Physical Scientist/Food Technologist DEVCOM Soldier Center

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Soldier Center (SC) is looking for a Physical Scientist or Food Technologist to join our team in Natick, MA.  DEVCOM Soldier Center participates in an alternative personnel system known as the Personnel Demonstration Project (PDP). The DB-03 pay band is equivalent to the GS-12 step 1 to GS-14 step 10 level.

DEVCOM Soldier Center as a Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory (STRL) will be utilizing Direct Hire Authority (DHA) for bachelor's and Advanced degrees to fill this position.  This position will be filled as a TERM appointment not to exceed two (2) years and may be renewed.

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Soldier Center is a Customer-Driven, Customer-Focused organization, and is internationally known as a preeminent provider of research, development, engineering, and integration services in the areas of soldier and squad protection and systems integration, military rations and field feeding equipment, military parachuting and airdrop systems, and expeditionary basing. Through our research in areas such as materials sciences, biochemistry, human performance, and human sciences; technology development and integration; and systems engineering, product development and support, the DEVCOM Soldier Center plays a vital role in maximizing the effectiveness of America's military. Help shape our future to become the Leader in Empowering the World's Most Capable Soldiers.

The Combat Feeding Division (CFD) within the Solder Sustainment Directorate (SSD) at the DEVCOM SC has an opening for a Physical Scientist / Food Technologist position. The CFD executes the Combat Feeding Research & Engineering Program (CFREP), a joint Office of the Secretary of Defense program. The CFREP provides an operationally relevant research and development base to deliver solutions for evolving field feeding challenges. In support of this mission, the division employs a diverse group of engineers, scientists, and technicians across multiple disciplines that conduct food product development and testing, ration engineering support, nutrient and chemical analysis, performance nutrition research, packaging and food safety, and joint food service equipment. The Physical Scientist / Food Technologist will be responsible for planning and executing Joint Service CFREP business process and strategic programmatic activities, and reports directly to the Division Chief (DC).

The incumbent will be responsible for coordinating execution of the Combat Feeding DOTMLPfP Change Recommendation items with high level DoD leaders and stakeholders, implementing the Combat Feeding Initial Capabilities Document into a CFREP strategic plan, identifying external funding opportunities, and developing a strategic approach for funding proposals. The incumbent will work with project officers to develop external proposal packages. S/he will work with the DC and program integrator, along with directorate strategic and programmatic integrators to develop an integrated out-year portfolio and participate in Joint Statement of Need and Tech Base proposal review processes.

Employees at this level, working in this area, apply professional scientific and engineering knowledge to serve as strategic planners, technical program advisors, program planners, systems integrators, or special assistants concerned with supporting technical functions (e.g., technology transfer, laboratory management, operations research, Human Systems Integration, funding requirements/justifications, Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), operating research/development policies and procedures, or regulatory and compliance work in product safety or occupational safety or environmental science).  Assignments require scientific or engineering knowledge providing technology planning, management and support for the accomplishment of the mission.  Assignments typically include planning, evaluating, redirecting, documenting and defending the technology base program of the directorate or center; first-level assessments of technology exploitation opportunities; and reviewing proposals and identifying possible benefits; and preparing reports and documents to support technology base plans and programs, including justification for funding and the initiation or continuation of technical programs. Employees are expected to work independently under general supervision as mature and fully responsible scientists and engineers.  Performs other duties as assigned.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of specialized experience to be found minimally qualified. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:

Basic Education Requirement for Physical Scientist (1301):
A. Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. OR

B. Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience, or additional education.

Basic Education Requirement for Food Technologist (1382):

A. 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 include 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

B.  Combination of education and experience –courses equivalent to a major, including the course work specified, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

-AND-

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service.  Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.  This experience need not have been in the federal government.  Specialized Experience for this position is defined as experience facilitating high level stakeholder meetings to develop consensus on actions; experience working on strategically planned science and technology-related portfolio(s); conducting research on new policies of relevance to technology space, and advising leadership of impacts to mission execution, policies and procedures; successfully garnered funding from external funding agencies and/or evaluated research funding proposals and/or technical reports/manuscripts and provided recommendations to decision makers regarding funding and/or publication.

Duties for this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Critically reviews policies relevant to CF mission (e.g. novel food production), and assists with development of internal processes, metrics and requirements for executing the policies, to include policies related to food safety, testing and approval of nutrition production.

• Participates in JSN and Tech Base proposal review processes.
• With feedback from Division Chief, Team Leaders, Program Integrators, Strategic Integrators, develops strategy for SBIR/STTR/FTAS/FCT/NSIN proposals to balance internal K/S/As and program needs to best leverage academic and private sector technology and expertise.
• Works with Team Leaders and project officers to develop external research proposals.
• Maintains database of knowledge products transitioned to the division from external partners. Coordinates with PI, TLs and POs for incorporation of these KPs into technology development and advancement projects.
• Collaborates with SI and PI to develop an integrated out-year Sustainment Directorate portfolio.
• Receives, analyzes, and reports regular feedback from operational ration feedback (DA Form 7590) and provides recommendations to TLs and POs for future JSN proposals.
• Facilitates DCR review meetings with stakeholders and offices of primary responsibility, taking minutes, tracking progress.
• Prepares briefing materials for semi-annual JCB progress briefings by CFREP Chair or Executive Secretary.
• With feedback from DC, team leads (TLs), program (PI) and strategic (SI) integrators, develops division strategic plan reflecting Initial Capabilities Document.
• Collaborates with SI and PI to develop an integrated out-year Sustainment Directorate portfolio.

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance
• This position requires you to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter.
• This is an Army Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Workforce position.  Incumbent must meet requirement for Acquisition certification.