POSITION(S)

Witchweed Noxious Weed Program - Plant Protection Aid - GS 3

Letters of Authority (Limited Appointment/ Temporary positions)— Full Time

(Part Time or Intermittent may be available under special circumstances)

LOCATION(s)

Positions are available in the following South Carolina locality:

• Mullins - Multiple Positions

SALARY

Determined based on education, locality, and experience.

• Mullins, SC: Hourly pay minimum $15.00 / Hour)

WHO MAY APPLY

This announcement is open to all United States citizens.

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT

This is a Letter of Authority Appointment (AKA: Limited Appointment) lasting up to 180 days per service year

(12 months). Positions can be extended for additional years, but no more than 180 days may be worked per 

service year.

OVERVIEW

APHIS is a multi-faceted Agency with a broad mission area that includes protecting and promoting U.S. 

agricultural health, regulating genetically engineered organisms, administering the Animal Welfare Act and 

carrying out wildlife damage management activities. These efforts support the overall mission of USDA, which 

is to protect and promote food, agriculture, natural resources and related issues. Plant Protection and Quarantine 

(PPQ) is a program within APHIS which safeguards U.S. agriculture and natural resources against the entry, 

establishment, and spread of economically and environmentally significant pests, and facilitates the safe trade of 

agricultural products. Join our team and gain valuable experience working in the field to stop this invasive 

species from harming our nation’s agriculture. 

The USDA APHIS PPQ is seeking applications for seasonal full-time Witchweed Program field inspectors for 

our Mullins, South Carolina office. Join our team, where you’ll be part of eradications efforts.

The duties may include, but are not limited to:

Able to identify Witchweed in the fields during scheduled surveys.

Participates with supervisor in planning and coordinating survey/control measures by furnishing information 

about the presence and extent of plant diseases and/or insects, and effect of treatments.
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Demonstrates the ability to use technology tools in their everyday work. 

Maintains daily records of inspection work, control measures and regulatory procedures applied; prepares 

reports and maps on the activities and accomplishments within the assigned area.

Works with landowners and operators, individually and in groups, to develop a wide variety of treatment plans 

according to established policies and procedures and in accordance with landowners' decisions. 

Develops and maintains good working relationships with stakeholders. 

Utilizes specialized field equipment to apply herbicides in a field environment.

 

Learn more about our programs: Federal Noxious Weed Program 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-anddiseases/SA_Weeds/SA_Noxious_Weeds_Program 

 

DUTIES

The incumbent is responsible for placement and maintenance of insect traps. More specifically, the incumbent:

Works as part of a team who inspects properties for the presence of harmful insects, plant and plant diseases. 

Properties inspected include, but are not limited to, farms, nurseries, orchards, fields, wooded areas, commercial 

and industrial sites, product packing and processing stations, roadsides or other locations that may harbor pests 

or host plants. Per an established schedule, collects samples from traps. Maintains or services traps. Maintains 

daily log and pertinent notes.

 

Attends daily meetings at the end of each work day as appropriate. 

Additional outreach includes schools, 4H clubs, job fairs, county fairs, AgDiscovery and other venues. Reaches 

out to local businesses to request them to hang informational flyers. 

Operates a motor vehicle and other equipment necessary to carry out the assigned work. Maintains daily vehicle 

use and service records.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with the selective service.

Must have a valid driver’s license.

Must be able to work alone and/or in teams in remote locations. 

Must possess or be able to learn basic insect pest and tree identification skills.

Must be able to travel overnight occasionally. 

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

GS-3: Six months of general experience, OR 1 year post HS education (including 4 credits in biology, plant 

pathology, entomology, zoology, botany, forestry, chemistry, agriculture, or physics), OR a combination that 

includes the 4 credits 

General Experience: (l) Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the 

position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject 

area of the occupation.
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HOW TO APPLY & REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR APPLICATION:

Please mail or email all required documents to the address provided below.

Required documents:

• Application Cover Sheet

• Current Resume: 

o For each position you’ve held, provide name of Position, Title, Company Name, Dates (mo/yr), 

number of hours worked per week, salary/hourly rate, summary of duties and responsibilities 

o And, provide at least three references.

• Official or unofficial college transcripts (if applicable)

• Completed and signed Declaration for Federal Employment (Form OF 306) 

Mailing Address:

USDA, APHIS, PPQ

Attn. Kimberly Dean

4600 Goer Drive 

Suite 104 

North Charleston, SC 29406 

Email: kimberly.dean@usda.gov 
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VETERAN PREFERENCE

When applying for federal jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or 

for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must: 

• Provide a legible copy of your DD-214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, 

general, etc.). 

• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you 

must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, 

character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. 

• Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers 

of eligible Veterans) must also submit a SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with 

required proof as stated on the form. 

• Documentation is required to award preference. 

For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit: https://www.fedshirevets.gov/jobseekers/veterans/veterans-preference/ 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex 

(including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, 

disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, 

military service, or other non-merit factor. 

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION POLICY

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. 

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should 

contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a 

case-by-case basis. 

A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done 

that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job 

benefits.

Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when: 

• An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job. 

• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain 

access to the workplace.

• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as 

details, training, and office-sponsored events. 
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COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

To ensure compliance with an applicable nationwide preliminary injunction, which may be supplemented,

modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action 

to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on 

Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job 

announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to 

Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information 

regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety 

protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.