Supervisory Biological Scientist or Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer

About the role

Serves as an Interdisciplinary Supervisor within the APHIS Ready Response Corps (ARRC) of Emergency and Regulatory Compliance Service's Emergency Management, Safety, and Security Division. The ARRC is an APHIS-wide cadre dedicated to rapidly deploying in support of animal and plant health-related emergencies and all-hazards events to safeguard American agriculture. Location is within the Contiguous United States. Recruitment incentives may be authorized. Application period: 11/09/2026 – 11/16/2026.

Responsibilities

• Acts as a supervisor and technical expert, managing a staff of Veterinary Medical Officers (VMOs), specialists, and/or technicians during high-stress, rapidly evolving emergency response situations.
• Works with the Branch Chief to advance APHIS emergency response objectives ensuring a cohesive approach that accounts for animal as well as plant pest and disease emergencies and all-hazard events.
• Consults with and provides expert advice to the Branch Chief and other management officials regarding agency-wide emergency preparedness and response programs and plans.
• Works with the Branch Chief to help establish and maintain a comprehensive Ready Response Corps training plan that includes Incident Command System training.
• Assigns and reviews the work of staff to ensure timely performance, soundness, and value.
• Handles any employee conduct matters or complaints that arise.
• Deploys to agricultural emergencies, primarily plant and animal disease outbreaks, to assist with emergency response, containment, and mitigation risk reduction activities.

Requirements

All applicants must meet the Basic Requirement outlined in the Education section below and all qualifications by the closing date (11/16/2026). Experience includes paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations.

GS-13 Specialized Experience (one year equivalent to GS-12)

• Providing leadership and technical expertise to specialists and technicians.
• Executing disease response protocols to prevent and respond to animal and/or plant health diseases of concern.
• Maintaining interactions with customers, animal owners, agricultural producers, animal/plant health authorities, and/or other stakeholders in the management and promotion of animal health, plant health, and disease prevention and treatment/response.

Education Substitutions for GS-13 (0701 series)

• PhD degree in a relevant specialization (e.g., animal science, avian medicine, food safety, infectious diseases, veterinary clinical sciences, pathobiology, biomedical sciences, veterinary anatomy, veterinary preventive medicine, comparative biological sciences, epidemiology, veterinary parasitology, molecular veterinary biosciences, public health, microbiology, pathology, immunology, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, wildlife, zoological animal medicine, or other sciences related to veterinary medical officer work).
• Residency/Post-Graduate Training: Successful completion of three years of an internship, residency program, or fellowship training program in a discipline related to the position. Certificate or letter documenting completion required.
• Board Certification: Diplomate status in an American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS)-recognized veterinary specialty organization. Certificate or letter documenting diplomate status required.

0401 series: No education substitution for this grade level. Transcripts are required; specific coursework or degree in a specific field from an accredited institution must be successfully completed.

Pay

Salary range: $106,437 – $172,980 per year (GS-13).