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Physical Scientist (Air)

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

Summary

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource. 

For additional information about the BLM, please visit Our website.

This position is located in Vernal, Utah. Information about Vernal and the area can be found at here.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
04/03/2020 to 04/13/2020
Salary
$76,721 to - $99,741 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Vernal, UT
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - At times, travel for field work, meetings and/or training may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Travel and relocation expenses will be paid consistent with the Federal Travel Regulations and Departmental policy. The use of a relocation service company and home marketing incentive will not be offered. To view FAQs regarding PCS, copy and paste the following link in our web browser: http://on.doi.gov/Wg6iXi and then press enter.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
UT-DEU-2020-0024
Control number
564775800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens - No previous Federal Service is required.

Duties

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This position serves as an Air Quality Specialist for the Green River District. Major duties include but are not limited to: 

  • Develops the District air quality program and ensures that all Bureau activities are consistent with national and statewide policies and priorities.
  • Coordinates the District’s overall climate and air quality programs (monitoring, modeling, permitting, and legal compliance) with state and federal regulatory agencies to ensure projects are consistent with all regulatory requirements.
  • Provides technical guidance and mentoring to Field Office level natural resource specialists.
  • Carries out and or approves air quality analysis for all projects with the potential to impact air or climate resources.
  • Recommends mitigation measures to protect air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Writes and/or reviews air quality and climate change analysis for long range management plans, other NEPA documents, multiple use management proposals, and permitting.
  • Prepares responses to air and climatic issues raised through administrative processes.
  • Provides technical leadership to the Field Offices.

Physical demands: The work involves 25% or less outside work. Outside work demands climbing, hiking, bending often over rough uneven surfaces or mountainous terrain and sometimes in extreme weather and road conditions and at various times of the night.

Work Environment: The job involves a combination of office and field work as well as occasional travel. Field work is performed over a wide range of conditions. The field season generally runs from April through November. It will be necessary to conduct some studies in winter months. There is regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks and discomforts such as very low temperatures, adverse weather conditions, and similar situations.

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" and "Required Documents" Sections
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license; or
  • have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal lands
  • Direct Deposit Required

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

Qualifications

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:  This position has a positive education requirement which requires that:

You must 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: education equivalent to one of the majors shown above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

You must submit your transcripts that clearly state your undergraduate/graduate degree(s) and submit your college transcripts.

In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, applicants must have specialized experience and/or directly related education of the position. In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade of the position to be filled. This experience must also be documented in your resume.  

In addition to the time-in-grade requirements, to qualify at the GS-12 level you must meet the following:

Specialized Experience: Applicants must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of a Physical Scientist (Air Quality). Specialized experience includes; providing technical direction, coordination and support of research in climate and air quality; developing low impact air quality monitoring methods for development of policy on a state wide level; being a lead or member of an interdisciplinary team working on planning and environmental analysis processes, principles, and practices; and communicating technical and non-technical information to a diverse audience.

Please see "Required Documents" of this announcement.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the specialized experience as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must be adequately reflected in your resume.

Additional information

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.

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. 

Telework: The Bureau of Land Management has determined that the duties of this position maybe suitable for telework.

This position may require completion of a one year probationary period.

BLM may use certain incentives, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract high quality applicants.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP 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. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form. CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they fall within the Well or Best Qualified categories on the rating criteria for this position. 

Travel and relocation expenses will be paid consistent with the Federal Travel Regulations and Departmental policy. The use of a relocation service company and home marketing incentive will not be offered. To view FAQ regarding PCS click Here.

How you will be evaluated

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

After the vacancy closes, a review of your application package will be made to ensure you meet all 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. 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:

KSA 1: Expert and professional knowledge of 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.

KSA 2: In depth knowledge of legal mandates, policies, and regulations relating to the air resource program.

KSA 3: Familiarity and professional knowledge of other resource disciples including oil, gas, and coal development in order to work effectively on interdisciplinary teams. 

KSA 4: 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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