Identifier-Entomologist

Find Your Future With Us at USDA – Animal Plant Health Inspection ServiceJob SummaryIdentifiers provide expertise in pest biology, taxonomy and risk analysis as a recognized specialist and consultant within the Plant Protection and Quarantine program (PPQ). They also reviews, evaluate and suggest modifications of inspection or trapping methodologies and approaches as an enhancement to plant pest and plant disease surveillance systems. QualificationsApplicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. BASIC REQUIREMENT: Degree: entomology; or a related discipline of the biological or physical sciences that included at least 16 semester hours in entomology. OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Experience identifying a variety of plant pests, such as insects, some arachnids (e.g. mites, ticks, spiders) or mollusks, in immature and adult stages. Experience maintaining specimen collections of plant pests and consulting with and advising federal agencies, state departments of agriculture and other cooperators on the identity and biology of and procedures for detecting plant pests. Experience developing or aiding in developing informative and educational training material and identification aids for plant pests and assisting in delivering training to the general public. Experience maintaining information on taxonomy, hosts, distribution and other related information pertaining to intercepted and/or survey plant pests. OR 2 years of graduate-level education leading to a master's degree in entomology or a related discipline. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. 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 COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-09 GRADE LEVEL: 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 Corps, AmeriCorps) 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. Major DutiesThe 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:Provides expertise in pest biology, taxonomy and risk analysis as a recognized specialist and consultant to Agency import policy staff, survey design groups, survey personnel, and program managers.Performs specialized and difficult taxonomic work, and provides taxonomic, biological and regulatory expertise in support of plant quarantine program activities.Identifies or verifies identification of plant pests and plant parts, such as seeds, leaves, dormant parts of wood, to family, genera or species for quarantine or regulatory action.Serves as a recognized specialist in the broad area of entomology, botany or plant pathology and deals primarily in programs involving CITES, Threatened Endangered plant species and Federal Noxious weeds.Maintains, develops, and supplements information on taxonomy, hosts, distribution and other related information pertaining to intercepted and/or survey plant pests.Consults with and advises Department of Homeland Security (DHS), State departments of agriculture and other cooperators on the identity and biology plants and plant parts.Develops or aids in developing training modules and appropriately illustrated identification aids and works with national program staff to deliver training to PPQ, DHS and State employees.Exercises agency regulatory authority by initiating regulatory action, e.g. for quarantine pests intercepted from imported commodities or new State or county determinations from domestic surveys.Provides technical assistance regarding PPQ domestic program pests and exotic pests, and the pathways with which they enter the US by analyzing interception records for trends of pest entry.Keeps current and uses state of the art technology to perform taxonomic duties such as digital imaging, chemical diagnostic tests, and microscopy and specimen preparation techniques and equipment. Position Start Date:04/29/2026 Position Close Date:05/05/2026 Salary Offered: 61722 - 93549 USD Per YearYou 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. 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! To learn more about what it's like to work at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, what the agency does, and the types of careers, please visit the APHIS careers site. APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. For details click: APHIS Emergency ResponsePlease see the full announcement on USAJobs by clicking on the APPLY button!