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Physical Science Technician

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

Summary

The COVID-19 vaccination requirement for federal employees pursuant to Executive Order 14043 does not currently apply. Click here for more information.

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

These positions are located around Idaho Falls, ID are. Information about these locations may be found here: Challis, Salmon.

We expect to fill multiple vacancies.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
03/04/2022 to 03/18/2022
This job will close when we have received 75 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$17.31 to - $19.29 per hour
Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 6
Locations
Few vacancies in the following locations:
Challis, ID
Salmon, ID
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
75% or less - Occasional to frequent travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - This is a temporary appointment. Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status and will be for a period not-to-exceed 1039 hours in a service year.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
ID-TEMP-22-11412644
Control number
641046900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens - No previous Federal Service is required. CTAP and ICTAP candidates in the local commuting area.

Duties

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  • Assist professional or higher graded technical personnel by performing varied duties requiring knowledge and understanding of tests, procedures, information, gathering, reporting, and documentation in one or more physical sciences.
  • Survey field sites for basic facts for entry into databases and/or geospatial automated information systems.
  • Carry out data collection and analyses.
  • Prepares reports and answers inquiries, where knowledge and understanding is required to make proper interpretation.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Be sure to read the 'How to Apply' and 'Required Documents' Sections.
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
  • Direct Deposit Required.
  • Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
  • Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

GS-5: You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-4 level working in the fields of astronomy, physics, geophysics, chemistry, hydrology, health physics, engineering, electronics, geology, oceanography, and metallurgy that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: Examples of specialized experience may include performing work that involves using established criteria to collect data. The work directly affects the consistency and accuracy of data and the reliability of analyses and interpretation of data for evaluations and projections and the work of technical and professional personnel and other higher graded employees who rely on the data.
-OR-

Education: Have successfully completed a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (a) with major study in an appropriate field of physical science, or (b) that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as physical science, engineering, or any branch of mathematics, except in financial and commercial mathematics.
-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate undergraduate education.

GS-6: You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-5 level working in the fields of astronomy, physics, geophysics, chemistry, hydrology, health physics, engineering, electronics, geology, oceanography, and metallurgy that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: Examples of specialized experience may include performing work that involves using established criteria, including newly developed procedures, to collect, analyze, and compile data. The work directly affects the consistency and accuracy of data and the reliability of analyses and interpretation of data for evaluations and projections and the work of technical and professional personnel and other higher graded employees who rely on the data.
- OR-

Education: Have completed one year of graduate education or an internship that is directly related to the work of the position.

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.

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

Physical Demands: The work is a mixture of sedentary work in the office and field work that involves some physical exertion, such as long periods of standing; walking over rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; possibly recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities; or requiring lifting of moderately heavy items.

Work Environment: The work involves a mixture of work in the office which is well lit, heated, and air conditioned and where normal safety precautions are adequate, and work in the field under conditions of inclement weather or other discomforts where normal safety precautions must be observed.

Education

Applicants may qualify for the GS-5 grade based on experience, education, or an equivalent combination as described in the Qualifications section of this announcement.

Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position.

If using education to qualify, you must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. See Required Documents section for more information.

Additional information

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply 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, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP

Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

This position is not eligible for Telework.

All positions may not be filled or they may be filled at different times depending on budget, hiring needs, and requirements. These positions are temporary and are expected to last for up to 6 months. These positions have no promotion potential, if you want to be considered for a higher grade you must apply for the higher grade.

If selected from this announcement you may be rehired for identical positions without further competition based on work needs, funding, or any other condition of employment.

If selected from this or a similar competitive, seasonal announcement, your appointment may be creditable for consideration under PL-114-47, Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)?. The Act allows certain individuals, who have or had time-limited appointments at land management agencies, to compete for any permanent position in the competitive service under "internal" merit promotion procedures. For more information, see the section under Eligibility, which starts with Question #15 (Q15. Who is eligible for appointment under these provisions?).

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document, you do not have in electronic form; view the following link for information regarding an Alternative Application

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online questionnaire will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. Qualified applicants will be placed in one of three predefined categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified and Qualified. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Candidates placed in the Best Qualified category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be contacted for an interview.

Your answers to the online questionnaire will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

  • Database Management Systems
  • Mining Engineering
  • Oral Communication

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