Summary Serves as a Food Technologist in the Standardization Branch responsible for studying Standardization Branch programs, evaluating information, and developing, writing, and recommending changes dealing with national and international standards, specifications, and quality improvement programs for milk and dairy products. These activities will often include topics of a technical and scientific nature. This is a 100% remote position that must be located within the state of New York. Responsibilities The duties may include, but are not limited to: Evaluates and interprets documents and procedures related to dairy food science, dairy food chemistry, dairy food biology or microbiology, and other technical matters relating to dairy product. Analyzes laboratory test methods utilized to evaluate dairy products for adherence to domestic and international standards to determine appropriateness for contemporary use. Provides leadership in food science and food technology to Division personnel, other government agencies, and food industry and association representatives. Serves as the Agency’s focal point on complex, controversial, and evolving processing and handling issues associated primarily with the Agency’s commodity procurement program. Coordinates the development of contract specifications to ensure the range of milk and dairy products procured by AMS. Identifies technical considerations and problems that impact food processing and develops solutions to identified problems. Establishes and maintains good working relationships with industry, trade associations, State and Federal marketing officials, officials of regulatory agencies involved with food products, and officials of State and Federal procurement agencies. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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: 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 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. FOR THE GS-14 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-13 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Conducting research on or actively engaged in developing or analyzing dairy food ingredient and dairy food product formulations. Applying chemistry, biology or microbiology to analyze dairy ingredients and dairy foods. Understanding and communicating technical and scientifically based dairy food science information and incorporating that information into strategic, policy-oriented documents. Advising industry representatives on how to comply with domestic or international dairy standards. Conducting research and preparing reports relating to dairy product manufacturing, labeling and analytical methods. Conducting research and preparing comments on proposed dairy product standards from international bodies and foreign governments. Note: There is no education substitution for these grade levels. 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. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university 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. Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee. Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection. Worksite Information: This is a 100% remote position that must be located within the state of New York. The duty station for a remote designation is the selectee's home and must be established within the defined geographic options prior to start date. The selectee is not required to regularly work from a government facility however, the option may be available.