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This position is with Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) and will report directly to the State Plant Health Director. You will work directly with Field Programs and State Cooperators on plant protection data protocols and program analytics. You will also provide data management and quality controls support to PPQ and cooperators grounded in an understanding of data management principles as well as provide technical expertise in the use of plant protection data.

Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Serves as a technical support analyst in the collection, use, and validation of data from USDA, APHIS, PPQ, and other applications.
• Provides guidance in the support of PPQ programs within the states.
• Ensures that data are derived through or from pest surveys and inspections that incorporate approved protocols per PPQ National Programs using PPQ and Stakeholder data and systems.
• Recommends protocols for sampling and handling diagnostic and/or lab data, data on control actions, and data pertaining to regulatory actions.
• Recommends protocols for handling sensitive data, and shares data with external and/or internal parties while ensuring proper information security procedures are followed.
• Provides data management support and consults with PPQ hub data analysts and data stewards to analyze requirements for data, and determine appropriate data collection and validation.
• Provides onsite data management expertise and consultation to PPQ managers, and assists PPQ programs to determine data requirements for effective response measures.
• Provides, creates, and develops various analysis and data reports as needed for use in pest management activities.
• Provides training to personnel in the operation of systems or applications as they are implemented or as they are modified.

Conditions of Employment:

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.

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-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-9 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Recommending protocols for data collection and validation, sampling and handling data for pest survey, pest/plant quarantine and/or pest laboratory activities.
• Use of Business Intelligence applications (e.g., MS Power BI Desktop or Tableau), SQL databases, relational database systems, geographic information systems (GIS) technology, computer graphics, Windows/IOS, Desktops, mobile devices, and web software sufficient to make protocol recommendations on the use of database and reporting tools to meet business needs.
• Ensuring compliance with data management standards and recommending new or modified standards to ensure security and increase efficiency.
• Assisting and training users in data management systems, data quality, protocols, and other related technical information.

OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree related to the work of the position as described in the vacancy announcement. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

How You Will Be Evaluated:

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:

• Database Administration
• Organizational Performance Analysis

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.