Job Summary

This position carries out a variety of programmatic and analytical pesticide residue assignments pertaining primarily to sampling and the quality assurance program of the participating States and Federal facilities. The data evaluated is used to provide scientific assessments, and directly impacts government regulations, the agricultural industry, and ultimately the consumer.

Major Duties

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. Biologist (0401) BASIC REQUIREMENT: Degree in 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 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Chemist (1320) BASIC REQUIREMENT: Degree in 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. FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Works with agricultural, food or related sample acquisition for the purpose of scientific analyses, including the selection, documentation, data recording and analyses, and transportation of samples for laboratory chemical or other analyses. Follows standard operating procedures for sampling or other science-based programs, including documentation, statistical approaches, data collection, data review, and chain of custody for scientific samples. Engages field staff on program implementation and day-to-day operations, including efficiency, accuracy, timeliness, tracking/auditing, standard procedures and practices, communications/documentation, program updates, quality assurance, and training. Reviews analytical data provided by chemistry laboratories, including review of validation and routine data packages for compliance with quality assurance/quality control requirements. 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 each individual basic requirement per job series. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Works with agricultural, food or related sample acquisition for the purpose of scientific analyses, including the planning, selection, documentation, data recording and analyses, and transportation of samples for laboratory chemical or other analyses. Develops and follows standard operating procedures for sampling or other science-based programs, including documentation, statistical approaches, data collection, data review, and chain of custody for scientific samples. Engages field staff on program management, implementation and day-to-day operations, including efficiency, accuracy, timeliness, tracking/auditing, standard procedures and practices, communications/documentation, program updates, quality assurance, and training. Reviews analytical data provided by chemistry laboratories, including review of validation and routine data packages for compliance with quality assurance/quality control requirements, with relevance to residue analyses conducted via gas and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy. Note: There is no education substitution 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-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.

Pay Range

$72,030.00 - $112,240.00

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