Summary This position provides technical support and direction to federal, state, and county employees or other entities conducting scale testing functions on devices designated as scales; provide oversight of official agencies responsible for official weighing, and scale testing; monitor inventory and review activities of the weighing equipment utilized at designated weighing locations including supervising scale testing and weighing certification. 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: Conducts analysis, surveys, and reviews weighing and grain scale operations and function at major export and inland terminals. Conducts or oversees periodic comprehensive tests of scales to determine whether indicated errors and balance changes are within specified tolerances. May instruct and/or monitor/oversee industry weigh-masters, official weighers, and associated weighing and support personnel in proper scale operation procedures and processes. Developing standards for weighing within an assigned area of responsibility that put into practice safeguards on equipment calibrations and maintenance. Participates and/or leads group discussions and training sessions and addresses individual questions concerning weighing instructions, procedures, and duties. 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-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Testing large capacity grain and railroad track scales. Reviewing specifications and performance requirements of weighing devices directly involving industry or state officials. Planni.ng industrial quality control and inspection systems and programs. OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in the fields of: business administration, industrial management, engineering, applied sciences, or other fields related to the position. OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. OR LL.M., if related Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Enforcing specification and performance requirements of weighing devices directly involving industry or state officials. Experience with hopper, truck and track scale testing, NTEP testing, weighing system review, metrological calibrations such as Master Scale calibration, test car field calibration and test weight reverification. Safe operation of test cars and in the proper maintenance and calibration of the test cars. Note: There is no education substitution 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. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-11 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 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 (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. 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. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here. Requires extensive travel. The work environment will include work in grain elevators, warehouses, container and rail yards, truck loading operations and other grain/commodity handling sites. Exposure to grain and/or commodities and associated dust is expected; work occurs in various weather extremes including hot, cold, wet, and windy conditions, working at remote locations and in dirty, muddy and/or noisy conditions and at high elevations on railcars or in grain/commodity handling facilities is common. Scale testing, test weight reverification, and testing of automated weighing systems may require significant climbing of ladders and/or stairs, lifting (repetitively) 50 pound test weights and other heavy equipment. May require stooping, kneeling, crawling, and crouching near scales and testing equipment and pushing/pulling equipment into and out of testing areas at the industrial or field sites.
