This position is located within the Agricultural Research Service, Southeast Area, Southern Regional Research Center, Cotton Quality and Innovation Research Unit in New Orleans, LA. In this position, you will serve as a Research Leader and Supervisory Research Textile Technologist, Molecular Biologist, or Materials/Mechanical/Electronics Engineer and will be responsible for planning and coordinating the Unit's research direction and scientific efforts.

Duties

Conduct research aimed at protecting and expanding cotton's share of the textile and nonwoven market through the development of new and improved measurements, methods, and products for more effective utilization of cotton and other natural fibers. Take the initiative in generating new Current Research Information System (CRIS) work units and formulate the Automated Annual Resource Management Plan System (ARMPS). Consult with the Center Director, select Lead Scientists, assign scientists to CRIS work units, and manage the facilities and equipment assigned to the Unit. Evaluate the potential for new knowledge in instrumentation, fiber characterization, fiber performance in textile applications, and applications for cotton fiber and other natural fibers and their byproducts in other non-textile applications. Exercise leadership and line authority over scientists and support personnel assigned to the Unit, hire personnel, and manage the human, fiscal, and physical resources assigned to the Unit. Maintain and enhance the creativity and productivity of the unit, provide technical information and consultation, both internal and external to ARS, and ensure the proper interpretation and reporting of scientific research results and information. Develop a stakeholder base to advocate for enhancing the research and to enable commercialization of measurements, methods, and products to meet mandated technology transfer objectives with the potential to increase funding. Serve as the unit fund holder.

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/.
• Successful completion of a three year probationary period.
• Supervisory Responsibilities (EEO Statement).
• 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 Molecular Biology Series, 0401: 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 Materials/Mechanical/Electronics Engineering Series, 0806/0830/0855: Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR Combination of education and experience: college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: Professional registration or licensure - Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. Written Test - Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Specified academic courses - Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. Related curriculum - Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive. Basic Requirements for Textile Technology Series, 1384: Degree: textile technology. OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in textile technology that included at least 20 semester hours in textile technology and closely related subjects, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Additional Requirements In addition to meeting the basic requirements described above, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below. GS-14: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-14 level of this position are:Experience leading a collaborative, interdisciplinary research program related to cotton; publishing independent research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals; presenting research findings at professional meetings; managing funds on research grants; and ensuring the development of well-trained scientific and technical staff. GS-15: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-15 level of this position are: Experience developing and managing a multidisciplinary research program related to cotton; publishing independent research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals; presenting research findings at national and international meetings; providing guidance to technicians and stakeholders in accomplishing research objectives; developing collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders; managing funds on research grants; and serving as Principal Investigator on collaborative research grants. 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. To further support your qualifications, it is strongly recommended that you submit a one-page abstract of your MS thesis and/or Ph.D. dissertation. Failure to do so could result in loss of your consideration/referral. Also, please submit a list of names, addresses, and phone numbers of persons familiar with your stature, contributions, recognition; any honors or awards received; memberships in professional or honor societies; invitations to make presentations at scientific/technical meetings; scientific society office and committee assignments; presentations (other than invitation); and publications. Applicants must be available to report for duty at the time a selection is made. Selections are typically made within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 141 Experimental Station Road Stoneville, MS 38776 US
• Name: Sydney Teague
• Phone: 703-259-9455
• Email: [email protected]