CHEMIST

Job Summary

Serves as a chemist in a Chemistry Branch (CB) of the Laboratory Regulatory Operations (LRO), OPHS. Performs chemical analyses on official samples, and adapts and validates methods used in field laboratories for meat, poultry, egg, and Siluriformes products.

• Plan and perform assigned chemical analyses on a variety of samples in a high-throughput diagnostic regulatory food testing laboratory.
• Independently perform analysis from start to finish, including sample receipt, preparation, weighing, extraction, and instrumental/data analysis.
• Accurately reflect work performed daily on prescribed documents and within the electronic Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
• Prepare and maintain standards, solutions, and reagents necessary for assigned tasks.
• Apply ISO 17025 accredited quality assurance procedures to instruments, equipment, reagents, and standards.
• Interpret and evaluate results of your analysis and compare the results to pertinent agency regulations to determine whether samples are violative.
• Defend and/or explain your analysis and evaluation by completing a thorough justification to your supervisor and/or other OPHS officials.
• Assess and make recommendations to changes in standard operating procedures when necessary, to better align broad guidelines specified under ISO 17025.
• Participate in the development and validation of new methods or technologies introduced by industry, public health partners, or government agencies.
• Operate, troubleshoot, and repair various types of instrumentation used in the analysis process (GC, UHPLC, HPLC‑MS/MS).
• Communicate with personnel from all segments of FSIS.

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree in physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering with at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics (differential and integral calculus) and at least 6 semester hours of physics.

Preferred Experience: Experience in analytical chemistry, method development, and validation in a regulatory or high‑throughput testing environment. Familiarity with ISO 17025 and LIMS.

Other Requirements: Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills; attention to detail; communication skills; ability to perform work in a high‑throughput, fast‑paced laboratory setting.

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.