Agricultural Commodity Technician (Grain)

US-Agricultural-Marketing-Servic; Belle Chasse (LA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

US Agricultural Marketing Service in Belle Chasse, LA seeks an Agricultural Commodity Technician to support grain inspection in a field office. You will independently perform sampling, analytical and physical testing, and weighing, and communicate results to industry personnel.

You will troubleshoot technical issues, follow established procedures, and assist in classing and documenting results for loading and transport operations in a production/transport context.

Qualifications

• Performs sampling, weighing, and analytical/physical testing in production/transport operations.
• Inspects, handles, stores, and transports grain and related commodities per procedures.
• Determines accurate weighing, loading and sampling; takes remedial actions as needed.
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for GS-04/05.

Responsibilities

• Serve as ACT in a grain inspection field office or suboffice.
• Independently perform full range of sampling, analytical and physical testing, and weighing.
• Troubleshoot technical issues and communicate results to industry personnel.
• Follow established procedures and support classing/quality activities as needed.

Skills

Grain sampling

Weighing procedures

Analytical testing

Physical testing

Troubleshooting

Results communication

Education

Two academic years above high school

Bachelor's degree

Job description

In this position you will serve as an Agricultural Commodity Technician (ACT) in a grain inspection field office or suboffice in support of the activities of the office. Expected to independently perform the full range of sampling, analytical and physical testing, and weighing in the office, serves as a troubleshooter in resolving technical issues related to these areas, and has the ability to communicate the results to industry personnel. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

FOR THE GS-04 LEVEL:

Applicants must have six months of general experience AND six months of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level in the Federal Service. General experience is any type of work that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the position or that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Specialized experience is that which is described below:

• Performs a variety of industrial methods (sampling, weighing, and analytical and physical testing), procurement, materials, machinery, or facilities used in a production, processing, or transportation-related operations.
• Inspecting, handling, storing, and transporting of applicable commodity (e.g. grain and grain products, or fruit and vegetable products) in accordance with established procedures, practices, and safety requirement.
• Determines accurate weighing, loading, and sampling of commodities and takes remedial actions to correct the situation.

OR

Successful completion of 2 academic years of study above high school.

Note: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

FOR THE GS-05 LEVE L:

Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-04 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Provide grain weighing and handling procedures for Grain Commodity positions or food processing operations.
• Provide various function in the facility such as quality control, inspection, production, storage, and transportation.
• Aiding in the inspection of the applicable commodity including establishing the class and quality of grain, preparing samples for inspection, and/or perform laboratory analytical and physical tests.

OR

4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree

Note: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

TRANSCRIPTS are required if:

• 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-04/05 GRADE LEVELS:

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.