Food Technologist DEVCOM Soldier Center

Natick, MAFull-Time
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Job Description

We’re Hiring!

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Soldier Center (SC) has an immediate opening for a Food Technologist to join our team in Natick, MA. The position is a full-time Term appointment not to exceed 2 years and may be renewed up to six years. This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing DHA for STRL Mission Support to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

Soldier Center participates in an alternative personnel system known as the Personnel Demonstration Project (PDP).  The DB-02 pay band is equivalent to the GS- 5 step 1 to GS-11 step 10. The full performance level of the position is a DB-03, equivalent to the GS-12 step 1 to GS-14 step 10 level.

 The 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 science, 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 maximizing the effectiveness of America's military. Help shape our future to become the Leader in Empowering the World's Most Capable Soldiers.

The Food Engineering and Analysis Team (FEAT) within Combat Feeding Division (CFD) seeks a Food Technologist who will work under the general supervision of the Branch Chief, who discusses broad objectives, assigns projects, and provides guidance on critical issues and policy matters. Incumbent is permitted considerable freedom to plan and conduct the projects assigned with includes developing and selecting approaches and methods of attacking specific problems, the analysis and interpretation of results and the redirection of efforts along the most fruitful lines. Completed work is reviewed for adequacy and effectiveness in meeting project requirements.

Job Duties/Responsibilities

Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Plans, organizes, directs, and conducts R&D in the food preservation and stabilization thrust area

  • Serves as project officer for S&T work efforts in support of the DOD Food Program. Plans and coordinates the development effort for new products based on technical creativity in conceiving ideas for feasible products and soldier feedback from tech demonstrations

  • Conducts extensive background research in literature. Studies product characteristics considering utility, stability, acceptability, and nutritional requirements to meet the needs of the military services under various conditions. Determines methods and processes for examination of items under investigation

  •  Guides and conducts investigations and uses laboratory and pilot plant equipment to produce test items. Determines the need to continue further development of a particular product or alter/cancel technical approach that is determined to be unfruitful or unsatisfactory

  • Coordinates and collaborates with other elements within DEVCOM SC in evaluating acceptability, stability, microbiological safety, and chemical profiles of products under development. Coordinates with regulatory agencies to determine the need for microbiological challenge studies and approval status for food additives

  • Independently initiates definition of problems and outlines overall scope of investigations, considering interrelationships with other specializations

  • Evaluates commercial products and industrial methods to determine suitability and adaptability for military requirements

  • Establishes cooperative R&D agreements with industry to leverage resources. Conducts and guides studies involving production engineering and mass production considerations on items developed to a functionally satisfactory prototype stage

  •  Analyzes and evaluates test results and prepares reports of findings with recommendations. Plans and conducts tech demos and field-tests. Determines the need for contracts for R&D and coordinates contract effort

  • Visits contractors’ sites to advise on course of experiments for R&D contracts and coordinates results into recommendations for new techniques sod new or revised products. Prepares periodic and special reports with technical findings and recommendations

Qualification requirements:

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 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

BENEFITS:11 Paid Federal holidays; 13 paid vacation days per year for first 3 years; 13 days of paid sick leave; Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Basic Retirement Annuity, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP - similar to 401k), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Flexible and Alternative work schedules available, Telework eligibility, Army Fitness Program eligibility, Federal employee discounts, wealth of training opportunities available, possible tuition reimbursement through the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP), Employee Assistance Program (EAP).