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Geographer/Physical Scientist, GS0150/1301-11/12 (BB-DE)

Department of the Interior
Geological Survey
This job announcement has closed

Summary

What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position?

Salary: GS-11: $64,561 (Step 01) to $83,934 (Step 10); GS-12: $77,382 (Step 01) to $100,600 (Step 10); NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01. 

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
11/12/2019 to 11/27/2019
Salary
$64,561 to - $100,600 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Location
Raleigh, NC
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - This is a term appointment not to exceed 13 months with possible extensions up to a total of 4 years without further competition. Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status in the Federal service.
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
RES-2019-0348
Control number
549767600

Duties

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As a Geographer/Physical Scientist within the Southeast Climate Adaptation Center, some of your specific duties will include:

  • Perform research and quantitative analysis of climate observations and model projections to inform assessment of climate impacts to species, habitats, and ecosystems.
  • Conduct research on climate models selection and methods to characterize and communicate climate model uncertainty.
  • Perform analysis and synthesis of large volumes of point and gridded climate data to create value-added projects, such as maps, data layers, and models.
  • Prepare and deliver oral and written summaries syntheses, reports, documents, briefing materials, fact sheets, handouts, and summaries of climate science relevant to fish and wildlife management partners.
  • Work as part of interdisciplinary team to understand and communicate impacts of climate to species and habitat to scientist and resource managers.
  • Assist with development, execution, and management of research projects to address climate impacts to priority species and habitats.
  • Operate a government owned motor vehicle as an incidental driver.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
  • Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year trial period.
  • More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
  • Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record.

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?

  • Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment.  Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued.
  • A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
  • Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualifications

For information on basic qualifications, which includes information on whether you may substitute education for specialized experience, please click on the following:

For GS-0150:  https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/geographer-gs-0150

For GS-1301:  https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/physical-scientist-gs-1301


In addition to the basic education requirements, you must have 1-year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service. Examples include:

For GS-0150-11: 1) locating, examining, evaluating and selecting, from a variety of source materials, information for use in depicting the location and standardizing the nomenclature of physical and humane features on a map, chart or in a gazetteer; 2) determining the distribution of like phenomena (e.g., deciduous vegetation or precipitation) over Eastern U.S., or comparing the distribution of two or three different kinds of phenomena, e.g., deciduous vegetation and precipitation; 3) providing assistance to a higher-graded researcher on small, self-contained studies. Examples 1 & 2 included independent responsibility for small projects or significant segments of larger projects. Discrepancies may have arisen in source materials. Judgment was used to resolve the less difficult problems; a higher-level authority resolved the most difficult problems. Work was carried out in accordance with established procedures and criteria. For example 3, extensive and precise instructions were provided and the project leader was readily available for consultation and guidance.

For GS-0150-12: 1) assembling information concerning the location and nomenclature of physical and cultural phenomena covering an area the size of Canada, and making determinations in the more difficult cases regarding location and nomenclature to appear on a map, etc. to insure standardization of such information; 2) compiling and synthesizing geographic data to show and compare the distribution of various features and events; 3) performing analytic and interpretive work concerned with determining and explaining the interrelationships existing between or among two or three varieties of phenomena. Examples 1 & 2 required a high degree of independence in planning and carrying out the assignments, selecting the approach or methodology to be used, resolving most of the conflicts that arose, and coordinating the work with others as necessary. The work usually involved established methods and conventional techniques and involved assisting in or partial responsibility for changing and modifying established procedures and precedents. Example 3 required independence in the execution of the research process, except for conferring with the supervisor at intermediate stages to assure that the approaches taken were effective and sound.

For GS-1301-11: independent responsibility for a well-defined study or for a phase of a larger study that required the planning and carrying out of routine physical science work. This work would have required the individual to select and make minor adaptations to procedures and accepted practices and handle unexpected conditions arising in the normal course of the work. At this level, physical scientists have the ability to independently perform moderately difficult and responsible scientific work.

For GS-1301-12: planning and executing complex physical science studies, which usually involved intensive investigations into recognized phenomena. This work typically involved conventional methods and techniques though it required going beyond clear precedents, and required adapting methods to the problems at hand and interpreting findings in terms of their scientific significance. At this level, physical scientists have the ability to independently perform scientific work of considerable difficulty.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

  • 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.
  • Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .

Additional information

  • Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
  • Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.
  • Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position.
  • USGS employees are subject to Title 43, USC Section 31(a) and may not: (a) have any personal, private, direct or indirect interest in lands or mineral wealth of lands under survey; (b) have any substantial personal, private, direct or indirect interests in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business with the United States; or (c) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations.
  • The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.
  • DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.  
  • THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

How you will be evaluated

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

--Vacancy Related Questions: As part of the online application process, you will need to respond to a series of questions designed to assess your possession of the following knowledge skills, abilities and/or competencies: Modeling Knowledge, Scientific Knowledge, Information Management, Compute/Analyze Data, Disseminate Data, Written Communication, Compile/Analyze Data, Interpersonal Communication, Program/Project Management, Plan and Organize Work.

--Basis of rating:  Category rating will be used in the ranking and selection process for this position. The quality categories are Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified. You will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position. If you are eligible, your on-line responses to the application questions will determine your placement in the appropriate quality category described above. Your responses must be substantiated by your resume. If you do not respond to the application questions you may be rated ineligible. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.

--NOTE: If it is determined that you have rated yourself higher than is supported in your description of experience and/or education as described in your resume/application, or that your resume or application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible, not qualified, or your score may be lowered.


To preview questions please click here.

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