Supervisory Interdisciplinary Scientist, (Microbiologist/Chemist), GS-403/1320-13

Job Title:Supervisory Interdisciplinary Scientist, (Microbiologist/Chemist), GS-403/1320-13

Department:Department Of Health And Human Services

Agency:Food and Drug Administration

Job Announcement Number:HHS-FDA-ORA-MP-13-779519
SALARY RANGE:
    $81,823.00 to $106,369.00 / Per Year
OPEN PERIOD:
    Monday, December 10, 2012 to Friday, December 28, 2012
SERIES & GRADE:
    GS-0403/1320-13
POSITION INFORMATION:
    Full Time - Permanent
PROMOTION POTENTIAL:
13
DUTY LOCATIONS:
    1 vacancy in the following location:
San Juan, PR United StatesView Map
WHO MAY APPLY:
    Current employees with the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Southeast Region with career or career conditional appointments in the competitive service
JOB SUMMARY:

Become a part of the Department that touches the lives of every American!  At the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) you can give back to your community, state, and country by making a difference in the lives of Americans everywhere.  It is the principal agency for protecting the health of citizens.  Join HHS and help to make our world healthier, safer, and better for all Americans.

This position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA), San Juan District Office, located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.



Who May Apply:  This vacancy is open to current Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA), employees in the Southeast Region with competitive status.  Competitive status refers to employees who are serving on a career or career conditional appointment.

YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR SF-50


FDA-ORA PHS Commissioned Corps Officers in the Southeast Region who are interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps may apply on line to this announcement.  Candidates will be referred to (CC) personnel and not as candidates for conversion to a permanent career or career-conditional appointment.



This position is interdisciplinary and may be filled as a Chemist, GS-1320-13 or Biologist, GS-0403-13.


This announcement may be used to fill multiple positions in multiple locations.



This is a non-bargaining unit position.



SPECIAL NOTE:  Federal employees living in Puerto Rico are authorized a 4.20% cost of living allowance (COLA) not included in the salary range identified above.  For more information click here:

http://www.opm.gov/oca/cola/rates.asp



    KEY REQUIREMENTS

    U.S. Citizenship is required.
    Applicant must have a valid driver's license.
    Supervisory probationary period is required.
    15% travel is required.
    Relocation expenses will be paid.

DUTIES:
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This position is located in the Southeast Region, San Juan District Office, Laboratory Branch located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  The position serves as a first line supervisor in an ORA field laboratory over a unit of scientists.  The incumbent is recognized as an authority in drug chemistry and deals with the legal and scientifically difficult and sensitive issues in this area.  The functions and activities in this area impact the work of regulated industry; State, local and foreign governments, as well as the general public.  This incumbent is responsible for the technical and administrative supervision of a chemistry unit (including Physical Science Technicians, Biological Science wage grade employees and support staff) which includes planning, budgeting, assigning, reviewing, and evaluating the work and performance of the employees under his/her supervision.



Major duties include:

    Perform the administrative and personnel management functions for the subordinate staff.
    Plans and assigns work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short-term priorities and prepare schedules for completion of work.
    Prepares budget needs/request for the unit.
    Responsible for personnel issues relating to subordinates under his/her supervision including but not limited to; evaluating performance, minor disciplinary actions and career development needs.
    Participate in seminars, workshops and other professional activities.
    Serves as Acting Director of the Science Branch with full responsibility.
    Testify in court as necessary.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
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BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

Microbiologist (GS-0403)

A. Degree: microbiology: or biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included at least 20 semester hours in microbiology and other subjects related to the study of microorganisms, and 20 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences combining course work in organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics, and college algebra, or their equivalent. - OR-



B. Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in microbiology, biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.



Chemist (GS-1320)

A. Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics. -OR-


B. Combination of education and experience -- course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education.


SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:



In addition to meeting one of the basic requirements as stated above, applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade which equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position, and is typically related to the work of the position to be filled.  Specialized experience can be identified through comprehensive knowledge of the basic legislation, laws, precedents, and regulation which governs the activities of a laboratory, skills in negotiation and the function of a laboratory.



Applicant must have one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-12 to meet eligibility at the GS-13.


Foreign Education:  If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.  For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov.

Conditions of Employment:



1. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.



2. Financial disclosure statement may be required.  Certain positions within the FDA are subject to restrictions on financial holdings specifically FDA regulated financial holdings.  This position could be subject to these restrictions.  During the application and interview process, and prior to accepting this position, we advise applicants to seek additional information from the FDA Ethics Office at (301) 827-5511.



3. Bargaining Unit Position:  No



4. Travel required:  15%.



5. Time-in-grade (TIG) must be met within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.



6.  Incumbent must serve a one year supervisory probationary period if this requirement was not previously met.



7.  Must have a valid driver's license.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Once the application process is complete, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job.  If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position.  Please follow all instructions carefully.  Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Your qualifications will be evaluated and rated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):



1.  Knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations, policies and precedents.

2.  Knowledge of major issues, program goals and objectives, substantive work processes and program operations.

3.  Knowledge of principles, concepts, practices of various scientific fields and specialty areas..

4.  Ability to plan, organize and oversee progress and programmatic results and scientific programs within a laboratory.

5.  Skill in adapting analytical technique and evaluation criteria to measure program efficacy and productivity.

6.  Ability to communicate in writing.

7.  Ability to communicate orally.

BENEFITS:
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The Federal Government offers a comprehensive benefits package.  Explore the major benefits offered to most Federal employees at http://www.usajobs.gov/ResourceCenter/Index/Interactive/Benefits#icc.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov).



For information on "People with Disabilities" please visit http://opm.gov/disability/PeopleWithDisabilities.asp



Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP):  For information on how to apply as an CTAP eligible see http://opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp#ictap.  To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85.0 or above on the rating criteria for this position.

HOW TO APPLY:
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To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.  Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire.  Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.



Note:  To return to a previously Saved or Incomplete application you may use the following link: https://applicationmanager.gov.



To fax supporting documents you are unable to upload, complete this cover page http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf using the following Vacancy ID 779519.  Fax your documents to 1-478-757-3144.


If you cannot apply online:

        Click the following link to view and print the assessment questionnaire View Occupational Questionnaire, and
        Print this 1203FX form to provide your response to the assessment questionnaire http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/OPM1203fx.pdf and
        Fax the completed 1203FX form along with any supporting documents to 1-478-757-3144.  Your 1203FX will serve as a cover page for your fax transmission.
        This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities.  If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Bethesda Customer HelpDesk at (888) 478-4340; TTY/TDD: (800) 877-8339; or by email quickquestions@psc.gov.  The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:



    Your Résumé - You are encouraged to use the USAJobs online resume builder to ensure that all required information is in your resume.  If you use your own résumé, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose then you must describe your job-related qualifications that include beginning and ending dates for paid and non-paid work experience, hours worked per week, month and year of employment for each job title listed.

    A complete Assessment Questionnaire

    Other supporting documents:

         - Veterans Preference Documentation, if applicable

         - College Transcripts (if the position has a positive education requirement)



For Résumé and Application Tips visit: http://www.usajobs.gov/ResourceCenter/Index/Interactive/ResumeAndApplicationTips#icc



The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Friday, December 28, 2012.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:
FDA Helpdesk
Phone: (888)478-4340
Fax: (478)757-3144
Email: QUICKQUESTIONS@PSC.GOV
Agency Information:
HHS FDA Center
10903 New Hampshire Avenue
Silver Spring, MD
20993Fax: (478)757-3144
WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful.  The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview.  We expect to make a selection within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement.



You will receive notice via email or by mail, if no email address was provided by you during the application process, once this process is completed (generally 4-6 weeks).

Scientist - Plant Pathologist, Kenya

 Closing Date: Sunday, 06 January 2013
ILRI Nairobi Campus

Vacancy Number: SPP/BECA/12/12
Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA)
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Duration: 3 years, with the possibility of renewal

Base salary dependent on experience – starting from USD 50,000 per annum. Total salary & international benefits package circa USD 93, 000 per annum (tax free*)

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works at the crossroads of livestock and poverty, bringing high-quality livestock science, communications and capacity building to bear on poverty reduction and sustainable development. ILRI is one of 15 Centres of the CGIAR Consortium. ILRI has campuses in Kenya (headquarters) and Ethiopia, with offices located in other regions of Africa (Mali, Mozambique, and Nigeria) as well as in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka), Southeast Asia (Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam) and East Asia (China).

ILRI also manages the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub at ILRI, a new centre for excellence in modern plant and animal biology in Africa. BecA is an initiative developed within the framework of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)/ African Union African Biosciences initiative. It consists of a Hub based on the ILRI campus in Nairobi, Kenya and a network of regional nodes and other affiliated laboratories and organizations throughout the region. The BecA Hub facilities are world class, including a range of molecular, plant transformation, and genomics laboratories and equipment (e.g. 454 sequencing, Biosafety level 3 laboratory, plant growth facilities). The Hub hosts and conducts research in crop, microbe and livestock areas where new developments in science offer promise to address previously intractable problems constraining Africa’s development.  Capacity building is a major goal of all activities. The scope covers agriculture and food security and their intersections with human health and nutrition, and the sustainable use of Africa’s natural resources.  Further information is available at http://hub.africabiosciences.org/.

ILRI seeks to recruit a Plant Pathologist to lead research activities in collaboration with partners for a new program funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The Scientist will be expected to work closely with the Program Coordinator and conduct, supervise and report on high quality research on endophytes in Brachiaria grasses.

Key responsibilities

    Leading the research activities on isolation and characterization of endophytes in Brachiaria;
    Developing inoculation systems for endophytes in Brachiaria;
    Contributing to research on testing the role of endophytes in improving adaptation of Brachiaria grasses to drought stress under greenhouse conditions to identify the most promising Brachiaria grasses for testing under field conditions;
    Using genomics and metagenomics approaches to study the soil microbial composition in the context of evaluating the impact of endophytes on biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission from Brachiaria grasses;
    Working in collaboration with partners in Kenya, Rwanda and Colombia to evaluate other soil and plant factors that contribute to the adaptation of Brachiaria grasses to different agroecological zones;
    Contributing to capacity strengthening in plant protection research;
    Supervising junior staff, students and visiting scientists;
    Contributing to resource mobilization efforts of BecA-ILRI hub.

Requirements

    Ph.D. degree in plant pathology/mycology or related field but with strong interest and expertise in plant pathology;
    Minimum of 5-7 years post-doctoral experience;
    Extensive experience conducting research for development;
    Published record in plant pathology and in general plant research;
    Experience in working in or collaborating with scientists in African research institutions and universities;
    Track record in resource mobilization;
    Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to perform in a multicultural research environment and as part of a multidisciplinary team;
    Excellent written and spoken English.

Experience in the following areas will be considered an asset:

    Applying biotechnologies in developing countries;
    Capacity strengthening;
    Interest in international agricultural research and development;
    Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team;
    Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Post location: The position is based at ILRI’s Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya with extensive travel within the region and internationally.

Duration: 3 years, with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and continued funding.

Position level: The position is equivalent to Scientist/Research Level 2, dependent on qualifications and experience.

Benefits: ILRI offers a competitive international remuneration and benefits package which includes: – 15% Pension – Medical insurance for staff and dependents – Life insurance – Education allowance for children – Housing allowance – Relocation Allowance – Annual Home leave – Annual holiday entitlement of 30 days+public holidays.
*Benefits are tax free subject to compliance with tax regulations of country of citizenship.

Applicants should address a cover letter and CV to Human Resources Director explaining their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. Email your application to SPP-BECA@cgiar.org by 6 January 2013. The position title and reference number: SPP/BECA/12/12 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the online application. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

To find out more about ILRI and the BecA-ILRI Hub, visit our websites at http://www.ilri.org and http://hub.africabiosciences.org

To find out more about working at ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org/ilricrowd/
Suitably qualified women and citizens of developing countries, with experience of working internationally, are particularly encouraged to apply.

Senior Scientist, Innovation Systems, Kenya

 Closing Date: Monday, 31 December 2012
ILRI Nairobi Campus

Vacancy Number: SSIS/MARKETS/12/12
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Duration: 3 years with the possibility of renewal

Base salary from USD 55000-75,000 per annum depending on experience. Total salary & benefits package circa USD 93,000-105,000 (tax free*)

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works at the crossroads of livestock and poverty, bringing high-quality livestock science, communications and capacity building to bear on poverty reduction and sustainable development. ILRI is one of 15 Centres of the CGIAR Consortium. ILRI has campuses in Kenya (headquarters) and Ethiopia, with offices located in other regions of Africa (Mali, Mozambique, and Nigeria) as well as in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka), Southeast Asia (Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam) and East Asia (China).

ILRI seeks to recruit a Senior Scientist; Innovation Systems to lead a small group of researchers addressing innovation systems as part of ILRI’s responsibilities in the CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs)  in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.  The work entails using innovations systems approaches and other socio-economic tools to facilitate the development and analysis of Innovation Platforms of multiple actors involved in livestock production and value chains, aimed at improving farm and value chain productivity, and at enhancing actor capacity for innovation.  The work will form part of integrated action research by the CRPs that bring together a range of technical and organizational interventions to address issues of poverty alleviation, gender equity, and rural development.

Responsibilities

    Lead and manage a group of social scientists and post-docs comprising the innovations systems team, as well as develop and manage key partner relationships;
    Lead the development of an ILRI Innovations Platforms analytical framework;
    Contribute to research on Innovation Systems in the CRP’s that ILRI is participating in, potentially playing a lead role in some cases
    Evaluate effectiveness and lessons learned related to Innovation Systems and ILRI’s research projects;
    Contribute to building capacity of ILRI staff and partners using Innovation Systems where needed;
    Link policy to action research; Publish research findings related to Innovation Systems.

Requirements

    Ph.D. in Agricultural Extension,  Innovation Systems or related social science;
    5-10 years of experience in supervising research staff and projects related to Innovation Systems, Research for Development (R4D) platforms, or other approaches to development of rural agricultural knowledge and capacity;
    A proven research record on Innovation Systems or related research extending to study design, quantitative and qualitative analytic methods and peer-reviewed outputs;
    Familiarity with aspects of livestock production, and/or agricultural extension systems in developing countries.

Other competencies

    Demonstrated ability to develop and manage multiple partnerships and to develop successful funding proposals;
    Ability to work in a fast paced environment with interdisciplinary teams;
    Ability to supervise staff and graduate students;
    Ability to manage budgets and donor requests;
    Ability to develop and facilitate processes and systems related to research outputs;
    Strong English language skills, both written and spoken (proficiency in French is strong advantage);
    Willingness to travel frequently, often to rural areas in developing countries.

Post location: The position is based at ILRI’s Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

Position level: The position is Scientist/Research Level 2 or 3 dependent on qualifications and experience.

Duration: 3 years with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and continued funding.

Terms of appointment: ILRI offers a competitive international remuneration and benefits package which includes: – Pension – Medical insurance – Life insurance and allowances for: – Education – Housing – Security – Disturbance – Relocation – Home leave; 15% pension contribution. Annual holiday entitlement of 30 days + 11 public holidays.
*Benefits are tax free subject to compliance with tax regulations of country of citizenship.

Applicants should address a cover letter and CV to Human Resource Director explaining their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. Email your application to ilri-SSIS@cgiar.org before 31 December 2012. The position title and reference number: SSIS/MARKETS/12/12 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the online application.

To find out more about working at ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org/ilricrowd/

Suitably qualified women and citizens of developing countries, with experience of working internationally, are particularly encouraged to apply.