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Summary

The incumbent serves as the Assistant Division Director for the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service National Organic Program’s Accreditation Division. This is a permanent position based in Washington D.C.

Duties

• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Participating in the development, formulation, execution, and review of NOP programs and policies.
• Providing authoritative leadership in establishing and monitoring the process for reviewing applications for State and private (foreign and domestic) bodies seeking accreditation as organic certifiers.
• Conducting assessments of state organic programs to ensure compliance with the NOP regulations.
• Representing the Program in establishing and maintaining relationships with the public, producers, handlers, trade organizations, State Organic Program officials, governmental, and various public groups.
• Evaluating suggestions made by interest groups and individuals to improve policies and program services, and implements those which will improve program objectives
• Assigning and reviewing the work of staff to ensure timely performance, soundness, and value.
• Identifying training and developmental needs of the staff, locating sources of training that will meet those needs.
• Exercising approval authority for leave requests, conferring with higher level management on highly unusual situations involving extended absence.

Requirements

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.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their 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 E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
• In accordance with Office of Government Ethics regulations concerning conflict of interest, the incumbent will be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of their effective date of appointment and annually thereafter.

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-14 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-13 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates all of the following:

• Experience managing an agriculture and/or food-related accreditation or certification program. Managing includes reviewing audit/inspection reports to assess and determine compliance with the USDA organic (National Organic Program) regulations and policies, and leading the development of accreditation or organic certification program policies and/or procedures.
• Experience serving as an organic compliance subject matter expert, providing training for assessing certification bodies and/or crop production farms, livestock production operations, and/or food handling operations with compliance to the USDA organic (National Organic Program) regulations.

ANDNote: There is no education substitution for this 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

This position does not have an education qualification 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.
• Worksite Information: This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. Additional information regarding ad hoc, occasional, or reoccurring telework may be obtained at a later time from the hiring manager or program during the hiring process.