Supervisory Biological Scientist / Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer

Quick Facts

• Role: Interdisciplinary Supervisor within APHIS Ready Response Corps for emergency preparedness and response involving animal and plant health incidents and all-hazards events

• Deployment: Deploys to agricultural emergencies, primarily plant and animal disease outbreaks (extensive travel; irregular work hours)

Description

This position serves as a supervisory technical expert, leading a team of Veterinary Medical Officers, specialists, and/or technicians during high-stress, rapidly evolving emergency response situations. You will coordinate with leadership to advance agency emergency response objectives, provide expert advice on preparedness and response programs and plans, and help establish training (including Incident Command System training). As needed, you will deploy to outbreaks to support emergency response, containment, and mitigation risk reduction activities.

Benefits

• Comprehensive U.S. federal benefits package (eligibility depends on position type and full-time/part-time status)

• Recruitment incentive up to 25% of base pay may be authorized for eligible candidates (requires a 1-year service agreement)

Requirements

• US citizenship or US national

• Selective Service registration/exemption (if applicable)

• Successful adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check

• Completion of required probationary periods, including 1-year supervisory/managerial probation (unless prior service is creditable)

• Direct deposit; pass the E-Verify employment verification check

• Valid state driver’s license at time of application

• Enrollment in Continuous Vetting

• Meet GS-13 specialized experience and/or education requirements, plus the basic degree requirement (0401 or 0701 track)

• Transcripts required; foreign veterinary graduates must meet English proficiency requirements (or a qualifying waiver)

Hard/Technical Qualifications (GS-13 examples)

• Leadership and technical expertise to specialists and technicians

• Execution of disease response protocols to prevent and respond to animal and/or plant health diseases of concern

• Engagement with customers, animal/plant owners and agricultural producers, and animal/plant health authorities and stakeholders