Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens

For each major stage of offshore energy and mineral planning and development, BOEM conducts reviews under a suite of environmental laws (e.g., National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)). These reviews and related public engagement help inform the Bureau's decisions on conventional and renewable energy exploration, leasing and development activities, as well as marine mineral activities for coastal restoration projects. Additionally, BOEM's scientists oversee environmental studies to ensure the best available information is used to inform decision- making.

To comply with these environmental laws, BOEM must assess the potential impacts of human-made noise (created by a number of BOEM activities) on marine species in the OCS. In order to better understand and analyze the impacts of these anthropogenic noises, BOEM is establishing an in-house, state-of -the-art Center for Marine Acoustics (CMA), which will include capabilities for developing and running underwater acoustic models. The goal of the CMA is to support all noise-related aspects of BOEM's environmental analyses, including routine NEPA documents, MMPA and ESA consultations, internal BOEM technical reports, and prioritization of scientific studies.

The incumbent serves as an Acoustic Modeler in the Office of Environmental Programs (OEP).

At the full performance level (GS-13) the major duties of this position include but are not limited to the following:

1. Acquires and implements a suite of underwater acoustic propagation models, dedicated marine mammal movement models and supporting software and databases capable of modeling potential acoustic impacts or other important acoustic analyses for all underwater acoustic sources regulated by BOEM. Develops supporting software to link existing models and maintain results of modeling efforts.

2. Uses expertise in scientific discipline and analytical techniques to author or review technical documents related to acoustic modeling or perform specialized analyses on impacts of human-made noise on marine species.

3. Prepares, or assists in preparing documents, Departmental and Bureau correspondence, and briefing materials concerning acoustic issues, including those related to decisions, public or stakeholder inquiries, and or congressional requests. Presents to Bureau and Departmental leadership.

4. Recommends field, laboratory, modeling, and/or synthesis studies necessary to adequately assess the environmental impacts from OCS activities.

5. Coordinates procurement of environmental studies and manages contractual agreements as Contracting Officer Representative. Prepares and reviews statements of work, procurement packages (including government cost-estimates) and evaluates proposals for technical adequacy, programmatic consistency, and cost-effectiveness.

6. Forms and maintains constructive working relationships with other Regional/Program Offices and Interior bureaus. Liaisons with other stakeholders on issues concerning BOEM decision-making, rulemaking, and other aspects of OCS activities dealing with environmental issues and assessment.

7. Represents the findings of BOEM's environmental analysis and research to the public, key stakeholders, and other experts at meetings.

Salary Range Information:
GS-11: $74,950 (step 1) to $97,430 (step 10) per year
GS-12: $89,834 (step 1) to $116,788 (step 10) per year
GS-13: $106,823 (step 1) to $138,868 (step 10) per year

First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level.

This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

Conditions of employment

1. You must be a U.S. Citizen.
2. You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
3. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
4. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.
5. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position you must meet the (1) Basic Educational Requirements AND (2) Specialized Experience for the series/grade to which you are applying.

(1) Basic Educational Requirements:

In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, applicants must meet the Education Requirements described below:

General Engineer- 801:
A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. -OR-
B. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern
(EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)

Physical Scientist 1301:

1. 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-
2. 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.

(2) Specialized Experience

GS-11 Specialized Experience:
To qualify at the GS-11 grade level, you must have at least one FULL year specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as: (must meet both)

1. running established underwater acoustic models; and
2. experience in at least ONE of the following: (1) using computer coding language like Matlab, python, R, C++ or similar; (2) writing own code to process complex data sets; (3) integrating and interpreting model outputs to address targeted technical scenarios and presenting results in written or oral formats; or (4) using applied statistical analysis to analyze complex datasets.

-OR-
Education: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree
-OR-
Combination of education and experience: Possess a combination of post high school education and experience that together meet the qualification requirements for this position.

GS-12 Specialized Experience: (Please note, education cannot be substituted at the GS-12 Grade level and higher)
To qualify at the GS-12 grade level, you must have at least one FULL year specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as: (must meet all 3)

1. running established underwater acoustic models; and
2. modifying and creating underwater acoustic models; and
3. Experience in at least ONE of the following: (1) using computer coding language like Matlab, python, R, C++ or similar; (2) writing own code to process complex data sets; (3) integrating and interpreting model outputs to address targeted technical scenarios and presenting results in written or oral formats; or (4) using applied statistical analysis to analyze complex datasets.

GS-13 Specialized Experience: (Please note, education cannot be substituted at the GS-12 Grade level and higher)
To qualify at the GS-13 grade level, you must have at least one FULL year specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as: (must meet all 3)

1. running established underwater acoustic models;
2. modifying and creating underwater acoustic models; and
3. Experience in at least TWO of the following: (1) using computer coding language like Matlab, python, R, C++ or similar; (2) writing own code to process complex data sets; (3) integrating and interpreting model outputs to address targeted technical scenarios and presenting results in written or oral formats; or (4) using applied statistical analysis to analyze complex datasets.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

For this announcement, all applicants will be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational and specialized experience requirements. Applicants will not be rated or ranked. All applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official. All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated by a resume. If, upon review, it is determined that your resume and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be removed from consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

1. Modeling and Simulation: Knowledge of the tools and techniques used to develop functional, physical, or prototype models and simulations for test and evaluation programs, the prediction of behavior and phenomena, and to visually communicate concepts.
2. Teamwork: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
3. Technical Competence: Knowledge of how to perform one's job. Refers to specialized knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience.
4. Written Communication: Expresses facts and ideas in writing in a succinct and organized manner.

If you are a status applicant (current career or career-conditional Federal employee or former permanent Federal employee with reinstatement eligibility in the competitive service), or are eligible under a special appointing authority and you are selected under this vacancy, you may be subject to serving a new one-year probationary period.

To preview the assessment questionnaire click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11615596