Agricultural Commodity Grader (Fruit and Vegetable)
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Job Location:
Vacaville, CA - USA
Yearly Salary:
$ 50925 - 82007
Posted on:
12 hours ago
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
Summary
The Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division is responsible for developing U.S. grade standards and providing inspection grading certification and audit-based services nation-wide on a user-fee basis for fresh and processed fruits and vegetables and related products.
In this position you will serve as a grader at an inspection point processing facility or area office lab which may involve coordinating the work of other inspection personnel.
- 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:
- Inspects fresh fruit and vegetable 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 fruit and vegetable products.
- applies the official standards and regulations to determine the products grade and/or condition and directly issues the certificate.
- Draws and examines representative samples of products and determines grade condition and wholesomeness in accordance with official grade standards buyer-seller contracts or other written specifications.
- Makes observations to determine if plant facilities operating methods processing equipment and personnel are in compliance with SCI sanitation requirements and FDA regulations.
- Observes the raw product material to establish the suitability for processing and advises plant management of the results.
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.
- 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 E-Verify at will be subject to a pre-employment medical statement and/or exam.
- 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.
- Valid state drivers license is required at the time of application.
- 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.
- May need to serve a one-year probationary period.
- MIXED TOUR WORK SCHEDULE: Combination of Full-Time Part-Time and Intermittent (as needed) work schedules. No minimum amount of hours is guaranteed. Position will have a fluctuating work schedule.
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: 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 private or public sectors) that demonstrates the ability to:
- Identify problems gather pertinent data or recognize solutions.
- Plan and organize work.
- Utilize office software such as: Adobe Excel Word.
OR
Successfully completed a 4-year course of study from an accredited college or university leading to a bachelors degree.
Note: 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 grade level) that demonstrates:
- Grading or inspecting product utilizing grading standards and regulations.
- Draws samples of product.
- Identifies and describes common product defects and/or diseases.
1 full year of graduate level education in Agriculture Mathematics Engineering Science Business Economics or related subjects;
OR
Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement you must have completed the requirements for a bachelors 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).Note: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.
Note: 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.
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 educational requirement for this position.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The work is often conducted around moving equipment such as moving conveyor belts. The work environment further requires working in close proximity to others and/or alone.
- 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.
- Incumbent 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);
- This position involves Mobile Work: Mobile work is characterized by routine and regular travel to conduct work in customer or other worksites as opposed to a single authorized alternative worksite. Examples of mobile work include site audits site inspections investigations property management and work performed while commuting traveling between worksites or on Temporary Duty (TDY).
- Requires periods of physical exertion to obtain samples involving climbing onto trucks barges hopper cars man lifts etc. using probes pelicans and similar sampling devices; and moving and lifting bags or sacks weighing up to 55 pounds.
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
