Head of Section - T&D Compliance

As a Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance Officer, you will identify and verify prohibited and/or non-compliant imported products found at ports of entry and in commerce, which are regulated under the import requirements of the Plant Protection Act and the Animal Health Act. Duties • 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:• Operational planning, development, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of operations in the areas of smuggling interdiction and trade compliance.• Conducts analysis for risk assessments and identification of modes of entry and distribution of prohibited import and other quarantine products.• Plans commerce (retail and wholesale establishments) inspections, surveys, import cargo trade verifications and public outreach.• Collects information, compiles statistics, develops case reports, and inputs data in applicable systems.• Provides written reports to management on operations and field activities, and conducts formal briefings.• Technical leader that provides operational guidance to investigators, as well as to officials in other Federal agencies, state cooperators, industry and local law enforcement officials.• Conducts outreach activities with interagency cooperators, industry, and the public.• Conducts analysis of applicable intervention intelligence, trends, and safeguarding techniques.Requirements• 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.• 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/• Valid state driver's 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.• Work requires climbing through shipments of containerized cargo, other conveyances and storage areas (which may be refrigerated, freezing, dusty or hot and stuffy) during interdiction and inspection activities.• May involve heaving lifting while loading or unloading of contraband.• The work involves frequent travel to and from field activities/locations, ongoing training, and irregular hours.• Holiday and weekend overtime will occasionally be required.QualificationsApplicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.BASIC REQUIREMENT: Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level) that demonstrates:• Experience with pertinent regulations, policies, and procedures of agricultural quarantine principles and biological and scientific principles, and techniques of collection and identification.• Experience researching, interpreting and applying regulations for the importation of agricultural commodities/food products.• Experience preventing and mitigating plant and/or animal pests, diseases, and invasive species.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.OR 1 year of graduate-level education biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.OR Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's 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).Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.TRANSCRIPTS are required if:• This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified.• 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 universityCOMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-07 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that 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.