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Supervisory Environmental Scientist/Supervisory Physical Scientist, ZP-0401/1301-5 (Direct Hire)

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

Summary

This is a Direct Hire Public Notice. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) with one vacancy in Seattle, WA.

Overview

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Open & closing dates
01/25/2022 to 02/07/2022
Salary
$144,815 to - $176,300 per year
Pay scale & grade
ZP 5
Location
Seattle, WA
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - Up to 25% of domestic or foreign travel may be required for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Payment of relocation expenses is authorized.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
5
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
No
Announcement number
OAR-PMEL-2022-0003
Control number
632675400

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Duties

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As a Supervisory Environmental Scientist/Supervisory Physical Scientist, you will perform the following duties:

  • Serve as the Deputy Director for the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL). Responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing a full range of administrative and management operations and services. Serve with full delegation of authority as Acting Director in the Director’s absence, and is authorized to represent PMEL to that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) management levels, and to external organizations regarding management, policy, and operations issues.
  • Provide leadership and direction for the formulation, design, and execution of short- and long-range research studies and projects associated with at-sea research, and other projects in the disciplines of oceanography, marine meteorology, geology, chemistry, ecology and biology, which advance the mission and goals of the program. Promote PMEL research to, and maintain, beneficial relations with internal and external organizations.
  • Perform supervisory functions over the Division’s multidisciplinary staff, including: evaluating work performance of subordinate supervisors; developing performance standards; and giving advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters.
  • Responsible for the overall management and supervision of the lab’s ship operations, science data integration and software development, and outreach activities.
  • Oversee the planning, development, and execution of the Division budget and perform acquisition responsibilities for contracts and interagency agreements, including PMEL’s at-sea research and data collection activities, and administrative programs to support technical program needs, consisting of: personnel management; budget and fiscal; contracting procurement and supply activities; property management, negotiation, and execution of leases; and related support functions. Has the signature authority to approve $10 Million in grants to various Cooperative Institutes, $14 Million in Federal labor and $10 Million in supplies and services.

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)
  • Qualifications requirements must be met by closing date of announcement.
  • If selected, required to complete OGE Form 450 financial disclosure.

·         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. 

This position requires a Top Secret clearance in order to attend classified meetings such as the Climate Security Advisory Council where various science agencies collaborate with intelligence agencies to assess and evaluate national climate threats.

This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). This system replaced the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band. 

The ZP-5 is equivalent to the GS-15. 

Category Rating, Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to this Public Notice.

* A one year supervisory probationary period may be required.

* Payment of relocation expenses is authorized.

* This position is not in the bargaining unit.

If an applicant is referred to the hiring office for further consideration, during the interview process the office may schedule an open Q&A session between applicants and laboratory staff. This Q&A session will be separate from any formal interviews; feedback from this session will be considered in the selection process.

Qualifications

NOTE:

*This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Supervisory Environmental Scientist/Physical Scientist, ZP-0401/1301-5 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).

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: https://www.opm.gov/policy.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position may be filled in either of the below series (0401 or 1301). Each series 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. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:

To qualify for the 0401 series:

EDUCATION:

A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

To qualify for the 1301 series:

EDUCATION:

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

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 ZP-5 or GS-15 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 ZP-4 or GS-14 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

  • Participating in the planning and execution of research projects in one or more of the following areas: oceanography, marine meteorology, geology, chemistry, ecology, biology;
  • Developing and executing a program budget and performing acquisition duties associated with contracts, or agreements; and
  • Performing supervisory functions, such as assigning and reviewing work, evaluating employee performance, addressing employee grievances, and advising on the conduct of their duties.

Education

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 met the minimum qualifications for the position. Information about CTAP and 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.

Veteran’s Preference does not apply to direct hire recruitment procedures.

Any selections made under this notice will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Therefore, Current Federal employees would be given new appointments to the civil service and may have to serve a new probationary period under CFR 315.802 (b).

NOTE: A one year supervisory probationary period will be required under the Direct Hire Authority unless you are a current Department of Commerce employee and are in the same line of work and with no more than a 30 day break in service. 


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