Please join AMS Civil Rights in celebrating Black History Month. AMS Civil Rights Office presents: “African American Resistance From Field House to the White House”

February 21, from 2:00pm – 3:00pm ET, Dr. Lisa Brock, Consultant - Social Justice of JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion), Author, Professor and Activist

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Employee resource groups, or “ERGs,” are communities of people within an organization with shared identities and interests. ERGs are employee led and can provide both career and personal development resources. The first officially recognized ERG was the National Black Employees Caucus, which was created at Xerox in 1970. There are similar groups here at the USDA, including one very established organization: Blacks in Government (BIG). Established in 1975 by African American employees at the Public Health Services, BIG is now a national organization consisting of dozens of chapters across 11 regions of the U.S. Established in August of 1996, The USDA George Washington Carver Chapter (GWCC) has served civil servants of all backgrounds and at all levels of government in the DMV for over 28 years.

Dana White, the USDA GWCC President, emphasizes the importance of ERGs, like BIG, as “vital in developing leadership skills.” Of the many services GWCC provides, some of the most impactful experiences come from opportunities for members to mentor and lead in a way they otherwise may not be able to in their everyday roles in government. Long-time member and 1st Vice President, Mark Kemp, speaks to the inclusive environment fostered by BIG, saying GWCC “doesn’t take the place of civil rights or emphasis programs” but complements them. Those complementary services include financial and career counseling, employment opportunities, as well as scholarship, internship, and training opportunities for families of BIG members. Mr. Kemp continues the importance of ERGs, saying BIG “provides government employees a voice on the national stage.”

Curious about how you can get involved with BIG? Head over to the BIG National website for more information on services, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming events. The 2023 BIG annual meeting – National Training Institute (NTI) – will be held in Oxon Hill at the National Harbor the last week of August. Keep an eye out for registration information and event details for NTI as they become available in the coming months.

The following employee has exhausted all of their available leave and is approved as a recipient under the Leave Transfer Program:

• James Truett, an Agricultural Commodity Grader with Livestock & Poultry, in Monroe, NC, due to a serious medical condition.

You may donate either annual or restored annual leave to these or other eligible employees through WebTA or by completing the AD-1043 form. The Human Resources Division (HRD) prefers electronic donations; however, they will accept AD-1043 forms. 

You can find instructions to donate leave electronically through WebTA here.  AD-1043 forms can either be faxed or mailed (not both): USDA APHIS MRPBS HRD Attn: LCT 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55401-2329 FAX: 612-336-3544.

The Human Resources Division (HRD) announces the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) activation of the Emergency Leave Transfer Program (ELTP) for Executive and Judicial Branch employees impacted by the 2023 California Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides and Mudslides. 

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The Market Development Division in the AMS Specialty Crops Program has announced three vacancies for regulation writers. The positions will be assigned to the Rulemaking Services Branch.

Summary: The selected candidates will join a small staff of regulation writers and subject matter experts who analyze formal and informal rule-making actions related to Federal marketing orders.

• Open Wednesday, February 14, through February 21, 2023
• GS-1146-9/11/12/13, Agricultural Marketing Specialist (General) (Regulation Writer), non-supervisory
• Open to all federal employees and other special authorities.
• Three vacancies are open in 4 locations (Fresno, CA; Washington DC; Winter Haven, FL; and Portland, OR).
• Relocation is not authorized.

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The AMS Livestock and Poultry Program has a detail opportunity available for a GS-9/11/12 Agricultural Economist/Marketing Specialist in its Standards and Specifications Division’s Food Safety and Technology Branch. It is a full-time detail position not to exceed 120 days, and is open to current AMS employees at the GS-9/11/12 level. Additional information can be reviewed in the attached document. 

The detailee will be responsible for developing an interdisciplinary database of existing information related to multiple commodity classes (red meat and aquatics), assessing existing databases, and developing a library of data resources. The detailee will also assist in the evaluation of bids for the purchase of protein commodities for USDA’s various food and nutrition programs.   

If you are interested in this opportunity, email darin.doerscher@usda.gov no later than COB February 24, 2023, describing why you are interested in this detail and how you feel you could contribute to the position described above.  You are strongly encouraged to include a resume.  Please discuss this opportunity with your supervisor before notifying us of your interest.

GSA’s Office of Shared Solutions and Performance Improvement (OSSPI) is looking for a current federal employee (GS 13-14 or equivalent) to help support the interagency Performance Improvement Council (PIC). The detailee will join a collaborative, strategy-focused team at GSA that leads the work of the Federal Executive Councils.

Interested in improving federal performance reporting, optimizing cross council initiatives, and uniting the performance community? Send your resume and a statement of interest/cover letter of no more than 1 page to Dana Roberts Fowler (Dana.Roberts@gsa.gov) by COB February 28, 2023. Your statement of interest/cover letter must confirm that you have support from your management chain to apply for this detail, and must include contact information (name, phone number, and email address) for your direct supervisor.

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The Food Disclosure and Labeling Division (FDLD) Division has a temporary detail opportunity for AMS employees to serve as a GS-14 Branch Chief in the Compliance and Enforcement Branch. FDLD is responsible for administering the regulatory requirements of the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program and the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (the Standard) and is part of the Agricultural Marketing Service Fair Trade Practices Program that oversees a wide range of programs designed to assure fair trade in the marketplace. 

This detail opportunity is full-time beginning March 13, and continuing for 120 days. Interested eligible GS-13s and GS-14s are encouraged to apply. Temporary promotion will be made for GS13 candidates. The position is located in Washington, DC, with the opportunity for telework. 

If you are interested or have any questions, please send a copy of your resume along with a letter of interest and supervisor approval to Krista Dickson (krista.dickson@usda.gov) on or before 5:00 pm ET on February 28, 2022. For more information about FDLD’s exciting work visit the BE website https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/be or COOL website https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/cool.

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Detail Approval Form

Additional information

USDA is encouraging all employees to follow CDC guidance and Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters | CDC that protect against the new most prevalent variants.  USDA employees are eligible for up to 4 hours of administrative leave to receive the booster, and to assist family members to receive it.  Employees may also receive up to 2 days of administrative leave if there are any adverse effects from the vaccine.

1. USDA’s COVID Coordination Team has finalized an updated Workplace Safety Plan, now available on usda.gov.
2. The updated Plan adheres to changes in CDC guidance designed to address areas of highest risk. Monitor for updates on How to Protect Yourself and Others | CDC to keep yourself safe. 
3. The White House announced plans to end the Public Health Emergency related to COVID-19 on May 11, in SAP - H.R. 382 H.J. Res. 7 (whitehouse.gov). USDA is assessing the impact on the end of the Emergency on facilities and workplace policies.

Have you heard about the Microsoft Office “Accessibility Check” tool? It’s a valuable, important function that can improve every USDA employee's ability to meet Section 508 Accessibility requirements. Section 508 applies to all federal agencies that develop, procure, maintain, or use information and communications technology (ICT). Agencies are required to provide employees and members of the public with disabilities comparable access to those without disabilities. 

The APHIS Human Resources Division, Workplace Resolutions and Wellness Branch, in partnership with the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), will be offering the following courses during the month of February.