Supervisory Entomologist (Facility Manager)

The Supervisory Entomologist directs the functions and staff at the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) parasitoid rearing facility, whose mission is the production and shipment of EAB parasitoids in numbers sufficient to assist in the management of EAB. Responsibilities include planning, directing, organizing, and coordinating the multitude of activities and equipment essential to the mass production of insects.

The duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Responsible for scheduling day -to-day and long term program activities for the rearing facility.
• Has final decision-making authority on the following aspects of work: plans and organizes the work of subordinate employees.
• Responsible for the following administrative personnel functions: enforcing and administering EEO/CR programs and work force diversity initiatives.
• Cooperates and collaborates with PPQ Operations, PPQ Science and Technology (ST), USDA Forest Service, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) personnel, recognized EAB researchers, and others.
• Develops a continuous appraisal of operations (via quality control systems) to detect and correct problems, measures current production levels for comparison with projected levels.
• Provides information to SPHD and appropriate members of the Core Functional Area (CFA) working group to assist in preparation of budget request data and facility remodeling as needed.
• Serves as technical advisor or consultant on all aspects of EAB parasitoid mass production for industry representatives, other government agencies, and representatives of foreign governments.
• Works with field personnel, cooperating agencies, and industry on matters of production needs and distribution as well as periodic reporting.

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National

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.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: Degree: entomology; or a related discipline of the biological or physical sciences that included at least 16 semester hours in entomology.

OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major that included course work as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Experience rearing insects and applying principles of experimental design, scientific methods, data collection and concepts to serve as the technical authority for the full range of activities associated with the rearing of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and its parasitoids or other equivalent insect type.
• Collaborate with people of widely divergent skill levels within the organization and the scientific community on matters related to rearing EAB parasitoids or an equivalent insect type and managing the facility operations.
• Train staff on the use and maintenance of equipment used in laboratory and field settings.

OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in entomology or closely related field. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:

 

• Accountability
• Compliance Inspection
• Conflict Management
• Decisiveness
• Developing Others
• Entomology
• Flexibility
• Human Capital Management
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Political Savvy
• Problem Solving
• Research

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To preview the application questionnaire, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12450780