Chemist

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 described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• 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 of 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 specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. BASIC REQUIREMENT: Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics. or Combination of education and experience: Course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to the Basic Requirement, the resume must demonstrate the below specialized experience. FOR THE GS-9 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-7 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Testing, regulating, and/or reviewing methodologies or principles of analysis in botany, chemistry, pesticide residue determinations, microbiology, food nutrition, molecular biology, and/or food authenticity. Operating within a Quality Management System that adheres to standards such as ISO 9001:2015, ISO 17025:2017, ISO 19011:2018, or other domestic and international standards. Experience with quality assurance functions (e.g., root cause analysis, corrective actions, audits, record keeping, etc.). Experience with or reviewing laboratory quality assurance practices (e.g., use of certified reference material, proficiency testing programs, quality control charting, etc.). OR 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in courses relating to the basic requirement. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. 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-9/11 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). Volun…

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.