Senior Compliance Specialist

Summary

The Senior Compliance Specialist for the OIEA Enforcement Operations Staff (EOS) leads enforcement programs, provides technical expertise for criminal, civil, and administrative actions. Major duties are coordinating complex compliance cases, providing guidance to agency staff, supporting litigation activities, representing FSIS in legal and public forums, developing strategic solutions to enhance program efficacy, and negotiating settlements that uphold food safety and regulatory compliance.

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Duties

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• Determines if enforcement actions are appropriate, supportable and legally defensible.
• Provides technical expertise on critical and complex enforcement cases ensuring thorough review and sound analysis.
• Maintains effective communication and strong working relationship with internal partners and external agencies to support coordinated enforcement efforts.
• Recommends and prepares case referrals to the USDA Office of the General Counsel (OGC) to initiate appropriate legal action.
• Provides policy guidance and litigation support to OGC ensuring defensible enforcement outcomes.
• Prepares written complaints, consent decisions, and provides expert testimony to support legally sound enforcement actions.
• Communicates laws, regulations and policies governing to meat poultry and egg products inspection and enforcement to ensure consistent understanding and application.
• Independently manages the evaluation and disposition of criminal, civil, and administrative enforcement cases ensuring timely, legally supportable outcomes
• Communicates effectively orally and in writing with Agency personnel, the public, and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Possesses expert knowledge of FMIA, PPIA, EPIA and regulations, policies and directives that govern enforcement and inspection activities.
• Possesses expert, comprehensive knowledge of the food processing, manufacturing, and distribution industry including operational practices and regulatory impacts.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary or trial period, unless previously served. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• If you are newly hired, the documentation you present for purposes of completing the Department Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 on your entry-on-duty date will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" system.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit
• False statements or responses on a resume or application can jeopardize employment and may be grounds for disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.
• If you are selected, you may need to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) prior to being appointed to determine suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

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 the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

Specialized Experience: You must have at least one year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service performing duties which include:

• Utilizing meat, poultry, egg, and humane slaughter statutes, regulations, and policies to identify and assess violations warranting enforcement or legal action;
• Leading teams, providing technical guidance, working with due process and procedural requirements to initiate and execute enforcement or legal action;
• Experience with regulated and allied food manufacturing, processing, and distribution industries and food safety, animal and food science, hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP), sanitation standard operating procedure (SSOP), sanitation performance standards (SPS), and pathogen reduction regulations to assess violations and implement actions to improve food safety;
• Conducting investigations, administrative enforcement activities, recall activities, preparing case investigation/administrative enforcement files, assessing and verifying regulatory compliance, and/or documenting statutory and regulatory violations;
• Gathering facts; analyzing factors, relevant issues, and data; identifying noncompliance, violations, or trends; developing corresponding findings and conclusions; and drafting written decision documents, analytical reports, and/or supporting recommended actions through written analysis; and
• Communicating with industry officials and their representatives; communicating regulatory/food safety information and/or investigative findings orally to industry and government officials; and drafting written correspondence, reports, and other documents on regulatory, compliance, and enforcement matters.

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 are no educational requirements or substitutions for experience 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.

This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.