Job Title:Agricultural Commodity Grader (Tobacco)
Department:Department Of Agriculture
Agency:Agricultural Marketing Service
Job Announcement Number:24TB-2013-0001
$18.96 to $30.15 / Per Hour
SALARY RANGE:
Friday, July 26, 2013 to Monday, August 05, 2013
OPEN PERIOD:
GS-1980-07/09
SERIES & GRADE:
Full Time Seasonal - Permanent
POSITION
INFORMATION:
PROMOTION POTENTIAL: 09
DUTY LOCATIONS: 1 vacancy - Richmond, VA, USView Map
WHO MAY APPLY:
This announcement is open to all United States citizens. (Current and Former Federal
employees may also apply to Merit Promotion announcement #6TB-2013-0001.)
For more information or to apply, go to: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/348226200
JOB SUMMARY:
Permanent, full-time seasonal working a minimum of 6 months per year. During peak operational periods, the
incumbent will be required to work scheduled overtime as directed by the immediate supervisor. Such overtime
may occur for consecutive weeks but is normally seasonal in nature.
Cotton and Tobacco Programs is responsible for administering policies and programs for a variety of marketing services
and other related programs, including grading of cotton; inspection and grading of tobacco; testing services for cotton and
tobacco; standards development, preparation and distribution for cotton and tobacco; market news and price quotations for
cotton and market information and statistics activities including collecting, compiling and disseminating information on
tobacco prices. Research and promotion for cotton; information technology for cotton and tobacco; investigations of
alleged violations of the Tobacco Inspection Act; quality assurance for cotton; expansion of market outlets for tobacco;
exportation controls for tobacco and regulatory marketing agreements and orders for tobacco.
You can make a difference! 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. MRP offers an array of
occupations and is committed to diversity in the workplace. We operate in domestic and global markets. Be part of an
organization that protects the health and agriculture of the American people. Join our team!
KEY REQUIREMENTS
 U.S. Citizenship
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:
 In accordance with agency protocols, randomly selects individual boxes for examination. Assesses the overall
quality and consistency of the product within the container and determines the official grade of the product in
accordance with agency grading standards. Recognizes significant product variations within individual containers
and determines the most appropriate resolution; in some instances estimating percentages of product that warrant
each of multiple grades.
 Under general supervision, you will assess tobacco crop damage and determine the grade of damaged tobacco at the
time of harvest. The graders further assess the probable quality of the tobacco had weather calamites not occurred.
 In response to requests from tobacco companies and independent markets, the incumbents provide a broad range of
grading services that protect all business interests and that ensure product quality and uniformity.
 You are required to select product samples for laboratory testing for pesticides. Responsibilities involve the
selection of random samples in a scientifically valid manner and in accordance with prescribed protocols.
 You may be required to provide technical guidance to and/oversee the work seasonal or intermittent personnel
working in the shared work area or region.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
To qualify, you MUST meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Applicants can qualify by meeting the EDUCATION requirements specified below and/or the SPECIALIZED
EXPERIENCE requirements.
EDUCATION:
GS-7: One full year of graduate level education in agriculture, mathematics/engineering, business, economics, science or
other related field; OR Superior Academic Achievement To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must
have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND must meet certain GPA
requirements. For more details click Superior Academic Achievement
GS-9: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or two years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to
such a degree in agriculture, mathematics/engineering, business, economics, science or other related field;
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.
 You are qualify for this position based on Superior Academic Achievement. This education must have been
successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. For more information on
submitting transcripts, click: Transcripts
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-7 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized
experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level in the Federal Service. This
experience may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors. Specialized experience
includes that which has been gained in production, processing, quality control, inspection, research, or receiving, when it
involved making quality determinations of agricultural commodities using an applicable grading standard (can be other
than U.S. standards). Experience may have been gained in chain stores, the military, or manufacturing.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-9 GRADE LEVEL Applicants must have one year of specialized
experience equivalent to the next lower grade in the Federal service performing the range of duties as outlined above. This
experience may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors. To qualify by
experience for this grade level, incumbent must have hands-on grading experience in the applicable commodity with final
responsibility for certifying the condition and grade according to universally accepted standards for the commodity, as
well as knowledge and application of official U.S. Grade Standards, regulations, and specifications used in the inspection
of applicable commodity.
Examples of qualifying experience at the GS-9 grade level include, but are not limited to:
 Any supervision of employees engaged in the area of agriculture production, harvesting, marketing, inspecting,
storing, processing or grading of agriculture commodities
 One year of specialized training or experience in Tobacco grading, or inspecting, or sampling for chemical analysis
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-7/9 GRADE LEVELS: Applicants may have
combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience to meet total qualification
requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. To learn more about
combining education and experience for this series, click the following: Combining Education and Experience for
Administrative and Management Positions
Special Conditions:
 Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with the Selective Service.
 DD214 (Member 4 copy) or other veterans' documents required to receive veterans' preference.
 As a condition of employment, a background investigation may be required for this position.
 Subject to satisfactory completion of one year probationary period.
AGENCY CONTACT INFO:
DO NOT EMAIL DOCUMENTS
Phone: 612-336-3345
Fax: 612-336-3560
Email: [email protected]
Agency Information:
Agricultural Marketing Service
100 N 6th Street, Butler Sq Bldg, 510C
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Fax: 612-336-3560