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Physical Scientist (STEM)

Department of Defense
Defense Threat Reduction Agency
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is part of the Department of Defense. The incumbent will serve as a Scientific Advisor to the assigned Technical Support Group (TSG) Chief in the Contingency Operations Department (NECO) and provides scientific and technical expertise to DoD, National Security Staff, and other USG D/As senior officials to prevent, protect from, respond to, and recover from radiological/nuclear (R/N) threats or incidents.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
10/05/2021 to 11/08/2021
Salary
$79,468 to - $103,309 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Kaiserslautern, Germany
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
OS-DTRA-22-11252376-DH
Control number
616531400

Duties

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This position is being filled under GW-008 Issued October 11, 2018. DoD Modified Direct Hire Authority, dated October 11, 2018.

As a Physical Scientist (STEM) at the GS-1301-13 some of your typical work assignments may include:

  • Serving as the TSG expert and authority for emergency response capabilities, programs, Science & Technology (S&T), operations, and U.S. policies addressing the R/N threat.
  • Participate as a member of the Technical Support Group (TSG) to deploy in support of Combatant Commander and other federal D/As in R/N emergency response events and training.
  • Provide expert scientific, technical, policy advice, opinions and recommendations.
  • Serve as focal point by providing support and input into program planning, management, review, and oversight of specific Research and Development programs related to radiological/nuclear matters.
  • Develop authoritative analysis and reports.
  • Conduct formal presentations and briefings within DTRA, other DoD components and agencies, federal D/A's, and allied partners on R/N response capabilities, technical challenges, program, and policies.
  • Provide input to the planning and conducting of major studies of extreme difficulty involving key DTRA and DoD national defense and other U.S. D/As/R/N programs, national security policies, and regulatory requirements, to include relevant Host-Nation (HN) and international requirements, to provide findings and technical solutions.
We are seeking a candidate with a strong academic background in nuclear science or nuclear engineering, such as might be attained via a Ph.D. degree program, and past experience in radiological/nuclear (R/N) detection. The candidate should be able to analyze R/N threats and related detection problems in order to provide operational, scientific and policy solutions to the Contingency and Exercises Department and supported units. The candidate's background in R/N detection development and detection theory should accompany the ability to effectively communicate and instruct both technical and non-technical audiences, from the individual to the senior official level, in conducting effective R/N search operations. The prospective candidate should have experience in the interpretation of both detection and spectroscopic R/N data, and the operational recommendations that would accompany data analysis and interpretation. The focus of this position is not research, but instead is the training, advising and assisting of tactical units while deployed into a wide variety of environments.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a US citizen
  • Male born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Resume and supporting documents ( See: How to Apply)
  • Suitable for Federal employment determined by background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Subject to the 5 year foreign area limitation DODI 1400.25-V1230
  • WORK SCHEDULE: Full Time
  • OVERTIME: Occasionally (Overtime/compensatory time may be required to accommodate operational needs of the organization. Must be willing to work overtime during exercise play and real-world crisis.)
  • TOUR OF DUTY: Flexible (Subject to rotational assignments)
  • RECRUITMENT INCENTIVES: May Be Authorized
  • FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: Not Required
  • TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position is telework eligible, on a situational basis.
  • COVID19: All Federal Employees must be fully vaccinated by November 22, 2021. Please see, additional information.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance.
  • Must consent to and pass pre-employment drug testing and be subject to periodic random drug testing thereafter.
  • Travel in the performance of temporary assignments may be required up to 25% of duty time. Must be willing to spend up to (but not limited to) 90 days annually in temporary duty travel, sometimes on short notice, in the U.S. and foreign countries.
  • This position is Emergency-Essential (E-E).
  • Subject to the Lautenberg Amendment. This position authorizes the incumbent to carry a firearm. Must be able to qualify with a pistol according to Army standards.
  • This position requires pre-employment and annual deployment physical exams, which will be evaluated by DTRA Occupational Health professionals to determine if deployability criteria are met.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid passport.

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS-13 , if you fulfill the specialized experience and education requirements below:

1. Specialized Experience: one year of specialized experienceequivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service as listed below:

  • Analyze radiological/nuclear (R/N) threats and related detection problems in order to provide operational, scientific and policy solutions to the organization and supported units.
  • Utilize field radiological/nuclear (R/N) detectors and apply knowledge of field detection capabilities and limitations, with experience interpreting both detection and spectroscopic R/N data and making operational recommendations.
  • Calculate the effects of radiation shielding for both detection and force protection.
  • Apply knowledge of nuclear weapon designs and radiological threats in support of emergency response events.
  • Participate in radiological/nuclear (R/N) response operations, exercises and training.
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.

-AND-

2. Education (You must meet either A or B): In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 1301, series as listed below:

A. Physical Scientist(1301) series: 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.Please review the General Application Information and Definitions at:http://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo.pdf

You will be evaluated on the following competencies:


Please review the General Application Information and Definitions at:
http://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo.pdf

INFORMATION FOR OVERSEAS: Overseas tour of duty for is projected to be 36 months.
You may be required sign a Transportation Agreement.

- Incumbent may be subject to the 5-year foreign area limitation according to the DoDI 1400.25-V1230, dated 26 July2012.

- Applicants who are currently stationed overseas, must have enough time to meet the initial tour stated above.

Applicants who have returned from an overseas tour, and have not been physically present in the United States (CONUS) or Non foreign area for 2 continuous years, may require a waiver. NOTE: If you have not completed 5 years overseas and return to a CONUS assignment, that time spent overseas counts towards the 5 year limitation, unless you have been in the States for at least 2 continuous years.
.
- Medical Care: Applicants who have family members with special medical needs should ensure that prior to accepting a position overseas their family members' medical needs can be met. Access to care in a military treatment facility may not be available to civilian employees except on a space available basis. Consequently, host nation medical facilities may be the only care available. The availability and level of care at host nation medical facilities will vary by location.

- Applicants hired from the Continental United States (CONUS) and their family members (who are US citizens) are required to obtain Official Passports prior to departure to the overseas area.

- May be subjected to a variety of environmental conditions typical of the overseas areas in which traveling, to include the potential for exposure to acts of terrorism.

- Payment for travel and transportation expenses may be authorized. This includes government paid travel
transportation, shipment and temporary storage of household goods, and possibly other entitlements based
upon the JTR and agency policy. You may be required to sign a transportation agreement. Most civilian permanent change of station travel entitlements are taxable.

- For additional information on the tax impact, please visit:
https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction.html

- For more information on overseas allowances and benefits, please visit: https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=282&menu_id=101

Education

Substitution of education may NOT be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

Transcripts must be submitted to verify qualifying education (as detailed in the Qualifications section above). All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

This position is Emergency-Essential (E-E). In the event of a crisis situation, the incumbent, or designated alternate, must continue to perform the E-E duties until relieved by proper authority. The incumbent or the designated alternate may be required to take part in readiness exercises. The position cannot be vacated during a national emergency or mobilization without seriously impairing the capability of the organization to function effectively; therefore, the position is designated "key" which requires the incumbent, or designated alternate, to be screened from military recall status.

Lautenberg Amendment: This position authorizes the incumbent to carry a firearm. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (Title 18, U.S.C., Section 922 (g) (91). Candidates who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are not qualified for this position. Candidates under consideration will be required to certify whether they have ever been convicted of such an offense. False or fraudulent information provided by candidates is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment (Title 18, U.S.C. Section 1001).

Pre-employment and annual deployment physical exams are required. Must meet the physical requirements and the medical requirements for deployment before and throughout employment.

The position is subject to rotation to locations in the U.S. and to locations outside the continental U.S.

Incumbent will participate in specialized classroom and field training related to the position.

Must be capable of lifting and carrying, for short distances, loads up to 50 pounds, standing for long periods (8 hours), and be able to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including a protective mask and body armor.

At times, the incumbent may be exposed to CBRN hazards as well as hostile forces. The incumbent may be required to participate in the DoD Immunization Program. The work may require long hours in a field environment and under austere conditions.

Completed formal course work in nuclear chemistry, nuclear/sub-atomic physics or nuclear engineering preferred. Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Chemistry or Nuclear Engineering and experience in R/N detection/analysis sciences is desired.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

COVID19 - All Federal Employees must be fully vaccinated by November 22, 2021. Proof of vaccination will be required. To ensure compliance with this mandate, please review the vaccination requirements, to include timelines for receiving required doses, at the following: https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/faq/vaccinations/

How you will be evaluated

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

REVIEW OF APPLICATION DOCUMENTS (FOR ALL APPLICANTS):
To determine if you meet the qualifications, requirements and quality of experience required for this position, we review your resume, supporting documents and responses to the questionnaire. The score you receive is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the competencies required. If, after this review, we determine that you inflated your qualifications and/or experience we can and will adjust your score to more accurately reflect your qualifications for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully as errors or omissions may affect your rating.

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