Working under the Section Supervisor, the incumbent serves as a Microbiologist responsible for performing the technical and operational aspects of the Food Chemistry Testing Unit of National Science Laboratories (NSL)-Gastonia.

Duties

The duties may include, but are not limited to: Performs analysis of agricultural commodities, food, and other sample types using established methods and procedures. Oversees daily performance of assigned sample preparation, extraction, and analyses by physical science technicians within the laboratory. Organizes and coordinates work to be performed as directed by the supervisor. Optimizes and streamlines the performance of assigned work to maximize efficiency. Diagnoses and performs service and repairs to instruments and equipment according to manufacturer’s specifications. Monitors and evaluates instrument and equipment performance and advises laboratory management staff of maintenance, service, and repair needs. Performs routine maintenance and calibrations of instruments and equipment as needed. Evaluates data to make decisions about the presence of analytes and initiates prescribed actions when analytical results are outside of acceptance criteria. Trains analysts and technicians within the laboratory as directed.

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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.

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 FOR THE 1301 SERIES: 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: Course work equivalent to one of the majors shown in 1 above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR THE 1320 SERIES: 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 FOR THE 1382 SERIES: 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: Performing full range of chemical and physical analyses on food samples in the laboratory. Expertise with operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting instrumentation utilized for food testing. Independently planning and carrying out work and resolving technical problems. Corresponding with customers including handling inquiries and reporting of sample results. Recognizing and mitigating issues and conditions that may have adverse effects on performance of team, instrumentation, and analysis methods. Implementing new testing and analytical methods involving either automated analytical systems or manual laboratory analytical procedures. Developing and suggesting improvements to processes that benefits the lab and customer. Evaluates and interprets sample data regarding authenticity and or presence of residues. Writes a report detailing results and conclusions. OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree orPh.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. This education must be directly related to the position. 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 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.

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]