Description
The position is located at the US Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Office of Public Health Science, Eastern Laboratory in Athens, GA. It is a GS-0701-14 VMO Pathology Branch Chief, FSIS. OPHS oversees three major Regulatory Field Service Laboratories that provide the scientific backbone for U.S. meat, poultry, and eggproduct safety testing. These labs perform chemistry, microbiology, and pathology analyses that directly support national surveillance, outbreak response, and regulatory enforcement.
The FSIS Pathology Branch Chief is responsible for providing oversight of the agency's testing program by analyzing tissue samples from meat, poultry, and egg products to detect contaminants or conditions that could make them unsafe. The program provides critical scientific support to inspection personnel, helping ensure the safety and wholesomeness of products in the food supply.
Job Duties
- Provides scientific expertise in pathology to plan, develop, and update analytical and laboratory standards to meet the needs and priorities of FSIS testing programs.
Supports all related science and public health programs and initiatives as assigned to accomplish the OPHS mission. - Conducts investigations utilizing services of pathologists, microbiologists, and chemists, as may be required, to diagnose and evaluate the infectious, traumatic, toxic, or abnormal physiological conditions that affect animals.
- Conducts a quality control and assurance program, which meets ISO 17025 standards for measurement of laboratory analytical performance and adherence to official program methodology.
- Organizes and coordinates the proper approach of the Pathology laboratory to complex food safety and wholesomeness issues.
- Oversees the pathology activity which identifies diagnostic tests to be used in identifying specific disease conditions in animals.
- Communicates complex information, both orally and in writing to scientists, program managers, veterinary inspectors, and food inspectors.
- Provides advice concerning the usefulness of certain inspection procedures to ascertain the safety and wholesomeness of carcasses and for the purpose of formulating regulatory and inspection procedures.
Requirements
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) professional degree is required. DVM transcript must show your name, college name, and date degree was awarded.
OR
Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools that are not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education must meet one of the following requirements and submit supporting documentation.
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In addition to the DVM degree and specialized experience requirements, there is a selective placement factor for a pathology specialization requirement to qualify for this position as described below:
Successfully completed a 3-5 year veterinary pathology internship, residency program, or fellowship training program.
OR
Successfully completed all requirements for Diplomate status in an ABVS-recognized Veterinary Pathology or Clinical Pathology veterinary specialty organization. Ensure all transcripts, residency certificates, and board certifications are included in your application.
