Agricultural Commodity Grader

**Duties**:

- 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:

- Selects representative samples from the product lots in accordance with prescribed sampling and plans.
- Inspects products to determine the quality, condition, and/or compliance with U.S. Grade Standards or stated contract specifications.
- Prepares and maintains a variety of reports related to production data and grading results.
- Applies the official standards and regulations to determine the product’s grade and/or condition and directly issues the certificate
- In difficult or unusual cases, prepares a draft certificate with a tentative determination and submits it for higher-level review.
- Draws and examines representative samples of products and determines grade, condition and wholesomeness in accordance with official grade standards, buyer-seller contracts or other specifications.
- Makes observations to determine if plant facilities, operating methods, processing equipment and personnel are in compliance with SCI sanitation requirements and FDA regulations.
- Observes the raw product material to establish the suitability for processing and advises plant management of the results.
- Instructs technicians and aids in proper grading and inspection techniques.

**Requirements**:
**Conditions of Employment**:

- You must be a US Citizen or US National.
- Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
- Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
- Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
- Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
- Prior to an official offer, selectee will be required to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) acknowledging/accepting that geographic mobility is a condition of employment. Failure to sign the MOU will result in withdrawal of the job offer.
- Commodity grading work requires periods of physical exertion to lift and move boxes, cartons and heavy packages of product (often weighing over 50 pounds); prolonged periods of standing, walking, stooping, bending, and climbing.
- The work requires physical coordination and finger dexterity in at least one hand to perform digital examinations of commodities;
- Normal or corrected vision in at least one eye for distance, depth perception, and color to detect abnormalities in product.
- The ability to assure safety in a highly-mechanized and/or noisy environment through adequate or correctable hearing.
- The work requires use of both legs, arms and hands to perform carrying, pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulder, kneeling, grasping, and working with hands in water.
- The work environment includes exposure to freezing and/or hot temperatures, fumes, dust and odors from coolants, slippery surfaces, moving materials, handling equipment, high noise level and similar risks.
- The work further requires working on weekends and overtime; traveling for extended periods of time; working multiple shifts and changing/rotating shifts (i.e., first, second and third).
- MIXED TOUR WORK SCHEDULE: Combination of Full-Time, Part-Time, and Intermittent (as needed) work schedules. No minimum number of hours is guaranteed. Position will have a fluctuating work schedule.

**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.
- **FOR THE GS-**05** LEVEL**:FOR THE GS-05 LEVEL**:Applicants must have 3 years of general, progressively responsible experience, one year of which was equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the GS-4 level in the Federal service. Experience must demonstrate the ability to:

- Analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions
- Plan and organize work
- Communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Such experience may have been gained in quality assurance (machinist, on-line production work), as a commodity buyer, receiving clerk, farm experience (in a managerial, decision
- making capacity), clerical (office manager, administrative assistant with decision-making responsibility), or food processing laboratory food work (managerial, technical). Experience must provide evidence of the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the duties of this position and show decision making responsibilities. General clerical experience (typing, filing, routine processing, or other non-specialized repetitive tasks) is not creditable.
- **OR** Applicants must have successfully completed a 4-year course of study, from an accredit