Qualifications of FSIS
Consumer Safety Officer [GS-696]
Inspection Methods Subcommittee
Revised May 6, 1999
National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection
ISSUE:
Considering the Qualifications of FSIS’ Workforce of
the future, which particular disciplines and academic backgrounds would
the committee recommend within the framework of the Consumer Safety
Officer series (GS-696)? In addition, should coursework in statistics,
and in particular statistical process control (SPC), be a requirement or
can that knowledge be acquired through training/ or coursework after
placement in the job.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is the sense of the subcommittee that all of the
disciplines (except engineering and computer science/programming) shown
in the OPM qualification standards provide education in the scientific
thinking relevant to the work of the Agency. In addition, academic
backgrounds in the following should also be considered:
Anatomy
Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Food Science
Animal Science
Sanitary Science
Public Health
Poultry Science
It is the sense of the sub-committee that basic
knowledge of statistical process control and microbiology are essential
and relevant to the work of the Agency. Training or coursework in SPC
and microbiology may be acquired before or after placement on the job.
Further, the sub-committee strongly believes that interpersonal relation
skills are essential and that the Agency should determine that
internal/external applicants possess these skills through interviews or
other appropriate means.
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