Plant Protection Technician
About the Role
The Plant Protection Technician implements domestic programs within assigned geographic areas to prevent the establishment and artificial spread of plant pests and diseases into new areas. You will provide support to Plant Protection and Quarantine Officers with surveys; control measures; biocontrol and biotechnology activities; and export of regulated agricultural commodities within Plant Protection and Quarantine Field Operations.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.
GS-05 Level
- One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-04 level) demonstrating:
- Identifying economically significant target pests.
- Collecting insect and disease samples suspected to be plant pests for identification by subject experts.
- Using and maintaining survey equipment, including electronic field data equipment such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), Global Positioning System, computer tablets, cellular phones, and digital cameras.
- Assisting in inspecting routine agricultural products for import/export.
- Reading x-ray images and/or operating x-ray equipment to identify and confiscate prohibited materials.
- OR successful completion of 4 years of study that included at least 16 semester hours in courses such as biology, plant pathology, entomology, zoology, botany, forestry, chemistry, agriculture, or physics. TRANSCRIPTS are required if:
- You are qualifying for the position based on education.
- You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.
- Combination of education and experience may also qualify. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for the GS-05 level.
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.
Responsibilities
The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity. The duties may include, but are not limited to:
- Participates with supervisor in planning and coordinating survey/control measures by furnishing information about the presence and extent of plant diseases and/or insects, and effect of treatments.
- Directs and/or conducts approved control and eradication measures including sanitation measures, biological controls, and the application of herbicides, insecticides, nematicide, and fungicides.
- Enforces Federal and/or State regulatory orders to restrict movement or issue certificates permitting movement of plants, plant products, and equipment into or out of regulated areas.
- Assists with inspections of routine commodities for export.
- Maintains daily records of inspection work, control measures and regulatory procedures applied; prepares reports and maps on the activities and accomplishments within the assigned area.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Pay
Salary offered: $40,736 – $62,407 USD per year.
About the Agency
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) needs bright, energetic, and committed professionals to facilitate the domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and to protect the health and care of animals and plants in the United States. APHIS is an emergency response agency, meaning all employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers.