Plant Protection Technician

Plant Protection Technicians implement domestic programs within assigned geographic areas to prevent the establishment and artificial spread of plant pests and diseases into new areas. If selected, you 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. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-04 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• 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.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

• You are qualifying for the position based on education.
• You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.
• This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university.

Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Cooper, Ameri Corps) 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.