PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER

Summary

This position is located in the FSIS Office of Public Health Science at the Eastern, Midwestern, or Western Laboratory. The primary function is performing scientific activities and analyses related to bioinformatics and data analytics in public health program areas. The incumbent processes large volumes of whole genome sequencing data (WGS) generated from foodborne pathogen testing programs and serves as a subject matter expert on data analytics and all scientific matters related to WGS.

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Duties

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• Provide leadership and direction in the collection, analysis, and assessment of epidemiologic, microbiologic, and trace-back evidence linking FSIS-regulated products to reports of illness, injury, allergic reaction, and other public health events.
• Guide the development of briefing documents, investigation summaries, technical reports, and presentations to support situational awareness and decision making of key FSIS and USDA executives.
• Represent FSIS as a speaker and senior subject matter expert at national or international meetings, conferences, seminars, and training sessions.
• Lead activities aimed at program evaluation, process improvement and strengthening partnerships with Federal, State, and local public health and/or agriculture jurisdictions to promote coordination during investigations and other collaborations.
• Represent FSIS and/or oversee FSIS engagement in interagency workgroups, committees, and task forces as a recognized spokesperson and expert on relevant FSIS policies, priorities, and programs.
• Communicate recommendations to leadership and OPHS led groups (such as the FSIS Health Hazard Evaluation Board and the FSIS Hazard Identification Team) charged with assessing potential hazards and emerging food safety issues.
• Make decisions or recommendations of significantly changing, or developing, important public health policies or programs.
• Coordinate FSIS response during foodborne illness investigations and ensure internal and external partners understand FSIS objectives, data quality, and reporting needs, assignments, and deadlines.
• Communicate in both oral and written presentations which include presenting seminars and publishing articles in professional journals.
• Oversee and conduct ad-hoc and periodic data queries to analytically describe developments, trends, and outcomes relevant to foodborne hazard surveillance and response.

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.
• 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.
• 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 the following qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement:

Time in grade: You must have completed one year at the GS-12 grade or its equivalent in the federal service.

Individual Occupational Requirements: You must meet the following basic education requirement for the 0601 series to qualify for this position. Additional information regarding this requirement can be found by clicking the 0601 hyperlink above:

• Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position.

In addition to the basic education requirement, you must meet the following specialized experience requirements (your resume MUST show demonstrated experiences of these requirements) :

You must demonstrate within your resume in detail your experience in the following areas at the GS-12 level or equivalent :

• Working on projects involving bioinformatics or complex data analytics (initiating, planning, designing or leading projects).
• Writing scientific manuscripts, investigation reports, guidance documents, standard operating procedures (SOPs) or policy documents.
• Working with database software, statistical analysis systems, bioinformatic software or operating systems. Examples of these systems include, but are not limited to: Tableau, BioNumerics, CLC Genomics Workbench, Microsoft SQL Management Studio.
• Experience updating laboratory policies or procedures using data analysis, study design process, or data presentation.
• Applying scientific data interpretation to update laboratory policies or procedures.

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

Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree: Major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

Transcripts must be submitted to show that you meet the basic requirement. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, it must include student name, school name, and enough information to validate qualifications such as course names, prefixes, grades, semester or quarter credit hours, date degree was awarded, etc. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to entering on duty.

Education must have been obtained from an accredited school, college, or university, Follow this link to verify your institution's credentialing: Dept. of Education Accredited Schools

If any education was completed at a foreign institution, you must submit evidence that the institution is accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. Follow these links to those credentialing organizations:

• National Association of Credential Evaluation Services
• Association of International Credential Evaluators

Additional information

This announcement may be used to fill additional like vacancies.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL) applicants: To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements.

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 applications must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

Follow this link to the Office of Personnel Management's website for information on how to apply as a CTAP or RPL applicant:

If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial disclosure requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this agency.

It is the policy of the government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. See more information at this link: CHCO Council

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA TARGET Center at View phone number on click.appcast.io (voice and TDD).

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.