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Space Scientist, GS-1330-13/14 (DE/CR)

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

Summary

Monster Government Solutions (MGS) will be performing scheduled maintenance between Saturday, December 18th at 12:01 a.m. ET and Saturday, December 18th at 11:59 p.m. ET. You may not be able to complete the application process during this time.

This position is located in the National Weather Service (NWS), National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), with one vacancy in Boulder, CO.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
12/10/2021 to 12/27/2021
Salary
$101,028 to - $155,196 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13 - 14
Location
Boulder, CO
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - Up to 25% of Domestic and Foreign may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14 - If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you may be non-competitively promoted if you perform successfully and if recommended by management.
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
NWS-NCEP-2022-0012
Control number
626285400

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Duties

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As a Space Scientist, you will perform the following duties:

  • Serve as a senior-level scientist, developing and maintaining expertise in space weather observations and data assimilation for modeling elements of the space environment relevant to customer needs.
  • Serve as an expert providing guidance and direction regarding space weather measurements, instrumentation, and observations.
  • Establish Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) requirements and priorities for space weather observations ensuring that current and future observational capabilities meet the needs and requirements of forecasters and the customers of space weather products and services.
  • Coordinate with external and international partners to ensure SWPC observational needs are understood and adequately addressed.
  • Work with the space weather forecasters and the operational forecast office to better understand the needs and requirements of forecasters and the customers of space weather products and services.

These duties are described at the full performance level (FPL) GS-14, the GS-13 is developmental leading to such performance.

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 registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
  • Qualifications requirements must be met by closing date of announcement.
  • Must be suitable for Federal employment.

As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee’s duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination by November 22, 2021 or before appointment or onboarding with the agency, if after November 22. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of the agency a legally required exception from this requirement.

Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement within 45 days. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the agency’s telework policy. 

The position requires a Moderate Risk Security Clearance.

* A one year probationary period may be required.

*
Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.

*
This position is in the bargaining unit.

Applicants must meet ALL application requirements, to include online resume, by 11:59p.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: https://www.opm.gov/policy.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience OR substitution of education for experience OR combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements:

EDUCATION:

A. Degree: in one or a combination of astronomy, physics, mathematics, space science, or electronics. The course work must have included differential and integral calculus and 12 semester hours in astronomy and/or physics

OR

B. Combination of education and experience: at least 30 semester hours of courses equivalent to a major in any combination of astronomy, space science, physics, mathematics, and electronics, with required course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

AND

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: 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: 

  • Experience with space weather observations and instrumentation; and
  • Experience participating in setting requirements for space weather observations.

To qualify at the GS-14 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-13 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: 

  • Working with partners on establishing space weather observation requirements;
  • Designing program or projects related to the space weather observations; and
  • Coordinating the transfer of new and emerging space weather products and services into an operational environment.

Education

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

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.

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 ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management’s Career Transition Resources website at: 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) and place you in one of the three pre-defined categories.  The categories are “gold”, “silver” and “bronze”.  However, your resume or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered.  Candidates placed in the “gold” category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

How you will be evaluated for preference eligibility:  Within each category, those entitled to veterans’ preference will be listed at the top of the pre-defined category for which they are placed.  For more information on Category Rating, please go to Category Rating.

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

GS-13 ONLY:

  • Ability to coordinate projects that lead to the development and transition of space weather measurements, instrumentation, and observations.
  • Ability to collaborate with various stakeholders regarding space weather.

GS-14 ONLY:

  • Ability to oversee projects that lead to the development and transition of space weather measurements, instrumentation, and observations.
  • Ability to collaborate with various stakeholders regarding space weather products and services.

ALL GRADES:

  • Knowledge of solar-terrestrial physics and the processes that control solar activity.
  • Ability to utilize space weather measurements, instrumentation, and observations.
  • Knowledge of observations relevant to space weather forecasting.

NOTE: A Subject Matter Expert (SME) will participate in the evaluation process.


To preview questions please click here.

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