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Interdisciplinary Physical Scientist/Meteorologist/Oceanographer

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Office of Renewable Energy Programs
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) manages the exploration and development of the nation's offshore resources. It seeks to appropriately balance economic development, energy independence, and environmental protection through oil and gas leases, renewable energy development and environmental reviews and studies. For information about our bureau go to: http://www.boem.gov/

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
03/16/2023 to 03/29/2023
Salary
$94,199 to - $145,617 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Locations
FEW vacancies in the following locations:
Sterling, VA
Location Negotiable After Selection
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
BOEM-MMEE-23-DB-070 (MP)
Control number
713232100

Duties

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This position is located within the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Renewable Energy Programs.

This position is being advertised as both location negotiable after selection and with a duty station of Sterling, Virginia with the option of telework. If applying to "negotiable after selection", this means that your duty station will be based on your home address and you will be a full-time remote worker. If applying to a specific duty station, you may be allowed to telework a set number of day(s) per pay period, with supervisory approval.

A recruitment or relocation incentive may be offered at the discretion of management.

At the full performance level (GS-13) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:
This is an interdisciplinary position in OREP's Engineering and Technical Review Branch for Renewable Energy (ETRB) focused on renewable energy offshore development. The position is directly related to the design, fabrication, installation, and assessment of renewable energy facilities and associated infrastructure on the OCS. You will perform scientific analyses, serve as an expert staff scientist for analysis of meteorological and physical oceanographic conditions, provide guidance on development and maintenance of a renewable energy facility database and on the development of design standards for renewable energy facilities on the OCS, and serve on committees as a subject matter expert for development of technology studies and technical standards. Specific duties include:
1) Reviewing and analyzing the meteorologic and/or oceanographic data and modeling tools and their relation to the structural design aspects of submitted plans, reports and applications.
2) Using scientific principles and existing standards and classification schemes to evaluate proposals for renewable energy projects that could include met-towers or buoys, wind turbines (both bottom founded or floating), or marine hydrokinetic installations and to identify subject areas which may need additional study.
3) Working with applicants, lessees, grant holders and operators and their representatives to determine if survey proposals and data obtained, and/or modeled, support the engineering design aspects of an application, plan or report and are satisfactory for safe operation on the OCS.
4) Coordinating efforts with other Bureau staff, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and other Federal agencies and serving on interagency committees.
5) Preparing reports, memos and other documentation on the most complex facility issues using scientific and engineering principles or analyses.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisory permission.

Salary Information

Salaries listed below are for Sterling, Virginia only. If you apply to 'location negotiable after selection', your pay will be set for the town in which you live.


GS-12, Step 1: $94,199.00 - GS-12, Step 10: $122,459.00 per annum.

GS-13, Step 1: $112,015.00- GS-13, Step 10: $145,617.00 per annum.

First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level.

This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

This vacancy is also being announced under Competitive Examining procedures. Applicants who wish to be considered under competitive examining procedures may apply to announcement number BOEM-MMEE-23-DB-071 (DEU).

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  1. You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  2. You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
  3. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
  4. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.
  5. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/.

Qualifications

Experience working with offshore facility design is desirable but not required.

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

To qualify for this position you must meet the (1) Basic Educational Requirements AND (2) Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.

(1) Basic Educational Requirements

1301 Series (Physical Scientist):

  1. Degree: 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

  2. 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.
SUBMISSION OF TRANSCRIPTS IS REQUIRED.

1340 Series (Meteorology):


A. Degree: meteorology, atmospheric science, or other natural science major that included:
1. At least 24 semester (36 quarter) hours of credit in meteorology/atmospheric science including a minimum of:
a.
Six semester hours of atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics;
b. Six semester hours of analysis and prediction of weather systems (synoptic/mesoscale);
c. Three semester hours of physical meteorology; and.
d. Two semester hours of remote sensing of the atmosphere and/or instrumentation.


2. Six semester hours of physics, with at least one course that includes laboratory sessions.
*3.
Three semester hours of ordinary differential equations.
*4.
At least nine semester hours of course work appropriate for a physical science major in any combination of three or more of the following: physical hydrology, statistics, chemistry, physical oceanography, physical climatology, radiative transfer, aeronomy, advanced thermodynamics, advanced electricity and magnetism, light and optics, and computer science.

* There is a prerequisite or corequisite of calculus for course work in atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics, physics, and differential equations. Calculus courses must be appropriate for a physical science major.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

SUBMISSION OF TRANSCRIPTS IS REQUIRED.

1360 Series (Oceanography):

A. Degree: major study of at least 24 semester hours in oceanography or a related discipline such as physics, meteorology, geophysics, mathematics, chemistry, engineering, geology, or biology, plus 20 additional semester hours in any combination of oceanography, physics, geophysics, chemistry, mathematics, meteorology, computer science, and engineering sciences.
OR

B. Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Applicants who qualify on the basis of major study in biology or geology must have had at least 6 semester hours in the major directly concerned with marine science or 6 semester hours in oceanography; applicants who qualify on the basis of other physical sciences or engineering must have had differential and integral calculus and at least 6 semester hours in physics.


SUBMISSION OF TRANSCRIPTS IS REQUIRED.

(2) Specialized Experience

To qualify for the GS-12, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
1) Employing physical science, oceanographic and an emphasis on meteorological concepts, principles, standards, and practices;
2) Utilizing scientific techniques to understand, interpret, and evaluate wind resources and climate, wind wake effects, coastal radar impacts and/or met-ocean conditions; and
3) Using site characterization techniques, analysis techniques, computer modeling and equipment to review facility designs.

Must meet all.

To qualify for the GS-13, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
1) Employing physical science, oceanographic and an emphasis on meteorological concepts, principles, standards and practices and their application to the design and to projects in a marine environment;
2) Utilizing scientific techniques to understand, interpret, and evaluate wind resources and climate, wind wake effects, coastal radar impacts and/or met-ocean conditions;
3) Using site characterization techniques, analysis techniques, computer modeling and equipment to review facility designs; and
4) Writing technical reports, briefings, and/or summaries to keep management and the program office up to date with relevant scientific and technical discoveries.

Must meet all.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Merit Promotion candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

Education: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements.

Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the specific educational requirements as stated above. 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: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

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.

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.

Important Note: All Department of the Interior (DOI) employees are subject to the conflict of interest restrictions imposed upon all employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and may be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report. In addition, DOI employees, GS-15 and above, who work in the Office of the Secretary; along with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) employees (at ALL grade levels), are further restricted concerning their interests in Federal lands and resources administered or controlled by the Department of the Interior. This includes holding stock in energy corporations which lease Federal lands (e.g.: oil, gas, coal, alternative energy resources, etc.). If you have any such investments you should contact the DOI, BOEM or BSEE Ethics Office before accepting employment. DOI employees are held to the highest level of integrity. Employees must be objective and impartial in the performance of their work. All potential issues (e.g.: work-related interactions with friends, family members, or previous employers) must be disclosed at the time of application or during the interview process.

NOTICE: This employer participates in E-Verify and will utilize your Form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.
A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The preliminary background check consists of a search of Office of Personnel Management and Department of Defense background investigation files and an FBI National Criminal History Fingerprint Check; it may take up to 3 weeks to complete. If selected for this position, you will be extended a tentative offer of employment pending a satisfactory background check. Current Federal employees or individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check; these will be handled on a case-by-case basis in coordination with the Bureau security office.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online assessment will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. The best qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

Your answers to the on-line assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

Technical Competence: Knowledge and judgment to identify, analyze and resolve complex problems, particularly as they relate to atmospheric climate and weather conditions and site characterization.

DUE WEIGHT
Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process.

If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.

To preview the assessment questionnaire click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11883951

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