Agricultural Commodity Technician (Grain)

Agricultural Marketing Service•Belle Chasse, LA

About The Position

The Agricultural Commodity Technician (ACT) serves in a grain inspection field office or suboffice, supporting office activities. At the full-performance level, the technician independently performs sampling, analytical and physical testing, and weighing; troubleshoots related technical issues; and communicates results to industry personnel. Developmental assignments are more limited in scope, independence, and complexity. The position involves inspecting, sampling, weighing, and testing grain, rice, pulses, related commodities, and other food and non-food products. Work may take place in rice mills, processed-product plants, and dock loading and unloading facilities, under varying weather conditions. The job involves exposure to hazardous fumigants and requires extensive safety precautions. Some work requires climbing and considerable physical exertion, including lifting or moving containers or sacks weighing up to 55 pounds and conducting shiphold inspections at heights greater than 75 feet.

Requirements

Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
For individuals born male after December 31, 1959, be registered with the Selective Service or exempt.
Satisfactorily complete a background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
Successfully complete a one-year probationary period unless previously served.
Enroll in Direct Deposit for federal payments.
Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
Complete a pre-employment medical statement and/or examination.
Hold a valid state driver's license at the time of application.
Enroll in Continuous Vetting as a USDA employee.
Sign a memorandum of understanding acknowledging geographic mobility as a condition of employment.
For GS-04, have six months of general experience and six months of specialized experience, or have completed two academic years of study above high school; qualifying combinations of education and experience may be used.
For GS-04, specialized experience may include industrial sampling, weighing, analytical or physical testing, or work involving procurement, materials, machinery, or facilities in production, processing, or transportation operations; commodity inspection, handling, storage, or transport; or accurate commodity weighing, loading, and sampling and corrective action.
For GS-05, have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-04, or have completed a four-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree; qualifying combinations of education and experience may be used.
For GS-05, specialized experience may include grain weighing and handling, facility functions such as quality control, inspection, production, storage, or transportation, or assisting with commodity inspection, class and quality determinations, sample preparation, and laboratory analytical or physical testing.
Provide transcripts when qualifying based on education or a combination of education and experience; qualifying education must be successfully completed at an accredited school, college, or university.
Meet qualification and eligibility requirements by the announcement's closing date.

Responsibilities

Ensure accurate weights and determinations of events that support official weight certification.
Perform visual inspections and mechanical measurements to help establish the kind, class, and quality of grain, rice, pulses, and related commodities.
Divide gross commodity samples to prepare official work samples and file samples for retention.
Perform the full range of laboratory analytical and physical tests used in the assigned field office.
Monitor grain collected by mechanical diverter-type samplers during export loading operations.
Troubleshoot and resolve problems involving tests common to a field location.
Conduct stowage examinations in shipholds, barges, hopper cars, and other containers to assess the cleanliness and acceptability of storage and handling facilities.
Sample, checkweigh, checkload, and inspect food and non-food products for AMS, FSA, DPSC, VA, and private contracts.
Adhere to Civil Rights policies, goals, and objectives while performing the position's duties.