This position is located with the USDA, ARS, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center (BHNRC), Beltsville, MD. As the Research Leader, you will be a part of the Center Director's Management Team participating in meetings with BHNRC Research Leaders and other ARS scientists to discuss research problem needs, opportunities and national program priorities. You will also plan and direct programs to enhance the content and utility of the USDA FoodData Central and Human Studies Facility.

Duties

Conduct multidisciplinary research on food composition, the impact of the environment and food production systems on nutrient/bioactive components in food, and the metabolic/physiologic responses of humans and animals to food and its components. Knowledge and skills to understand the interaction between food composition, nutrition, food production, dietary intake and human health in the context of chemistry, biological sciences, the environment and the food system as a whole. Initiate and support research resulting in the delivery of science-based information and technologies that facilitate the understanding of how food composition and systems can be used/modified to improve the health disparities and nutritional needs. Provide technical and administrative supervision to a professional and technical staff. Serve as fund holder for the management unit (MU) accounts, managing and monitoring resources. Support research infrastructure. Conduct human studies. Represent USDA/ARS/BHNRC as an authoritative expert, participating in national/international committees, conferences and public events related to food composition and nutrition. Provide leadership and direction for multi-disciplinary, team-based research on food/biochemical/chemical composition as impacted by production, genetics, environment and processing. Implement policies, plans, and projects necessary for the direction of all service research, and training activities associated with the mission. Oversee the establishment of links between datasets and data types to enable research relating to food composition to nutrition and food industry/agricultural practices.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
• Financial Disclosure Required.

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 Requirements for Series 0401 (Biologist) Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Basic Requirements for Series 0630 (Nutritionist) Applicants must meet one of the following requirements for all grade levels: 1. Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in the fields of dietetics, food, nutrition, food service management, institution management, or related science. The educational program must have been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (external link) (ACEND), or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. For dietitian positions, the curriculum must have been in accordance with the qualifying requirements established by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) (external link) (formerly American Dietetic Association (external link) (ADA) prior to January 1, 2012) in effect at the time of graduation. 2. Completion of a coordinated undergraduate program, internship, or other clinical component approved by AND (formerly ADA) for dietitians or nutritionists. 3. Professional registration as a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Note: Employees currently assigned to positions in this occupational series as of September 2017 will be considered to have met the basic requirements for the position occupied. Basic Requirements for Series 1320 (Chemist) 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 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. Basic Requirements for Series 1560 (Data Scientist) Degree: Mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science or field directly related to the position. The degree must be in a major field of study (at least at the baccalaureate level) that is appropriate for the position. OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major field of study (30 semester hours) as shown in paragraph A above, plus additional education or appropriate experience. AND In addition to the basic requirements above, all applicants must also meet the following minimum qualification requirements: GS-14 Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-14 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-13 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is acquiring and analyzing data; developing and implementing plans to obtain analytical data in food and nutrition; working with multidisciplinary research teams to develop materials and reports to document research findings; and designing and testing database systems and statistical tools for data science applications. GS-15 Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-15 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-14 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is providing leadership to a multidisciplinary workforce; overseeing human studies related to nutrition and health; initiating and supporting research leading to the delivery of science-based information and technologies related to food science and nutritional recommendations; and representing the agency as an authoritative expert in food composition, nutrition and health of people and the environment, participating in national and international committees, conferences and public events. 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.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 10300 Baltimore Avenue Beltsville, MD 20705 US
• Name: Ehila Melton
• Phone: 5716694043
• Email: [email protected]