Job Information
Opening Date/Time
09/01/2026 12:00AM Central Time
Closing Date/Time
09/14/2026 11:59PM Central Time
Salary (Monthly)
$4,057.00
Salary (Annually)
$48,684.00
City, State Location
Nashville, TN
LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, DAVIDSON COUNTY
This position is with Technical Services and will be based on-site at the Tennessee Department of Agriculture's Ellington Agricultural Center campus in Nashville, Tennessee.
Qualifications
Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in physical sciences (e.g., physics, chemistry), life sciences (e.g., biology, microbiology, health physics or biophysics), pre-medicine, engineering, or other acceptable science related field.
OR
Substitution of Education for Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate degree in physical sciences (e.g. physics, chemistry, geology, meteorology), life sciences (e.g. biology, microbiology, health physics or biophysics), pre-medicine, engineering, or other acceptable science related field and two years of full-time professional or increasingly responsible sub-professional laboratory work (e.g., Laboratory Technician).
OR
Four years of full-time increasingly responsible technical laboratory experience (e.g., Laboratory Technician, Veterinary Pathology Technician).
Overview
Under immediate supervision, is responsible for learning to perform chemical, physical, and/or microbiological analyses on a variety of food products, agricultural commodities, environmental samples, and/or veterinary diagnostic specimens. This is the entry class in the Agricultural Scientist sub series. This class differs from the next higher class, Agricultural Scientist - Intermediate, in that incumbent of the latter functions at the working level under general supervision.
An applicant appointed to this Career Path series will be reclassified to the next higher class in the series after the following criteria are met: successful completion of a mandatory two-year probation period, employee has demonstrated they are fully proficient (as documented by the current supervisor and defined in DOHR Policy 22-001), and all required qualifications of the Agricultural Scientist Intermediate are met; 'unacceptable' or 'needs improvement' performance during the probation period will result in automatic demotion or termination.
Responsibilities
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Learns to perform routine qualitative and quantitative scientific analysis on a variety of sample types (e.g., food, feed, fertilizer, soil, water, vegetation, pesticides, and animal tissues) in support of consumer protection and veterinary diagnostics using established scientific methodologies and analytical instrumentation.
- Learns to receive and evaluate agricultural samples for testing from various sources such as regulatory inspectors, producers, and veterinarians through standardized processes and procedures (e.g., take temperature, assign a case number, taking custody, documentation verification).
- Learns to prepare (e.g., grinding, drying, centrifuging, splitting, weighing, trimming) agricultural related samples in preparation for analysis.
- Learns to utilize (including verify, calibrate, and maintain) laboratory instrumentation.
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Learns to generate analytical data packages by compiling relevant sample data including sample history, quality control data, interpretation of data, and final results to create a legal record of scientific analysis. Reviews data package for accuracy and completeness.
- Participates in development and validation of approved laboratory methodology.
- Conforms to requirements of administrative policies (e.g., procurement, quality, and safety) to maintain efficiency, accuracy, and safety of the laboratory's operations.
- Communicates with internal and external customers to gather detailed sample submission information and provide test results.
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Participates in professional development opportunities such as technical workshops, conferences online classes, and reading scientific literature to stay abreast of current science.
Competencies (KSA's)
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Business Insight
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Communicates Effectively
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Instills Trust
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Resourcefulness
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Collaborates
Knowledge:
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Biology
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Chemistry
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Law and Government
Skills:
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Active Learning and Listening
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Critical Thinking
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Time Management
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Troubleshooting
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Complex Problem Solving
Abilities:
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Depth Perception
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Problem Sensitivity
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Visual Color Discrimination
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Mathematical Reasoning
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Multilimb Coordination
Tools & Equipment
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Office Equipment
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General Laboratory Equipment
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Specialized Equipment
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Personal Protective Equipment
TN Driver Standards
State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:
- A valid driver's license
- For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.
Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.
**Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.
