The incumbent serves as a laboratory scientist/analyst conducting a wide range of physical, chemical, and/or biological analysis of agricultural commodities, food, and other sample types to determine the acceptability of agricultural and food products in relation to customer test requests, contract specifications, quality control requirements, and regulations of various agencies.

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: Performs routine sample preparation, sample analysis, and evaluations using established methods and procedures. Operates analytical instrumentation along with other laboratory equipment to perform various analysis techniques. Utilizes a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for sample login, sample results entry and sample report generation. Evaluates sample data to make decisions about the presence of analytes based on predetermined protocols. Evaluates data for compliance to established acceptance criteria. Enters and validates data in LIMS and authorizes final release of test results. Generates laboratory reports and certificates and reviews for completeness, accuracy of computations, and reasonableness of results. Prepares packages of analytical data and test results according to standard protocols for review by the supervisor and quality management staff. Reports analytical results to customers according to customer requirements and corresponds with customers as needed regarding anomalies with sample information or results.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• 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/

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: Physical Science Series (1301): Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. OR: Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. BASIC REQUIREMENT: Chemistry Series (1320): 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. BASIC REQUIREMENT Food Technology Series (1382): 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-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Operating instrumentation utilized for chromatographic analysis. Troubleshooting and maintaining chromatographic instrumentation. Utilizing analytical testing equipment such as balance, pipets, glassware, etc. in order to proficiently execute testing assays. OR: 1 year of graduate-level education in courses relating to each individual basic requirement per job series. OR Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND must meet certain GPA requirements. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Expertise with operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting instrumentation utilized for chromatographic analysis. Recognizing and mitigating issues and conditions that may have adverse effects on performance of team, instrumentation, and analysis methods. Identifying and implementing improvements to processes that benefits the lab and customer. 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 each individual basic requirement per job series. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: 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. You are qualifying for this position based on Superior Academic Achievement. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-07/09 GRADE LEVELS: 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.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Marketing Service USDA APHIS MRPBS 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55401 US
• Name: MRP Human Resources
• Phone: 612-336-3227
• Email: [email protected]