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Physical Scientist, GS-1301-13 (MAP)

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

Summary

This position is located in the National Weather Service (NWS), Analyze, Forecast and Support Office (AFSO) with one vacancy in Silver Spring, Maryland.

This position is also announced under vacancy number NWS-2018-0131, which is open to all US Citizens or Nationals. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

* A one year probationary period may be required.

* Payment of relocation expenses is authorized.

* This position is in the bargaining unit.

NOTES:

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Physical Scientist, GS-1301-13 positions throughout NOAA. The position must be alike (e.g.: within the same geographic locations, same grade/band and requires the same qualifications and specialized experience as indicated in this vacancy announcement).

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
04/04/2018 to 04/17/2018
Salary
$96,970 to - $126,062 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
Silver Spring, MD
1 vacancy
Travel Required
Occasional travel - 10% of domestic travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes— Payment of relocation expenses is authorized.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time / Career or Career-Conditional
Service
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Announcement number
NWS-2018-0130
Control number
495664800

This job is open to

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Duties

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As a Physical Scientist, you will perform the following:

  • Collect, process, and analyze forecast field’s needs and help develop them into requirements to identify and fill gaps in analysis and short-term (0-18 hour) forecasting.
  • Develop and implement validation algorithms for 0-18 hour forecasting tools and innovations in order to improve critical forecasting capabilities to meet the needs of NWS forecasters.
  • Help recommend which 0-18 hour forecast tools will be targeted for investment and implemented to field offices for operational use.
  • Collaborate with the Office of Science and Technology Integration’s OPG (Operations Proving Ground) and NOAA Testbeds on research to operations (R2O) processes to implement tools and techniques for operational use.

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).
  • Time-in-grade/band 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.

Applicants must meet ALL application requirements, to include a complete online resume, by 11:59 p.m. EASTERN TIME (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

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 requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of specialized experience in order to be found minimally qualified. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:

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 of 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-

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 GS-13 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

  • Assessing techniques for increasing the efficacy and efficiency of a meteorological or environmental program;
  • Using technical expertise to write reports on meteorological or environmental subjects, or programs for forecasting;
  • Using tools for assimilating, analyzing and exploiting forecast or environmental data; and
  • Briefing scientific personnel on meteorological or environmental data.

Education

Substitution of education for specialized experience is not applicable to this vacancy.

Additional information

CTAP and 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 CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management’s Career Transition Resources website at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

  1. A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
  2. A copy of your SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action”, noting current position, grade level, and duty location;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
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). However, your resume or optional cover letter 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.

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

  • Knowledge of advanced theoretical and applied meteorology, hydrology and applied research methods in order to research, identify and implement new forecast techniques.
  • Ability to find, verify, validate, and write code to validate new tools and innovations for short-term forecasting.
  • Skill in writing technical reports or procedural documents for meteorological or environmental programs.
  • Ability to collaborate with scientists or other personnel from both internal and external organizations.
Due weight shall be given to performance appraisals and awards in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3), during the interview/selection process conducted by the hiring manager. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.

To preview questions please click here.

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