**Read the entire job announcement carefully. Failure to follow submission instructions will result in your application not being evaluated. If you are claiming Veteran's Preference you must submit the required documentation listed in the announcement. JOB ANNOUNCEMENT # 26-01

Position Title, Series, & Grade:** Dairy Scientist, MA-1321, MA 10-13 (This is not equivalent to GS pay schedule)

Salary Range: $46,286-$84,669 Base (includes locality adjustment); salary commensurate with qualifications

Promotion Potential: MA-18

Opening Date: February 13, 2026 Closing Date: February 27, 2026

Duty Location: Brunswick, OH

Area of Consideration: Open to the public

The Federal Milk Market Administrator is an excepted service agency under the Schedule A, 213.3113 (f)(4) hiring process. The objective of a Federal Milk Market Administrator's office is to administer the terms and provisions of regulations referred to as a federal milk order. Federal milk orders establish minimum prices that regulated dairy plants and milk handlers must pay Grade A dairy farmers for milk, based on how the milk is used. The milk order requires that these payments be pooled so that dairy farmers under an order are paid an average price for their milk, regardless of how it is used.

Primary Duties of the Position:

Perform laboratory analysis of milk for butterfat, protein, lactose, solids and somatic cell count of raw milk by infrared and wet chemical techniques.

Using ether extraction, Kjeldahl analysis, enzymatic lactose assay, and direct microscopic counts to determine milk content.

Analyze data using spreadsheet and graphical analysis to produce test reports.

Interact with dairy industry representatives via telephone and written correspondence to coordinate dairy testing.

Implement new dairy testing methods to improve processes.

Maintain dairy laboratory equipment.

Monitor dairy laboratory testing.

The successful applicant must have computer skills in the use and creation of spreadsheets and in the use of pre-existing database files.

Qualification Requirements:

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in a physical or life science with at least 15 semester hours in chemistry, microbiology, or dairy and food related sciences AND at least 6 semester hours of mathematics or physics.

Applicants who do not have a degree must have the appropriate semester or quarter hours as described above and experience that, when combined with the education, would equal a four-year course of study. The experience should have equipped the applicant with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform at the grade level to which appointed.

The required amount of experience and education will not in itself be accepted as proof of qualification for the position. The candidate's record of experience must demonstrate that the candidate possesses the ability to perform the duties of the position. A copy of the applicant's college transcript is required.

Evaluation Criteria:

All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any specialized experience, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, applications will be reviewed to ensure that all the qualification requirements have been met. A rating will not be used. Applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Note:

U.S.D.A. - Milk Market Administrator

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