Job Title: Food Inspector

Entry-level positions filled through this announcement usually work in slaughter plants. Your role as a new Inspector would be to examine food animals in privately-owned meat or poultry plants. You would ensure that the product is fit to eat and in compliance with Federal laws. Inspection is performed before and after slaughter to ensure that the product is not contaminated and that sanitation procedures are maintained. Overtime/rotating shift work may be required.

To view examples of the types of work performed, please click on: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Employees/NEOP_Food_Inspectors/index.asp

You can qualify based on either education OR experience, but not a combination of the two.
Qualifying at the GS-5 level based on EXPERIENCE:
You must have one year specialized experience that was obtained after your 16th birthday. The experience must show qualifying knowledge, judgment, interpretive ability, and technical skills. Your experience must be related to a finished product where there are specific standards. You must provide specific examples to show that you qualify. Specialized experience may include, but is not limited to, the following examples:

*Work experience processing food, in a slaughter or processing plant, or a comparable production activity which prepares food for human consumption. (Not all experience in a slaughter or processing plant is creditable.)
*Work experience as a meat cutter/butcher in a wholesale or retail meat/poultry business. The experience must include a full range of responsible duties to be qualifying.
*Work experience performing Quality Control tests and/or laboratory tests. This experience must be in the food industry or other similar environments, working with products that are consumed by humans or animals.
*Work experience as a manager or supervisor in the food or livestock industry. This experience in the food industry must demonstrate effective skills in communicating job requirements, evaluating results of work methods or processes, applying instructions, and interpreting standards or instructions.
*Work experience preparing food, as a chef or cook in a large-scale commercial establishment. This experience must demonstrate responsibility for proper food preparation, handling and sanitation practices. Fast food experience as a grill attendant, serving line attendant, or cashier does not demonstrate possession of these skills.
*Work experience as a Veterinary Technician. This experience must include conducting lab tests, assessing animals and/or partial examination of animals, performing necropsies, monitoring animals under anesthesia or other Vet Tech work involving standards and decisions.

Qualifying at the GS-7 level:
Applicants must have one year of full-time qualifying regulatory experience as a state, federal or military Food Inspector.   

Qualifying at the GS-5 level based on EDUCATION:

You may qualify at the GS-5 level based on successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelors degree from an accredited college or university, which included 12 semester hours in the biological, physical, mathematical, or agricultural sciences. If you are within 9 months of graduating you may apply.

We will review your résumé and college transcripts (if applicable) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements.  We evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualification requirements on the information provided in the Assessment Questionnaire.  The View Assessment Questions which collects information on your training and experience related to this position.  It also, covers the following knowledge, skills and abilities/competencies in writing, oral communication, and interpersonal skills. 
Ratings will be based on responses to the assessment questions in this document. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your score.
Please note: If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your description of experience and/or education OR that your application is incomplete, your rating may be lowered or you may be assigned an "ineligible" rating.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP).  The ICTAP
provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection
priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.  For information
regarding ICTAP eligibility click:  ICTAP

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP).  The CTAP provides eligible surplus
and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over
other candidates for competitive service vacancies. For information regarding
ICTAP eligibility click:  CTAP

Selective Service:  If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959,
you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or
are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.  See http://www.sss.gov.
 

Veterans’ Preference: If you are entitled to veterans’ preference, you should indicate the type of veterans’ preference you are claiming on your résumé.  Your veterans’ preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency.

For 5-point veterans’ preference, please provide your DD-214 (Certificate
of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), official statement of service from
your command if you are currently on active duty, or other official
documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that proves your military service was performed under
honorable conditions.
For 10-point veterans’ preference, please submit a Standard Form (SF) 15 ,
Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference and the required documentation.

To begin the application process, please follow the three steps below.

STEP ONE: Submit a detailed resume.
If your résumé is going to come from the USAJOBS Resume Builder, you begin the
process by clicking the Apply Online button near the bottom of this page. Your résumé will be attached only to the Application Package you complete and Submit immediately after you click the Apply Online button for this job announcement, not to any Application Packages you may already have created.
If your résumé is going to be one you prepared outside of USAJOBS Résumé Builder, click this link to begin the process:  Online Questionnaire.  Enter UM268056 in the "Create a New Application for This Job" panel, and then click "Submit" to begin the on-line application.You may submit your résumé either by on-line, by fax or by mail. 
Your résumé should include detailed work experience relevant to this position including, duties and responsibilities; dates/hours worked for each job; college degrees you earned (if any).  Your resume should also include:
·         Vacancy Identification Number UM268056, title and grade(s) for which you are applying - Food Inspector, GS-05/07
·         Full name, mailing address (with zip code), day/evening telephone numbers and email address
·         Job related skills (e.g., fluency in other languages, computer experience, etc.)
·         Job-related honors, awards, credentials and special accomplishments if applicable

STEP TWO: Complete and Submit the Occupational Questionnaire.  
You are encouraged to complete the Occupational Questionnaire on-line.  If you are unable to complete the questionnaire on-line, refer to the Alternative Methods for Applying section below for specific instructions.  Use these step-by-step instructions as a guide to completing the occupational questionnaire.  Read the instructions carefully.  Be sure to check your answers for accuracy before clicking on the “Submit” button.  You may take this Occupational Questionnaire assessment only once per year.

STEP THREE: Submit supporting application documents.
·         Copies of college transcripts for degree earned.  Official transcripts will be required prior to your start date if college degree is used to qualify for this position.
·         If applicable, any documents for veteran’s preference: DD-214 (Member 4 copy), SF-15, and supporting documents.
·         If you are or have been a Federal employee, please submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Form SF-50.

Alternative Methods for Applying:
• Commissioned Corps:  Please click here:  Commissioned Corps Fact Sheet
·         FAX:  Complete the occupational questionnaire on-line, as outlined above, and fax all or part of your documentation. If you choose to fax your documentation your cover page must include the Vacancy ID number UM268056, and your name.  To print a copy of the cover page,
click: http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf. The Fax number to submit your documents is: 1-478-757-3144.
·         Paper application package: If you are unable to apply using the internet or would rather apply using a paper application, please refer to contact information.
         

• Resume
• Transcripts (if applicable)
• Veterans' Preference documentation (if applicable)

Systems F. Section Phone: (800)370-3747 Fax: (612)370-2060 TDD: 800-877-8339 Email: foodinspectorapps@fsis.usda.gov

Or write: FSIS HRFO Service Teams Butler Square West 4th Floor 100 North Sixth Street Minneapolis, MN 55403-1564 USA Fax: (612)370-2060

Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. The automated system initially rates applicants based on the answers in your questionnaire.  This self-determined rating, your resume and supporting documents will be carefully reviewed to ensure minimum qualifications are met.  This review will take place prior to you being considered for a position. If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted.