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Physical Scientist - TERM (LRT-DEU)

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Reclamation
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Reclamation is seeking a professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on his/her expertise as a Physical Scientist in the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (MSCP). You can make a difference by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

LOCATION: Lower Colorado Region, LC River MSCP Office, Adaptive Management Group, Boulder City, NV. 

Relocation expenses are not authorized and additional vacancies may be filled.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
12/09/2019 to 01/03/2020
Salary
$52,049 to - $98,126 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 09 - 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Boulder City, NV
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel to meetings and field up to 10%
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - This appointment is for 13 months NTE 4 years. Management reserves the right to extend or terminate the appointment based on the need(s) of the mission.
Work schedule
Full-time - FULL TIME
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
BR-LC-DE-19-130
Control number
553797200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All United States Citizens and Nationals.

Duties

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At the full performance level, incumbent:

  • Uses enterprise tools (ArcGIS Server, ArcGIS Pro, Enterprise Architect, X-Ray for ArcCatalog) to design, develop, and implement databases following industry standard database lifecycle steps with a focus on requirements analysis.
  • Reviews specification development, acquisition, and quality assurance for geospatial, LiDAR, remote sensing, and ground survey data that are required to support geospatial analysis and display work tasks planned by Lower Colorado River Multi Species Conservation Program (LC River MSCP) staff.
  • Develops analytical workflows for straightforward and efficient analysis and display of complex spatial interrelationships including identification of trends, patterns, and relationships between multiple geographic themes.
  • Provides cartographic support to LCR MSCP staff for developing mapping products and assists them in reviewing geospatial data for accuracy, appropriateness, and subsequent analysis.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship or U.S. National;
  • Suitable for Federal Employment, determined by background investigation;
  • You must meet all qualifications for this position at time of application;
  • For veterans consideration, submit document(s) under Required documents;
  • Submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including any selective factors, by the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must first meet the Basic Education Qualification Requirements listed below:
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 1 above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
GS-09: In order to qualify for the GS-09 grade level, your resume must reflect one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-07 grade level; OR 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree OR master's or equivalent graduate degree.

Specialized Experience for GS-09: Defined as experience integrating and applying Geographic Information System (GIS) applications using GIS related software/hardware to meet natural resources related objectives.

GS-11: In order to qualify for the GS-11 grade level, your resume must reflect one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-09 grade level; OR A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D degree.

Specialized Experience for GS-11: Defined as experience developing, conducting and analyzing geospatial data using geoprocessing automation.

GS-12: In order to qualify for the GS-12 grade level, your resume must reflect one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-11 grade level. 

Specialized Experience for GS-12: Defined as experience developing and conducting advanced geoprocessing tasks, designing and developing automated spatial and tabular data workflow processes, and producing automated mapping products.

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. 

Your resume must clearly reflect the experience/education listed above. In determining qualifications, the Human Resources specialist may not make assumptions. If your resume does not clearly reflect the required experience/education, your application will be marked as ineligible.

Education

This position has a mandatory education requirement; you must furnish a copy of your transcript of college work completed (unofficial copy is acceptable). Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. Non-submission will result in you being rated not qualified for the position.

Foreign Education:  To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, applicants must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs.

Additional information

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. For more information visit: http://www.sss.gov.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability and genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor.

Probationary Period: Placement in this position requires you to complete a one-year probationary period.

E-Verify: 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.

Optional Form 306 (OF-306): Before final selection, you will be required to sign and certify the accuracy of the information in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.

Background Investigation/Security Clearance: If selected, you will be subject to a background investigation as a condition of placement/retention in this position.  A background investigation will be required for all new hires AND current employees who are not currently covered by a satisfactorily adjudicated Federal background investigation commensurate with the sensitivity designation of this position.

Telework: Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval. Full time telework is not available.

Promotion Potential: If you are selected at the lower grades, promotions may be made at a later date without further competition. However, identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote you at some future date. Such promotions will depend upon administrative approval, the continuing need for an actual assignment and the demonstrated performance of higher level duties.  Full performance level is GS-12.

Time Limited Appointment: This appointment is for 13 months not-to-exceed 4 years and may be terminated earlier at the supervisors discretion. 

How you will be evaluated

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

Human Resources (HR) will review resumes and transcript(s) if applicable, to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. Category rating and selection procedures will be used for evaluating this position. If you meet the basic qualification requirements, your on-line responses to the vacancy assessment questionnaire will be used to determine the quality and extent of your experience, education, training, etc., for placement in one of the following categories: 1) Best Qualified, 2) Well Qualified and 3) Qualified. Qualified candidates will be assigned a numerical score on a scale of 70-100 and Veterans with preference will be placed at the top of their respective category. The assessment questionnaire will take you approximately 45 minutes to complete.

Applicants will be further evaluated on the following “Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)” or “Job Elements” for BB positions through your resume and responses to the online questions.

KSA#1: Professional knowledge of and skill in applying advanced data management and geospatial theories, concepts, and principles to environmental monitoring projects in order to serve as the data steward/data expert to the LCR MSCP in implementing a science-based adaptive management program.
KSA#2: Professional skills and technical expertise in conducting advanced geoprocessing tasks and workflows using ESRI ArcGIS Desktop, ESRI ArcGIS Pro, ESRI ArcGIS Server, ESRI ArcGIS Online, and ESRI Maps for SharePoint products.
KSA#3: Expert knowledge of the design and development of automated spatial and tabular data workflow processes using Python, ArcPy, ArcGIS REST API, ArcGIS API for Python, and SQL.
KSA#4: Ability to effectively communicate geospatial capabilities and solutions to wide array of interdisciplinary scientists, engineers and managers.

Your answers to questions will be verified against information provided in your online resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports the responses to all the questions by addressing experience, education and/or training relevant to this position.  Applicants must make a fair and accurate assessment of their qualifications. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is apparent in your description of experience, competencies, skills, and/or education/training OR that your resume/application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible or your score may be lowered.

You must be clear when describing your experience, we may not make assumptions in determining qualifications.  If your resume does not clearly reflect all of the above experience, your application will be marked as ineligible.


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