- Position Title
- Interdisciplinary - Biologist or Veterinary Medical Officer (Science Advisor)
- Agency
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
- Announcement Number
- DH-12751948-25-VS Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Friday, June 27, 2025 to Thursday, July 3, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?
2.
Are you a current USDA employee who meets the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee, in which received official notice that your job is no longer needed or that you will lose your job by Reduction-in-Force (RIF)? If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
• you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
3.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than USDA? If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
• you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
4.
Have you registered for reemployment consideration AND meet one of the below:
• Are you a current or former competitive service USDA employee who will be or was separated by Reduction-In-Force (RIF) and received a rating of satisfactory or above as your last annual performance rating?
OR
• Are you a former USDA competitive service employee who separated due to a compensable injury or disability?
• Are you a current or former competitive service USDA employee who will be or was separated by Reduction-In-Force (RIF) and received a rating of satisfactory or above as your last annual performance rating?
OR
• Are you a former USDA competitive service employee who separated due to a compensable injury or disability?
Preferences
1.
Select the location(s) you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location.
2.
Select the series you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one series.
3.
Are you a retiree receiving a civilian Federal or FSA County Annuity?
4.
Have you ever received a voluntary separation incentive payment (VSIP or buyout) to leave the Federal civilian service or FSA County position?
5.
Are you a current or former: Political appointee, Presidential appointee, and/or non-career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointee?
6.
Are you a federal employee receiving a recruitment, relocation, retention and/or other incentive payment?
7.
Once a selection is made for this position, the remaining list of qualified candidates may be shared with other hiring managers in the agency who have similar vacancies. Please opt in below if you're willing to have your name, application material, and assessment results shared to be considered for additional, similar positions. There is no guarantee of for further consideration.
Core Questions
1.
Has your work schedule been full-time, i.e., 35-40 hours per week, for every position listed on your resume or OF-612?
If yes, please type Yes.
If no, please type No and include the following in your response for all positions held: position title, employer, dates employed (MM/DD/YY), work schedule (i.e., Full-Time (FT), Part-Time (PT), etc.), and hours/week. Please list in order with current/most recent position first.
Failure to provide all requested information may prevent us from giving credit for experience.
If yes, please type Yes.
If no, please type No and include the following in your response for all positions held: position title, employer, dates employed (MM/DD/YY), work schedule (i.e., Full-Time (FT), Part-Time (PT), etc.), and hours/week. Please list in order with current/most recent position first.
Failure to provide all requested information may prevent us from giving credit for experience.
2.
I understand for information on the status of my application and the outcome of the application process, I (the applicant) must inquire through USAJOBS. No separate notification will be sent to me. To view the status of my application and the outcome of the application process, I must go to the USAJOBS website and log into My Account. Once in My Account, I must enter the "Application Status" section of the website.
3.
I understand submission of supporting documentation, e.g., transcripts, DD 214, 50B, performance appraisal may be required for this position. I also understand that my application will not be considered if the required supporting documentation is not submitted or is not submitted in accordance with the time frames indicated in the announcement.
4.
I understand that any correspondence necessary will be conducted via e-mail and sent to the e-mail address I provided in this application process. I must keep this e-mail address current.
5.
I have visited the website provided in the Conditions of Employment section of this announcement and provided here (https://www.usda.gov/nbaf). I understand that, if selected, this position will be relocated from Orient Point, New York, to Manhattan, Kansas, when the finished National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility is complete and ready for activity.
Please enter your initials in the following box: (limit 10 characters)
Please enter your initials in the following box: (limit 10 characters)
Short Essay Questions
The following four narrative questions provide an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot.
1.
How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
(limit 1,200 characters)
2.
In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
(limit 1,200 characters)
3.
How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
(limit 1,200 characters)
4.
How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.
(limit 1,200 characters)
5.
I certify that the above responses are in my own words and I did not use a consultant or Artificial Intelligence (such as a large language model (LLM)).
Assessment 1
1.
0701 Series Basic Requirement - Choose the one answer that best describes your education.
Proof of Meeting Basic Education Requirement:
All applicants must submit the following documents as proof of meeting the basic education requirement:
* Copies of college transcripts (translated into English) showing a conferred Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree and, if applicable, proof of meeting qualifications for graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools and proof of English language proficiency.
Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools:
A. Education certification: Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education must furnish proof of meeting one of the following requirements:
* Proof of certification of their final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG).
* Possession of a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in a state, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States that includes successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) or its predecessors, the National Board Examination (NBE) and the Clinical Competency Test (CCT).
* Proof that the education obtained in a foreign veterinary medical program is equivalent to that gained in a veterinary medical program that is accredited by the AVMA Council on Education. An AVMA-accredited veterinary medical school or college must have accepted the final transcript from the foreign veterinary medical school at full value for placement into an advanced degree, postgraduate educational program or training program (e.g., residency or graduate program).
B. English language proficiency: Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education must submit certification of successful completion of one of the nationally and internationally recognized examinations that assess English language proficiency, including:
Option 1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
* Paper-based version minimum score is 560
* Computer-based version minimum score is 220
* Internet-based version minimum score is an overall score of 83 (including 26 or higher in speaking, 26 or higher in listening, and 17 or higher in writing).
Applicants who took the computer-based or paper-based test versions must also have completed the Test of Spoken English (TSE) with a minimum score of 55 and the Test of Written English (TWE) with a minimum score of 5.5.
OR
Option 2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with:
* Overall band score of 7.0
* Minimum score of 7.0 in speaking
* Minimum score of 6.5 in listening
* Minimum score of 6.0 in writing
OR
Option 3. Canadian English Language Assessment (CAEL) with:
* Minimum overall band score of 70
* Minimum score of 60 in speaking
* Minimum score of 60 in listening
* Minimum score of 50 in writing
A. Education certification: Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education must furnish proof of meeting one of the following requirements:
* Proof of certification of their final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG).
* Possession of a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in a state, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States that includes successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) or its predecessors, the National Board Examination (NBE) and the Clinical Competency Test (CCT).
* Proof that the education obtained in a foreign veterinary medical program is equivalent to that gained in a veterinary medical program that is accredited by the AVMA Council on Education. An AVMA-accredited veterinary medical school or college must have accepted the final transcript from the foreign veterinary medical school at full value for placement into an advanced degree, postgraduate educational program or training program (e.g., residency or graduate program).
B. English language proficiency: Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education must submit certification of successful completion of one of the nationally and internationally recognized examinations that assess English language proficiency, including:
Option 1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
* Paper-based version minimum score is 560
* Computer-based version minimum score is 220
* Internet-based version minimum score is an overall score of 83 (including 26 or higher in speaking, 26 or higher in listening, and 17 or higher in writing).
Applicants who took the computer-based or paper-based test versions must also have completed the Test of Spoken English (TSE) with a minimum score of 55 and the Test of Written English (TWE) with a minimum score of 5.5.
OR
Option 2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with:
* Overall band score of 7.0
* Minimum score of 7.0 in speaking
* Minimum score of 6.5 in listening
* Minimum score of 6.0 in writing
OR
Option 3. Canadian English Language Assessment (CAEL) with:
* Minimum overall band score of 70
* Minimum score of 60 in speaking
* Minimum score of 60 in listening
* Minimum score of 50 in writing
2.
Graduates of Foreign Veterinary Schools who qualifies for the English language proficiency test waiver: I understand that I will be required to submit a diploma or other documentation as proof of graduation from a qualifying high (secondary) school before entering on duty, if selected.
3.
Graduates of foreign veterinary schools who qualify for the waiver in question 2: Please state the country in which you were born.
4.
Graduates of Foreign Veterinary Schools: I am a graduate of a foreign veterinary medical program who qualifies for a waiver of the English language proficiency test requirement because the native language of my country of birth is English and I graduated from a high (secondary) school where the entire curriculum and educational programs were taught in English for the entire 3 or 4 years of attendance.
5.
If you are a graduate of a foreign veterinary school who qualifies for the English language proficiency test waiver, please state the country in which you were born. Otherwise, please put "Not Applicable"
6.
0401 Series Basic Requirement - Choose the one answer that best describes your education and experience.
7.
GS-15 - In addition to the basic requirement, choose the one answer that best describes your experience.
8.
Your responses to the Announcement and Assessment Questionnaires, along with your resume and all supporting documentation are subject to evaluation and verification to ensure accuracy. Submitting false information or attempts to falsify information may be grounds for disqualifying you or for terminating you after you have been hired. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy.