Agricultural Commodity Grader (Specialty Crops)
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Job Location:
Woodland, WA - USA
Yearly Salary:
$ 68419 - 94563
Posted on:
3 hours ago
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
Summary
In this position you would serve as a senior grader at an inspection point processing facility or area office lab which may involve coordinating the work of other inspection personnel. You may perform audit verifications on the production and processes at warehouses railroad sidings packing plants ports of entry primary production operations farms and similar facilities.
- The duties may include but are not limited to:
- Selects samples from product lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in accordance with prescribed sampling and plans.
- Inspects products to determine the quality condition and/or compliance with U.S. Grade Standards or stated contract specifications.
- Prepares inspection reports based on examination of product.
- Draws and examines samples of the finished products of processed fruits and vegetables and determines grade condition and wholesomeness.
- Makes observations to determine if plant facilities operating methods processing equipment and personnel are in compliance with sanitation requirements and regulations.
- Coordinates activities schedules and work assignments for other inspection personnel assigned to the plant.
Conditions of employment
- You must be a US Citizen or US National.
- Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
- Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
- May need to serve a one-year 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 will be subject to a pre-employment medical statement and/or exam.
- Valid state drivers license is required at the time of application.
- Prior to an official offer selectee will be required to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) acknowledging/accepting that geographic mobility is a condition of employment. Failure to sign the MOU will result in withdrawal of the job offer.
- All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk public trust or national security positions.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions specialized experience and/or education as defined below.
TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.
FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local county state Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
- Independently grades or inspects a variety of vegetables fruits and related products
- Evaluates products to determine conformance with contract specifications
- Makes explains or defends nearly all grade and/or inspection determinations
Education: Must have a masters or equivalent graduate degree in Agriculture Mathematics Engineering Economics Business Science or related field; or two full years (36 semester hours) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree.
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.
- This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school college or university.
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) Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP RPL eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP 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 applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 10
- 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 selectees duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection.
- Commodity grading work requires periods of physical exertion to lift and move boxes cartons and heavy packages of product (often weighing over 50 pounds).
- Prolonged periods of standing walking stooping bending and climbing; physical coordination and finger dexterity in at least one hand to perform digital examinations of commodities.
- Normal or corrected vision in at least one eye for distance depth perception and color to detect abnormalities in product.
- The work environment includes exposure to freezing and/or hot temperatures fumes dust and odors from coolants slippery surfaces moving materials handling equipment high noise level and similar risks typical of fruit and vegetable and related processing plants storage areas and terminal markets.
- May be required to work on weekends and overtime; traveling for extended periods of time; working multiple shifts and changing/rotating shifts (i.e. first second and third);
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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.
Key Skills
- GIS
- Engineering
- Engineering Practices
- Data Collection
- Irrigation Systems
- Agriculture
- CAD
- GPS
- Water Quality
- Biology
- Nursery
- Emergency maitenance
- Technical Assistance
- Watetr conservation
- Agricultural Equipment
