Veterinary Medical Officer (PATHOLOGY)

Summary This position is located in the Pathology Branch (PB) of the Eastern Laboratory (EL), Laboratory Regulatory Operations (LRO), Office of Public Health Science (OPHS). OPHS develops (i.e., collects, analyzes, and reports) scientific information for meat, poultry, egg products, Siluriformes, and related products and uses that information to assess potential for human health risks at different points throughout the farm-totable continuum. Learn more about this agency Duties Conduct gross examinations of animal specimens to detect, isolate, and fully identify complex pathologic conditions. Perform histologic and histopathologic evaluations on microscopic tissues to diagnose diseases or abnormalities in slaughtered food animals. Apply hazardous disease security techniques within diagnostic laboratory operations to contain highly contagious or infectious elements. Prepare comprehensive technical reports concerning evaluated pathologic conditions and their broader public health and economic significance. Develop written reports for circulation across the Agency regarding conditions affecting meat, poultry, egg products, and Siluriformes. Deliver in-person presentations to technical and non-technical stakeholders regarding laboratory results or diagnostic trends. Develop instructional guidance for field personnel on selecting, preparing, and shipping diagnostic specimens. Resolve complex biological questions and atypical inspection problems referred by field veterinarians. Plan and organize histopathologic studies analyzing the effects of disease processes on the wholesomeness of meat and poultry. Requirements 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. Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information. 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/. 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 Please reference the specific Office of Personnel Management (OPM) qualifications standards for the 0701 Job Series. Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess 52 Weeks (1 year) of progressively responsible professional veterinary medical experience in at least 4 out of 6 of the below experiences that are equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the federal service. Your resume must clearly demonstrate how you qualify based on the below experience requirements: Experience independently performing gross prosection of animal tissues for histologic processing. Experience independently interpreting routine histochemical and immunohistochemical stains and generating a descriptive pathology report based on these findings with morphologic diagnoses and supplemental educational comments. Experience in effective oral and written communication with customers, other scientific personnel, or senior management on pathology-related topics. Experience enforcing administrative, regulatory, or agency procedures to ensure compliance with food safety laws, animal health standards, and wholesomeness guidelines for meat, poultry, or egg products. Experience directing, participating in, or planning research studies that track abnormal physiological or toxic conditions in food animals to ensure consumer safety. Experience operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting specialized scientific laboratory equipment utilized in veterinary pathology and diagnostic medicine. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: Veterinary Medical Science Series, 0701. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. 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 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) professional degree is required. DVM transcript must show your name, college name, and date degree was awarded. OR Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools that are not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education must meet one of the following requirements and submit supporting documentation: a. Proof of certification of their final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG); b. 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); OR c. 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 American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. Under this provision, equivalency is established only if an AVMA-accredited veterinary medical school or college accepts the graduate's 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). In addition, graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must also submit proof of proficiency in the English language by successfully completing one of the nationally and internationally recognized examinations that incorporate assessments of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Examples of examinations that assess mastery of the English language are shown below: a. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Minimum scores for the TOEFL are 560 for the paper-based version; 220 for the computer-based version; or overall score of 83 for the internet-based version (including 26 or higher in speaking, 26 or higher in listening, and 17 or higher in writing). For the computer-based and paper-based test versions, applicants must also complete the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and the Test of Written English (TWE). Minimum required scores are 55 for the TSE and 5.5 for the TWE. b. Academic tests (listening, writing, and speaking) offered by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 7.0, with at least 7.0 in speaking, 6.5 in listening, and 6.0 in writing; OR c. Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 70, with at least 60 in speaking, 60 in listening, and 50 in writing. "English language proficiency assessments may also be waived for qualified job applicants whose native language is English (i.e. the official or common language of an individual's country of birth is English) AND they submit a diploma or other official documentation from the school as proof of graduation from a high (secondary) school where the entire curriculum and educational programs of the school are taught in the English language for the entire three or four years of full-time attendance" In addition to the DVM degree and specialized experience requirements, there is a selective placement factor for a pathology specialization requirement to qualify for this position as described below: Successfully completed a 3-5 year veterinary pathology internship, residency program, or fellowship training program. OR Successfully completed all requirements for Diplomate status in an ABVS-recognized Veterinary Pathology or Clinical Pathology veterinary specialty organization. Ensure all transcripts, residency certificates, and board certifications are included in your application. Additional information Selectees may be eligible for Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual (CSALA). Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. 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 applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Expand Hide  additional information 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. Benefits 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. Review our benefits 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.