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Supervisory Environmental Scientist or Physical Scientist, ZP-0401/1301-05 (DE/CR)

Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

These positions are in the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), part of NOAA's National Ocean Service. The selected individuals will serve as the Chief of NCCOS's Stressor Detection and Impacts Division in Silver Spring, MD. NCCOS's mission is to deliver ecosystem science solutions for the stewardship of the nation's ocean and coastal resources in direct support of National Ocean Service science priorities, offices, and customers to sustain thriving coastal communities and economies.

This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). This system replaced the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band.

The ZP-5 is equivalent to the GS-15.

The full performance level of this positon is ZP-05.

Salary ranges will vary based on the location. Please visit: OPM Salary Charts for specific salary information related to a specific location.

This position is also announced under vacancy number NOS-NCCOS-2018-0004, which is open to status candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

* A one year supervisory probationary period may be required.
* Payment of relocation expenses is authorized.
* This position is not in the bargaining unit

NOTES:

*This vacancy may be used to fill other SUPERVISORY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST or SUPERVISORY PHYSICAL SCIENTIST, ZP-0401/1301-05 positions throughout NOAA. The position must be alike (e.g.: within the same geographic locations, same grade/band requires the same qualifications as indicated in this vacancy announcement).

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
10/16/2017 to 10/30/2017
Salary
$131,767 to - $161,900 per year
Pay scale & grade
ZP 5
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Silver Spring, MD
1 vacancy
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Up to 25% Domestic Travel Required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation is authorized
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time / Career or Career-Conditional
Service
Promotion potential
5
Supervisory status
Yes
Announcement number
NOS-NCCOS-2018-0005
Control number
482023500

This job is open to

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Duties

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The individual selected for this position will:

  • Perform assignments that involve planning, initiating, overseeing executing, evaluating, and reporting on major marine science studies that increase nationwide understanding of coastal and marine resources.
  • Plan, coordinate and direct a full range of NCCOS scientific and management operations and service.
  • Participate in the development and implementation of strategic legislative, partnership, and science communication plans.
  • Formulate and design research projects that represent a major segment of NCCOS operating programs.
  • Exercise delegated authority to oversee the overall planning, direction, and timely execution of specific projects.
  • Exercise all supervisory duties including recruitment, assignment of work, evaluation performance, addressing deficiencies, and ensuring the professional development of subordinate staff.
  • Oversee National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)'s research priorities which include: 1) marine spatial ecology, 2) ecosystem stressor impacts, mitigation, and restoration, and 3) coastal resilience and climate vulnerability, supported by environmental, physical, and social science researchers.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National to apply.
  • Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
  • Must be suitable for Federal employment.
  • Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
  • Qualifications requirements must be met by closing date of announcement.

College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.


Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience OR substitution of education for experience OR combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements:

Supervisory Environmental Scientist ZP-0401-05

A) Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

B) Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

-OR-

Supervisory Physical Scientist ZP-1301-05

A) Degree: Physical Science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and /or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties or materials, and electronics.

OR

B) Combination of education and experience: Education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

-AND-

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations e.g., professional; philanthropic, religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies; knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

To qualify at the ZP-05:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-04 or GS-14 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

  • Coordinating major science studies that increase nationwide understanding of coastal and marine resources.
  • Managing multiple simultaneous projects of nationwide scope.
  • Developing performance measures for scientific programs and evaluating performance against those measures.

Additional information

ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management’s Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition

ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

  1. A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
  2. A copy of your SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action” documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
NOAA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions) and place you in one of the three pre-defined categories. The categories are “gold”, “silver” and “bronze”. However, your resume or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Candidates placed in the “gold” category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

How you will be evaluated for preference eligibility: Within each category, those entitled to veterans’ preference will be listed at the top of the pre-defined category for which they are placed. Preference eligible with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category (gold) depending on the position and grade level of the job. For more information on Category Rating, please go to Category Rating.

The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:

  • Knowledge of the theories, principles, and methods of a marine science discipline, such as biology, ecology, oceanography, chemistry, or another affiliated marine environmental or physical science discipline.
  • Ability to conduct and direct an advanced program.
  • Ability to exercise professional leadership, and provide consultation in the specialty.
  • Ability to perform the full range of supervisory functions, including planning, assigning, & reviewing work; evaluating performance; interviewing candidates for vacant positions; resolving complaints; effecting minor disciplinary actions; & identifying training needs.
  • Skill in strategic planning for science engagement and communications.
  • Ability to convey complex scientific information to a variety of audiences with different backgrounds.

To preview questions please click here.

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