and balance on ladders are required to get into and out of commodity, chilling/freezing, holding, and storage facilities. Finger dexterity in at least one or both hands/fingers to perform digital examinations of commodities and grasping/handling or moving equipment. Normal or corrected vision in at least one eye for distance, depth perception, and color to detect abnormalities in product. Selectee may be required to work on weekends, holidays, and overtime, multiple shifts and/or changing/rotating shifts. The work requires periods of considerable physical exertion to push, pull, lift, carry, and move boxes, cartons, and heavy packages, buckets, sacks or bags of product (often weighing up to/over 50/55 pounds).
