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View FDA Jobs on the FDA
Internet or Search FDA Jobs on the OPM Web Site.
Following are job descriptions specific to ORA.
Consumer Safety Officer
Interdisciplinary Scientist (Chemist)
Interdisciplinary Scientist (Microbiologist)
Consumer Safety Officer (CSO)
The FDA CSO position is commonly referred to as an Investigator within FDA.
The two job titles are synonymous. This position is the frontline position of the FDA. At
the present time, Investigators are stationed at over 200 locations throughout the US. An
FDA Investigator is the person who:
- Audits, reviews, and evaluates the manufacturing processes of products that the FDA
regulates by inspecting manufacturing facilities within the United States and abroad.
- Investigates complaints of violations of FDAs laws, injuries to consumers and
illnesses involving FDA regulated products.
- Collects samples of FDA products (produced domestically and/or by foreign parties) or
other items for laboratory testing or as evidence in FDA related cases.
- Audits documents generated by a companys research, which support an application to
the FDA to permit the marketing of drugs or medical devices.
- Communicates information about the laws and policies of the FDA to consumers, industry,
and related government agencies in the interest of the promotion of public health.
- Works as a member of a multi-disciplinary team to assure efficient enforcement of the
FD&C Act. The teams may include representatives from Department of Justice, United
States Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, United States Department of Agriculture,
and state and local governments to name a few.
- Is prepared to provide testimony in a court or administrative setting regarding findings
made during any investigational operation.
Investigators receive a variety of rigorous classroom and on-the-job training in FDA
law, evidence development, investigational techniques, and current manufacturing practices
during their first year of employment. Of course, the learning continues throughout the
Investigators career with specialized training in many of the wide variety of
subjects and products that FDA must oversee and review.
Entry level for the Investigator position is usually at the GS-5 or 7 level.
Promotions, with satisfactory performance, are two grades each through to the GS-11, with
the final promotion being one grade to the journey level GS-12. The Investigator position
is an excellent way to advance through the agency into supervisory, management or
specialist positions.
In order to be hired at the entry level as an Investigator it is required that the
candidate:
- Have a bachelors degree which includes 30 semester hours in science related fields
such as Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Physical Sciences, Food Technology, Nutrition, Home
Economics, Epidemiology or Engineering. OR
- Thirty semester hours of course work as described above plus additional appropriate
experience and/or education, combined with the specified course work that totals four
years of experience and education.
In addition to the above requirements an Investigator must possess a valid
drivers license, as this position requires operation of a government vehicle.
A Candidate for Investigator must have the physical ability to, work at unscheduled
times for long hours, lift objects up to 50 pounds, walk, bend, stand, stoop, kneel, and
climb, have adequate vision (corrected), hearing, and an adequate sense of smell.
The Candidate must be able work in adverse weather conditions and tolerate noise.
Investigators can have travel requirements up to 50 percent of the time (costs
associated with travel are paid for by the FDA). Travel trips may vary from short trips of
just over a day to three weeks (this travel will vary depending on the work needs where
the candidate is located). Travel is within the US and to foreign countries.
Twenty-five cents of every dollar spent in the US purchases products regulated by FDA.
This is a great job for someone who is interested in continuous learning, likes to be
challenged, and wants to do work that has real meaning since it is directly connected to
the protection of the public health.
Interdisciplinary Scientist (Chemist)
Field Chemist:
The FDA Field Chemist position is commonly referred to as an Analyst within
FDA. At the present time, Chemists are stationed at 13 field
laboratories throughout the US. An FDA Field Chemist is the person who:
- Independently performs scientific chemical analysis and tests on regulated articles,
including foods, drugs, cosmetics, and animal drugs, medical devices and raw materials.
Tests are performed to detect contamination resulting from unsanitary practices,
pollution, decomposition, or indications of poor manufacturing practices and product
deterioration.
- Selects established methods and procedures and performs the analysis to make
determinations for regulatory monitoring and enforcement purposes.
- Prepares scientific reports that identify the sample, methods and procedures used,
modifications, validations, and the results.
- May audit documents of private lab analysis to help ascertain validity.
- May audit documents generated by a company, which support an application to the FDA to
permit the marketing of drugs or medical devices.
- Provides analytical expertise as a member of an inspection team in the field.
- Is prepared to provide testimony in a court or administrative setting regarding findings
made during analysis, tests, and audits/inspections.
- May conduct research projects on the development of analytical methods.
In the field and at headquarters Chemists receive a variety of rigorous classroom and
on-the-job training in FDA law, evidence development, analytical techniques, and
inspectional related skills during their first year of employment. Of course, the learning
continues throughout the Chemists career with specialized training in many of the
wide variety of subjects and products that FDA must oversee and review.
Grade (Salary) Levels
The federal General Schedule (GS) grade levels at which chemist positions are most
commonly filled are GS-5 through 12.
Note: Higher-grade levels in both headquarters and field offices are available based on
peer review of individual accomplishments or supervisory responsibilities.
In order to be hired at the entry level as a Chemist it is required that the candidate:
- Have a bachelors degree in physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering which
includes 30 semester hours in Chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics
through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of Physics. OR
- Combination of education and experience courses equivalent to a major that
included course work above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry,
supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6
semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience of additional education.
Chemists travel to take part in training, meetings or inspections (costs associated
with travel are paid for by the FDA). Travel trips may vary from short trips of just over
a day to three weeks. Travel is within the US and may extend to foreign countries.
Twenty-five cents of every dollar spent in the US purchases products regulated by FDA.
This is a great job for someone who is interested in continuous learning, likes to be
challenged, and wants to do work directly connected to the protection of the public
health.
Interdisciplinary Scientist (Microbiologist)
Field Microbiologist:
The FDA Field Microbiologist position is commonly referred to as a
Microbiologist within FDA. At the present time, Microbiologists are stationed
at 13 field laboratories throughout the US. An FDA Field Microbiologist
is the person who:
- Independently performs scientific microbiological analysis and tests on regulated
articles, including foods, drugs, cosmetics, and animal drugs, medical devices and raw
materials. Tests are performed to detect contamination resulting from unsanitary
practices, pollution, decomposition, or indications of poor manufacturing practices and
product deterioration.
- Selects established microbiological methods and procedures, and performs the analysis to
make determinations for regulatory monitoring and enforcement purposes.
- Prepares scientific reports that identify the sample, methods and procedures used,
modifications, validations, and the results.
- May audit documents of private lab analysis to help ascertain validity.
- May audit documents generated by a company, which support an application to the FDA to
permit the marketing of drugs or medical devices.
- Provides analytical expertise as a member of an inspection team in the field.
- Is prepared to provide testimony in a court or administrative setting regarding findings
made during analysis, tests, and audits/inspections.
Microbiologists receive a variety of rigorous classroom and on-the-job training in FDA
law, evidence development, analytical techniques, and inspectional related skills during
their first year of employment. Of course, the learning continues throughout the
Microbiologists career with specialized training in many of the wide variety of
subjects and products that FDA must oversee and review.
Entry level for the Microbiologist position is usually at the GS-5 or 7 level.
Promotions, with satisfactory performance, are two grades each through to the GS-11, with
the final promotion being one grade to the journey level GS-12. The Microbiologist
position is an excellent way to advance through the agency into supervisory, management or
specialist positions.
In order to be hired at the entry level as a Microbiologist it is required that the
candidate:
- Have a bachelors degree in microbiology, biology, chemistry or basic medical
science which includes 20 semester hours in microbiology and other subjects related to the
study of microorganisms, and 20 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences
combining course work in organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics, and college algebra,
or their equivalent. OR
- Combination of education and experience courses equivalent to a major in
microbiology, biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included courses as shown
in the bullet above, plus appropriate experience of additional education.
A Candidate for Microbiologist must have the physical ability to, work at unscheduled
times for long hours.
Microbiologists travel to take part in training, meetings or inspections (costs
associated with travel are paid for by the FDA). Travel trips may vary from short trips of
just over a day to three weeks. Travel is within the US and may extend to foreign
countries.
Twenty-five cents of every dollar spent in the US purchases products regulated by FDA.
This is a great job for someone who is interested in continuous learning, likes to be
challenged, and wants to do work directly connected to the protection of the public
health.
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