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Student Trainee - Albany, CA

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
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Are you a highly motivated student and looking for a rewarding career in Food Safety and Inspection Service? Join us as a Student Trainee in Albany, CA in the Alameda District Office and start your public health career! 

The Internship Program is designed to provide students enrolled in educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school and while getting paid for the work performed. This internship is in the Excepted Service and it is intended to last one-year. It may be extended one or more times in one-year increments at the agency's discretion and as long as the student remains eligible for the program. Apply now in  USAJobs! - https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/786941300

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health regulatory agency responsible for ensuring the safety of meat, poultry and processed eggs. USDA is a great place to start or continue your career. For more information on USDA and the Food Safety and Inspection Service, visit FSIS.

Overview

  • Open & closing dates: 04/17/2024 to 04/30/2024
  • Salary: $44,030 - $79,331 per year
  • Pay scale & grade: GS 4 - 7
  • Location: 1 vacancy in Albany, CA
  • Remote job: No
  • Telework eligible:  No
  • Travel Required: Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
  • Relocation expenses reimbursed: No
  • Appointment type: Internships
  • Work schedule: Multiple Schedules - Student is expected to work full-time during the summer and 20 hours minimum during the school year
  • Service: Excepted
  • Promotion potential: None
  • Job family (Series): 0399 Administration And Office Support Student Trainee
  • Supervisory status: No
  • Security clearance: Not Required
  • Drug test: No
  • Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
  • Trust determination process: Suitability/Fitness
  • Announcement number: FSIS-24-MCE-12377338-JKM
  • Control number: 786941300

Duties

  • These positions are Excepted Service appointments in the FSIS Alameda District Office, located in Albany, CA.
  • As a Student Trainee, you can expect to work closely with experienced specialists on a variety of assignments.
  • Work assignments are intended to provide the intern with practical work experience that augments training in the academic course of study.
  • Assignments and projects will be designed to provide a basic overview of the various programs processes.
  • Under the direction of an experienced mentor, the student will assist with clerical tasks such as:
  • Maintain records and complete data entry.
  • Copy, file, and retrieve documents.
  • Assist with dissemination of information via special courier, postal mail and e-mail.
  • Proofread documents.
  • Assist with special work assignments or projects.
  • Gather and analyze facts, write reports of findings.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Accepted for or currently enrolled in a qualified educational institution.
  • Must be a U.S. citizen.
  • Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
  • Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you may be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report inquiry.
  • Selectee must have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
  • 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/.
  • Service in the Pathways Program confers no right to further employment in either the competitive or excepted service.
  • All USDA Student Interns must be at least 18 years of age at the time of their appointment.
  • A signed participant agreement is required for employment under Pathways. Form will be provided upon selection before entry-on-duty date is set.
  • All requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. This includes responses to all eligibility assessment and occupational questionnaires, along with submission of your resume and all supporting documentation.
  • Must meet Pathways Program requirements. Follow link to the Pathways Handbook (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/students-recent-graduates/reference-materials/pathways-programs-handbook.pdf).
  • Must provide transcripts that support the qualifications. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application package. Official transcripts will be required if selected.
  • Must be in good academic standing as defined by the educational institution.
  • Travel to/from the official duty station and housing expenses, will be at the student's expense.
  • Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Qualifications

 To qualify for this position, you must meet BOTH the Pathway Internship Eligibility requirements as well as the minimum Qualifications for the position:

To Be Eligible For An Appointment Under The Internship Program You Must Meet The Following Requirement: Student applicants must be accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis as defined by the institution in which the student is enrolled. Student Trainees must be in good academic standing, as defined by the institution they are attending. Generally at least a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) for undergraduate programs (cumulative; no rounding) and a 3.0 GPA for advanced degree programs. Individuals must meet the definition of a student throughout the duration of their Internship appointment.

(*NOTE: Certificate Program: This term is defined, in 5 CFR 362.102, and means postsecondary education in a qualifying educational institution equivalent to at least 1 academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum.)

To Qualify At The GS-04 Grade Level: Successful completion of2 full academic years of post-high school study or an associate's degree.

To Qualify At The GS-05 Grade Level: Successful completion of4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree OR Bachelor's degree.

To Qualify At The GS-07 Grade Level: Successful completion of 1 full academic year of graduate level education OR Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) after completing a bachelor's degree. S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.

1. Class standing. Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.

2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.). Applicants must have a grade-point average of:

a. 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better)as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR

b. 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required course completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.

3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed below. These honor societies are listed by the Association of College Honor Societies: https://www.achshonor.org/. Agencies considering eligibility based on any society not included in the following list must ensure that the honor society meets the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

If you are a student veteran, complete the questionnaire and submit documentation: DD-214, VA Letter, SF-15 if claiming 10-point Veterans' preference or DD-214 if claiming 5-point preference or VEOA eligibility (separated under honorable conditions after 3 years or more of continuous service).

Education

Using Education To Qualify: To use your education as a basis for meeting the Minimum Qualification Requirements (MQR) for this position, you MUST submit academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements. If specific course work is required to fulfill the MQR, you must supply transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken to receive credit for that course work. See the "Qualifications" section of this announcement for more details.

COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS: You MUST submit a copy of your college transcripts:

  • Your Field of Study
  • School Name
  • Student's Name
  • Current GPA or Academic Standing
  • Past and Current Course Work
  • Degree Program
  • Major/Concentration

An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if selected, an official college transcript will be required prior to entering on duty.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, candidates are to ensure these requirements are met. If you do not submit sufficient academic documentation demonstrating that you meet the eligibility and MQR for this position, your application will be deemed incomplete & any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service. Visit here for a database of accredited postsecondary institutions and programs.

If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information or you will be ineligible for further consideration.

Additional information

If you are selected, you will 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.

False statements or responses on a resume or application can jeopardize employment and may be grounds for disciplinary action, including removal from federal service.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact: USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. See more information at: CHCO Council.

Please click Veterans Policy for further information about veteran specific hiring options.

Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the education and training you described in your application package.

We will review your application, including the online Occupational Questionnaire, to ensure you meet the job requirements and assess your ability to perform this job. Before any certificate can be issued to the selecting official, the resume and supporting documents are reviewed by a Human Resources Specialist to ensure that (a) minimum qualification requirements are met and (b) the resume and education supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your answers will be verified against information provided in your online resume, application, and transcripts. Be sure that your resume and transcripts clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

You will also be assessed on the following competencies:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Reading
  • Customer Service
  • Teamwork
  • Self-Management
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Written Communication
  • Oral Communication

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 qualified will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. Veteran preference eligibles first, all others second.

**REMINDER** Applicants, be sure that experience/education as described on your resume contains accurate and sufficiently detailed information to clearly demonstrate that you have the listed competencies. All information used to evaluate your application must be received by the closing date of the announcement. Once the position is closed, no additional information will be accepted.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow 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 and including removal from Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12377338

Required Documents

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

1. Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties, including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; and title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) supervisor's phone number and whether or not the supervisor may be contacted for a reference check; 5) other qualifications.

2. Cover Letter, optional.

3. College Transcripts: If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcripts which show your Field of Study, School Name, Student's Name, Current GPA or Academic Standing, Past and Current Course Work, Degree Program, and Major/Concentration. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit http://www.naces.org/members.htm. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

4. Veterans' Preference: If claiming veterans preference, you must submit a DD-214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty, you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. Veterans preference must be verified prior to appointment. Without this documentation, you will not receive veterans preference and your application will be evaluated based on the material(s) you submitted.

If claiming 10-point veterans preference, you must provide the DD-214 or certification requirements (see above), plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans Preference and a Department of Veterans Affairs Letter. The SF-15 should be included but is not required. Failure to submit these documents could result in the determination that there is insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point preference. For more information on veterans preference see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref.

Note: You must verify that uploaded documents from USAJOBS transfer into the Agency's staffing system. Applicants may combine all like required documents (e.g. veteran's preference) into one or more files and scan for uploading into the application. Each file must not exceed 3MB. Grouping like documents into files will simplify the application process. Documents must be in one of the following formats: GIF, JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG, RTF, or Word (DOC or DOCX). Uploaded documents may not require a password, digital signature, or other encryption to open.

If a document is resubmitted, it replaces the previous submission, which means the previous document is no longer available to the Human Resources Office. If you are adding to, rather than replacing a previous submission, you must upload both the old document and the new document. Please verify that documents you are uploading from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement to be entered into the system prior to its closing.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.

To begin, click "Apply Online" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents.

Step 1: Create a USAJOBS account (if you do not already have one) at www.usajobs.gov. It is recommended that as part of your profile you set up automatic email notification to be informed when the status of your application changes. If you choose not to set up this automatic notification, then you will have to log into your USAJOBS account to check on the status of your application.

Step 2: In your USAJOBS account, you will have the opportunity to select your stored USAJOBS resume, create a new resume or upload a resume, and upload other relevant documents. All uploaded documents must be less than 3MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, or Word (DOC or DOCX). See "Required Documents" for details. Select the document you want to submit.

Step 3: Click "Apply Online," answer all required questions, verify the documents you selected from USAJOBS transferred into the Agency's staffing system, and attach any additional documents that may not have transferred or be required. If qualifying based on education, you must submit a legible copy of your college transcript(s), with your application package, showing your conferred degree (if any) and/or applicable coursework as proof that you qualify based on education. If you have not yet graduated, submit your current transcript.

NOTE: It is an applicant's responsibility to submit updated information. You can update your application or documents anytime while the announcement is open. Simply log into your USAJOBS account and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select "Update Application" to continue. If you do not have access to the Internet, you are strongly encouraged to visit your library, state employment office, or another establishment that provides internet service to complete the online application and the assessment questionnaire. If this is not an option, refer to the Alternative Methods for Applying section below for specific instructions.

Alternative Methods for Applying: If you are unable to apply using the internet, please fax your request for an application package along with your name and mailing address to: 1-833-840-9220.

Agency contact information

Jamie Mitchell, HR Specialist

Phone: 612-852-7730

Email: jamie.mitchell@usda.gov

Address: 

Food Safety and Inspection Service

1400 Independence Ave SW

Washington, DC 20250

US

Learn more about this agency

 

Next steps

Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS account to check your application status.

Under the Fair Chance Act, agencies are not allowed to request information about an applicant's criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made, except as allowed for access to classified information; assignment to national security duties or positions; acceptance or retention in the armed forces; or recruitment of a Federal law enforcement officer. An applicant may submit a complaint or any other information related to an organization's alleged noncompliance with the Fair Chance Act. The complaint must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged noncompliance. To make a Fair Chance Act inquiry or complaint, send an email with the appropriate information to fsis.fca@usda.gov, subject line: Fair Chance Act.