Biological Science Specialist (SBIR Program Coordinator)

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Kansas City, MO

JobSummary

This position is in the National Institute of Food and Agriculture(NIFA) Institute of Bioenergy, Climate, and Environment (IBCE). Incumbent will serve as an expert in the programmatic content of assigned activities related to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs administrative management, tracking, coordination and reporting activities. This position is designated as a bargaining unit position and is represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

LowGrade

HighGrade

PromotionPotential

None

SubAgencyName

Division of Bioenergy

OrganizationCodes

AG/AG22

Relocation

True

HiringPath

fed-transition
fed-competitive
disability
vet

MCOTags

TotalOpenings

AgencyMarketingStatement

NIFA The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is the Federal component of a nationwide extramural research, educational, and outreach system which supports the global, science-based agricultural enterprise and accomplishes its missions in partnership with land-grant universities and other academic and scientific organizations. To learn more about NIFA, please visit http://www.nifa.usda.gov. The Institute of Bioenergy, Climate, and Environment (IBCE) is a major component of NIFA. This Institute is responsible for administering programs to address national science priorities that advance energy independence and help agricultural/forest/range production systems adapt to climate variables. Core programs address basic natural resources - including air, water, and soil - to advance sustainable forest, range and agricultural production. The SBIR program makes competitively awarded grants to qualified small businesses to support high quality, advanced concepts research related to important scientific problems and opportunities in agriculture. The program provides flexibility in the research areas that ensure the greatest degree of creativity and innovation possible, consistent with the overall SBIR and USDA vision of a healthy and productive nation.

TravelCode

ApplyOnlineUrl

https://apply.usastaffing.gov/Application/Apply

DetailStatusUrl

https://apply.usastaffing.gov/Application/ApplicationStatus

MajorDuties

Incumbent has the key role in the overall administrative functions and the coordination of activities involved in the implementation of reauthorization; reporting; streamlining and simplification; prevention and detection of fraud, waste and abuse.
Represent NIFA at meetings and conference providing updates, data, information, statistical analysis, and reports. These activities involve keeping current on relevant issues impacting the SBIR program and activities.
Provide expert advice in explaining and interpreting program(s), statutes, regulations, directives, policies and procedures as they pertain to various business, financial, and/or administrative/management requirements.
Responsible for maintaining open lines of communication and plans of action with the Small Business Administration (SBA), other Federal agencies and the USDA SBIR team for future partnerships and cooperation.
Responsible for taking corrective actions. Identify problems and resolve or coordinate resolution with appropriate staff. Participate in dispute resolution activities that may include membership on various review and appeal committees.
Analyze and evaluate the development and modification of methods for SBIR operations, and in responding to programmatic requirements to include in the formulation of reports, communications, etc.
Develop, maintain, and track all associated reporting requirements mandated by the SBA Policy Directive, the Department of Agriculture, the White House and Congressional inquiries.
Participate in the planning of program outreach to the 27 states, minority serving institutions and organizations that represent minority/disadvantaged or women-owned small business firms in an effort to increase the number of proposals submitted.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Requirements

Evaluations

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below: Administration and Management Communication and Outreach Data Management 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. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities need only meet minimum qualifications to be referred. ICTAP applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be well qualified will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Applicants eligible under the 30% disabled veteran authority must meet minimum qualifications to be referred. VEOA eligibles must meet minimum qualification requirements and be ranked among the best qualified candidates in order to be referred. 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. Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right. To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12940396

HowToApply

Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement to be entered into the system prior to its closing. Resumes must not exceed two pages. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact the Agency Contact to request this. To begin, click "Apply" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents. Please verify that documents you are uploading from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Uploaded documents must be less than 5MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, TXT or Word (DOC or DOCX). Do not upload Adobe Portfolio documents because they are not viewable. Please ensure your resume does not exceed two pages. Applicants who submit a resume that exceeds two pages will be removed from consideration.

WhatToExpectNext

Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS account to check your application status. You must choose to turn on email notifications in your USAJOBS profile if you want to receive important email notifications that may impact your applicant experience (e.g. If you start an application and do not submit it prior to the closing date, USAJOBS will send an email reminder that the closing date is approaching and your application is in an incomplete status). Under the Fair Chance Act, agencies are not allowed to request information about an applicant's criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made, except as allowed for access to classified information; assignment to national security duties or positions; acceptance or retention in the armed forces; or recruitment of a Federal law enforcement officer. An applicant may submit a complaint or any other information related to an organization's alleged noncompliance with the Fair Chance Act. The complaint must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged noncompliance.

RequiredDocuments

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration. Resume that includes: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages. If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation. Current and former Federal employees: Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute. Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.

Benefits

OtherInformation

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA). For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the 30 percent disabled veterans authority, visit the USAJOBS website. Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.

KeyRequirements

WithinArea

False

CommuteDistance

ServiceType

AnnouncementClosingType

AgencyContactEmail

Andrea.stroud@usda.gov

AgencyContactPhone

8542130486

SecurityClearance

Not Required