Agricultural Commodity Grader
For fresh fruits and vegetables and related products:
Inspects products to determine the quality, condition, and/or compliance with U.S. Grade Standards or stated contract specifications. Typically, this requires considering such factors as:
product size, shape, color, and similar quality factors; product maturity, firmness, breakdown or decay, bruising, and similar condition factors; and quantity, packaging, or similar conditions which are common in contract specifications. Prepares inspection reports based on examination of product. This is done through application of official grade standards or contract specifications to determine product's grade, quality and/or condition. When the assignment involves products with which the employee is thoroughly knowledgeable, the incumbent applies the official standards and regulations to determine the product's grade and/or condition and directly issues the certificate using the FEIRS software on the ruggedized laptop issued to each grader, but only after first learning the certification process utilizing handwritten notesheets and certificates. Verbally explains inspection determinations to appropriate industry employees. In difficult or unusual cases, prepares a draft certificate with a tentative determination and submits it for higher-level review (i.e., a supervisor, inspector-in-charge or senior grader) before issuance. For processed fruits and vegetables, related products and/or nuts:
Draws and examines representative samples of products and determines grade, condition and wholesomeness in accordance with official grade standards, buyer-seller contracts or other written specifications. Makes observations to determine if plant facilities, operating methods, processing equipment and personnel are in compliance with SCI sanitation requirements and FDA regulations. If the plant or operation is not in compliance, the grader reports this to plant management and higher SCI Division officials. Observes the raw product material to establish the suitability for processing and advises plant management of the results. If/when corrective action by the plant is necessary, inspector monitors and assesses effectiveness. Performs a limited number of analytical determinations by prescribed methods and techniques, often under the direction of an inspector of higher grade. In order to qualify for the Agricultural Commodity Grader position, you must meet the following minimum
Qualifications:
This is an excepted appointment under the Pathways Recent Graduate authority. The selectee(s) will be hired for 1 year, with eligibility for non-competitive conversion to full-time conditional or appointment renewal upon successful completion of the Program. To be eligible, applicants must meet one of the following requirements; Completed all requirements for an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two (2) years; or Individuals who, due to military service obligation, were precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period described above shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon release or discharge from active duty. This eligibility period cannot extend more than 6 years from the date on which the requirements for the academic course of study were met. NOTE:
You MUST submit supporting academic transcript(s). In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements above, applicants must possess the experience requirements as follows:
GS-05 Specialized
Experience:
Applicants must have three years of progressively responsible general experience, one year of which was equivalent to at least the GS-04 level of the Federal service, that demonstrates the ability to:
1) analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; 2) plan and organize work; and 3) communicate effectively orally and in writing. Must be reflected in resume. OR Education:
Completed a four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree. You MUST submit supporting academic transcript(s). OR Combination:
Possess a combination of the type of college education described above and the type of experience described above that totals 100% when combined. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed in above; then determine your education as a percentage of the education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent.You MUST submit supporting academic transcript(s). GS-7 Specialized
Experience:
at least one year of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-05 level of the Federal service, performing the following duties:
1) examining product to determine conformance with approved specifications such as grade, weight, packing, and quantity; 2) monitoring plant and processing operations ensuing the plant remains in compliance with regulations; 3) preparing and maintaining reports and records related to plant production data and grading results; and 4) applying standards, regulations, and specifications to determine the grade and/or acceptability of a number of fruit and vegetable products. Must be reflected in resume. OR Education:
possess one (1) full year of graduate level education in Agriculture, Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Business, Economics or a related field of study. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full- time study. If that information cannot be determined from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as equivalent to 1 year of full-time study. Note:
You MUST submit supporting academic transcript(s). OR Combination:
Possess a combination of the type of graduate education described above and the type of experience described above that totals 100% when combined. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then determine your education as a percentage of the graduate education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. You MUST submit supporting academic transcript(s). OR Superior Academic Achievement:
possess a Bachelor's degree AND meet one of the following:
(1) grade point average of B (a GPA of 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. (2) grade point average of B+ (a GPA of 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in the applicant's major field of study, or those courses in the applicant's major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. (3) Rank in the upper one-third of the applicant's class in the college, university, or major subdivision. (4) Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. NOTE:
You MUST submit supporting academic transcript(s). Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
Inspects products to determine the quality, condition, and/or compliance with U.S. Grade Standards or stated contract specifications. Typically, this requires considering such factors as:
product size, shape, color, and similar quality factors; product maturity, firmness, breakdown or decay, bruising, and similar condition factors; and quantity, packaging, or similar conditions which are common in contract specifications. Prepares inspection reports based on examination of product. This is done through application of official grade standards or contract specifications to determine product's grade, quality and/or condition. When the assignment involves products with which the employee is thoroughly knowledgeable, the incumbent applies the official standards and regulations to determine the product's grade and/or condition and directly issues the certificate using the FEIRS software on the ruggedized laptop issued to each grader, but only after first learning the certification process utilizing handwritten notesheets and certificates. Verbally explains inspection determinations to appropriate industry employees. In difficult or unusual cases, prepares a draft certificate with a tentative determination and submits it for higher-level review (i.e., a supervisor, inspector-in-charge or senior grader) before issuance. For processed fruits and vegetables, related products and/or nuts:
Draws and examines representative samples of products and determines grade, condition and wholesomeness in accordance with official grade standards, buyer-seller contracts or other written specifications. Makes observations to determine if plant facilities, operating methods, processing equipment and personnel are in compliance with SCI sanitation requirements and FDA regulations. If the plant or operation is not in compliance, the grader reports this to plant management and higher SCI Division officials. Observes the raw product material to establish the suitability for processing and advises plant management of the results. If/when corrective action by the plant is necessary, inspector monitors and assesses effectiveness. Performs a limited number of analytical determinations by prescribed methods and techniques, often under the direction of an inspector of higher grade. In order to qualify for the Agricultural Commodity Grader position, you must meet the following minimum
Qualifications:
This is an excepted appointment under the Pathways Recent Graduate authority. The selectee(s) will be hired for 1 year, with eligibility for non-competitive conversion to full-time conditional or appointment renewal upon successful completion of the Program. To be eligible, applicants must meet one of the following requirements; Completed all requirements for an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two (2) years; or Individuals who, due to military service obligation, were precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period described above shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon release or discharge from active duty. This eligibility period cannot extend more than 6 years from the date on which the requirements for the academic course of study were met. NOTE:
You MUST submit supporting academic transcript(s). In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements above, applicants must possess the experience requirements as follows:
GS-05 Specialized
Experience:
Applicants must have three years of progressively responsible general experience, one year of which was equivalent to at least the GS-04 level of the Federal service, that demonstrates the ability to:
1) analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; 2) plan and organize work; and 3) communicate effectively orally and in writing. Must be reflected in resume. OR Education:
Completed a four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree. You MUST submit supporting academic transcript(s). OR Combination:
Possess a combination of the type of college education described above and the type of experience described above that totals 100% when combined. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed in above; then determine your education as a percentage of the education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent.You MUST submit supporting academic transcript(s). GS-7 Specialized
Experience:
at least one year of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-05 level of the Federal service, performing the following duties:
1) examining product to determine conformance with approved specifications such as grade, weight, packing, and quantity; 2) monitoring plant and processing operations ensuing the plant remains in compliance with regulations; 3) preparing and maintaining reports and records related to plant production data and grading results; and 4) applying standards, regulations, and specifications to determine the grade and/or acceptability of a number of fruit and vegetable products. Must be reflected in resume. OR Education:
possess one (1) full year of graduate level education in Agriculture, Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Business, Economics or a related field of study. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full- time study. If that information cannot be determined from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as equivalent to 1 year of full-time study. Note:
You MUST submit supporting academic transcript(s). OR Combination:
Possess a combination of the type of graduate education described above and the type of experience described above that totals 100% when combined. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then determine your education as a percentage of the graduate education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. You MUST submit supporting academic transcript(s). OR Superior Academic Achievement:
possess a Bachelor's degree AND meet one of the following:
(1) grade point average of B (a GPA of 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. (2) grade point average of B+ (a GPA of 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in the applicant's major field of study, or those courses in the applicant's major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. (3) Rank in the upper one-third of the applicant's class in the college, university, or major subdivision. (4) Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. NOTE:
You MUST submit supporting academic transcript(s). Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here.
- Department:
1980 Agricultural Commodity Grading - Salary Range:
$34,916 to $56,222 per year
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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