Food Technologist

Summary

The Science and Technology Program (S&T) works to improve the quality, wholesomeness and marketing of agricultural commodities by overseeing several regulatory programs and providing a variety of scientific, certification and analytical services. These programs and services are designed to facilitate the marketing and trade of US agricultural commodities and products both domestically and internationally.

Duties

• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Interacts with all levels of lab staff and management to ensure the Quality Management Systems (QMS) are suitable and fit-for-purpose.
• Monitors operations to verify adherence to quality plans and requirements; analyzes and investigates adverse quality trends or conditions; and initiates and monitors corrective actions.
• Organizes and conducts audits and/or management reviews (MR).
• Develops, coordinates, and maintains records to ensure the accuracy and defensibility operations, data, and decisions
• Communicates findings to Management
• Coordinates improvements to the QMS while assuring that mission specifications are consistently met.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. BASIC REQUIREMENT: Degree: food technology, or dairy technology, microbiology, biology, chemistry, physics, or a related discipline or field of biological or physical science. The course work must have been comprised of at least 30 semester hours in the basic biological and physical sciences, and included at least 20 semester hours in food technology and closely related subjects, or 20 semester hours in subjects that can be applied directly to food technology. or Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major, including the course work specified, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-9 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Administering a Quality Management System accredited to a standard such as ISO 9001:2015, ISO 17025:2017, ISO 19011:2018, or other domestic and international standards under the direction of supervisor or senior employee Initiating, investigating, performing root cause analysis, and/or implementing corrective action process with limited supervision Evaluating quality data, validation/verification data, quality practices, and/or quality functions and reporting nonconformities. Maintaining records to ensure the accuracy and defensibility of the data. OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in courses relating to the basic requirement above. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required: 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-11 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.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.