Where We Are 

The main BRS office is located at APHIS headquarters 

in Riverdale, MD, near Washington, DC. BRS’ field 

operations are based out of the APHIS Eastern Region 

office in Raleigh, NC, and the agency’s Western Region 

office in Fort Collins, CO.

Benefits

Working for the Federal Government offers a wide 

breadth of opportunities—from entry-level to senior 

executive—in a wide variety of fields, with flexible 

benefits that encourage a healthy work-life balance. 

Benefits include:

•	 Flexible work schedules, including telework

•	 Family-friendly work and leave policies

•	 10 paid Federal holidays and paid vacation leave

•	 Paid medical leave

•	 Continuing education opportunities

•	 Opportunities for recognition and awards

•	 Comprehensive medical benefits

•	 Health, wellness, and fitness programs

•	 Affordable health and life insurance

•	 Retirement benefits and pension plan

•	 Thrift Savings Plan (where APHIS matches a portion

of your contributions to a 401K-type retirement

program)

Interested? Take the First Step

If you’re ready to become an integral part of protecting 

our Nation’s agricultural health, consider the opportunities at BRS. As a BRS employee, you’ll enjoy a 

rewarding career in a supportive working environment 

with unique learning opportunities. BRS values diversity

and inclusion and leverages the unique talents, abilities, 

and perspectives of its employees. We encourage all 

interested individuals to apply for positions in BRS, 

including veterans, people with disabilities, and surplus 

or displaced Federal employees. You must be a U.S. 

citizen to apply. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in 

all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, 

age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, 

parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political 

beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived 

from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to 

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means 

for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, 

etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice 

and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, 

Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, 

D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

This publication supersedes Program Aid No. 2009, “Your Career in 

Biotechnology Regulatory Services: Safeguarding U.S. Agriculture,” which 

was published in June 2009.

Issued September 2012

For more information about careers with BRS, go to 

www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/brs_main.shtml. 

Open positions in BRS are listed at www.USAJobs.gov, 

the U.S. Government’s official system for Federal jobs and 

employment information.

Biotechnology Regulatory Services

For More Information

To find out more about BRS, please visit the program’s 

Web site at www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/brs_main.

shtml. If you have additional questions about permitting 

or regulatory activities, please call us at (301) 851-3886.

United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2124

Your Career in 

Biotechnology 

Regulatory Services

Protecting Plant Health Through 

Rigorous Regulation of Genetically 

Engineered Organisms
Your Career in BRS

Do you want a career that can make a difference? We’re 

looking for highly motivated and skilled individuals 

interested in meeting the challenges of the evolving and 

innovative field of biotechnology. 

Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) employees are at

the forefront in providing leadership and setting regulatory standards to address the latest biotechnology issues 

and challenges. It takes a diverse group of people to 

accomplish this work. Our goal is to recruit and hire the 

best employees, adding to the pool of talented people who 

are part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

If you’re interested in joining a leading organization 

where you can build a career, consider BRS. 

Who We Are

As part of its mission to protect America’s agricultural 

and natural resources, APHIS regulates the importation, 

interstate movement, and environmental release/field 

testing of genetically engineered (GE) organisms—and

has filled this important role since 1987. BRS includes

four program divisions: Environmental Risk Analysis, 

Regulatory Operations, Policy Coordination, and 

Resource Management.

BIOTECHNOLOGY REGULATORY SERVICES

The Environmental Risk Analysis Program addresses the 

potential plant pest risk and environmental impacts of GE 

organisms by conducting risk assessments, determining

permit conditions, and authorizing field trials. The 

Regulatory Operations Program manages the inspection process and tracks permit and inspection data for 

adherence to regulations and permit conditions. BRS’ 

Policy Coordination Program develops the policies and 

regulations that GE developers must follow and conducts 

outreach to domestic and international organizations 

to explain those requirements. Finally, BRS’ Resource 

Management Program oversees the administrative, budget, 

and information technology functions that keep daily 

operations running smoothly. 

BRS has career opportunities for:

•	 Experts in scientific fields such as plant pathology, 

botany, entomology, ecology, environmental science, 

molecular biology, and biochemistry

•	 Professionals involved in many aspects of the biotechnology regulatory process—regulatory specialists, risk 

assessors, policy analysts, and attorneys

•	 Program specialists and assistants

• Budget, management, and personnel analysts,

computer specialists, technical writers, and 

communication specialists

If you thrive on the challenges of rapidly evolving, 

significant scientific work, BRS may be the place for you.