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Physical Scientist (Air)

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
This job announcement has closed

Summary

BLM is seeking a dynamic and energetic individual to join the team to serve as a Physical Scientist (Air) in the Montana State Office, Division of Resources, Planning, and Fire, Branch of Planning & Biological Resources and Science. This position is located in Billings, Montana. Information about the Billings area can be found at Billings Chamber of Commerce. Outside Magazine's Annual Best Town Contest Featured Billings as the Best Town of 2016.

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource. The BLM manages more land - 245 million surface acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western States, including Alaska. The BLM, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. For additional information about the BLM, please visit our website.

This position is also being advertised under vacancy announcement MT Merit-2018-0056. Only one person will be selected from these announcements.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
02/01/2018 to 02/15/2018
Salary
$73,375 to - $95,388 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
Billings, MT
1 vacancy
Travel Required
Occasional travel - At times, travel for meetings and/or training may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—RELOCATION EXPENSES: Travel and relocation expenses will be paid consistent with the Federal Travel Regulation, Chapter 302, and Departmental policy. The use of a relocation service company and home marketing incentive will not be offered.
Appointment type
Permanent - This is a permanent position in the competitive service.
Work schedule
Full-time - This is a full-time position.
Service
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Announcement number
MT-DEU-2018-0027
Control number
490250600

This job is open to

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Duties

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The incumbent is responsible for performing a variety of duties including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Implementing National policy and guidance for the three state region.
  • Carrying out or approving air quality analysis for all projects with the potential to impact air or climate resources.
  • Administering contracts for complex modeling efforts.
  • Providing technical and regulatory review for long range management plans, multiple use management proposals, and permits.
  • Providing technical guidance and mentoring to Field Office level natural resource specialists.
  • Coordinating program activities and issues with the BLM's Washington Office, the National Operations Center, legal counsel, and air quality specialists in other BLM State Offices.
  • Serving as the BLM's technical liaison with state, local, and tribal governments, other federal agencies, industry, and the public in the three state region.
  • Representing the State Director on national, state, and regional committees.
  • Promoting cooperation and improved relationships with other federal, state, local, and tribal governments.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Background Investigation is required.
  • Be sure to read the "How to Apply" & "Required Documents" Sections.
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license, nor can you
  • have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Land.
  • Direct Deposit Required.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

Basic Education Requirements: This position has a positive education requirement which requires that you have a degree in: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. - OR - Combination of education and experience that included education equivalent to one of the majors shown in above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
For GS-12: In addition to the basic education requirement, one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service.
Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade (GS-11) of the position to be filled. At this level, under general supervision, incumbents perform difficult and responsible work requiring a thorough knowledge of a special and complex subject matter of the profession. Examples: Serving as the lead air resource specialist on interdisciplinary (ID) planning teams, analyzing the effects of development on air resources, preparing air quality contract specifications for analysis; recommending mitigation measures to protect air quality; developing and implementing monitoring plans; and collecting and evaluating monitoring data

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.

Additional information

  • Appointment is subject to meeting one-year probationary requirements.
  • SELECTIVE SERVICE: Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System website.
  • Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP/ICTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at CTAP or ICTAP. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must fall within the Well Qualified or Best Qualified categories on the rating criteria for this position. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at CTAP or ICTAP.
  • Government facilities are required to provide a smoke free environment for their employees. Smoking will be permitted only in designated areas.
  • If selected for this position, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450 within 30 days of reporting to duty. You will be required to provide this information annually.

How you will be evaluated

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

Upon receipt of your complete application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. Your rating will be based on your responses to the Job Specific Questionnaire and the information stated in your resume. If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. In addition, interviews may be conducted for this position. The interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis or may be scored. The job specific questions relate to the following knowledge, skills, and abilities required to do the work of this position:

  • Knowledge of professionally accepted concepts, principles, and theories of air resource management and analysis sufficient to be recognized as a technical authority in complex energy development projects and land use planning, and ability to use automated applications in managing air resource data and in evaluating current methods of modeling and monitoring.
  • Knowledge of legal mandates, policies, and regulations relating to the air resources program.
  • Knowledge of planning processes and the relationships with other natural resource programs sufficient to provide technical guidance in plans development, and familiarity with other resource disciplines including oil, gas, and coal development in order to work effectively on interdisciplinary teams.
  • Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing in order to develop and disseminate information on air resources for public use, to make public presentations on air resources, and to promote positive relationships with the public, other agencies, and special interest groups.
On-line Questionnaire
Please make sure that your responses to the on-line questionnaire are supported in your resume.

To preview questions please click here.

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