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Supervisory Physical Scientist (Center Director)

Department of the Interior
Geological Survey
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
This job announcement has closed

Summary

What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position?

Salary: $161,139 (Step 01) to $176,300 (Step 10);
NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01

This position is being advertised concurrently with the following announcement: Open to current or former Federal employees under Announcement Number USGS-SAC-22-11643602-ST-ML

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
10/03/2022 to 12/02/2022
Salary
$161,139 to - $176,300 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Santa Cruz, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - Overnight travel of up to 5 nights per month may be required for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—relocation expenses are authorized.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
USGS-SAC-22-11643601-DE-ML
Control number
680994400

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Duties

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As the Center Director for the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, you will be responsible for defining the overall science program of the Science Center and for overseeing the planning, conduct, and completion of all center science activities, which encompass research in coastal and marine hazards and resources. Some of your specific duties will include:

  • Responsible for all aspects of the leadership, administration, operation, and management of the Science Center.
  • Lead and develop collaborations with other USGS Science Centers, Other Federal and State agencies, universities, Tribes, and non-governmental organizations.
  • Responsible for planning, coordinating, executing, and managing broad, research in coastal and marine hazards and resources.
  • Work with the center's science leadership to develop long and short-term science and monitoring strategies in response to current and expected future needs of the Southwest Region and beyond.
  • Manage the Center's science portfolio and core capabilities consistent with USGS mission priorities and oversee the fiscal considerations that support those activities.
  • Provide advice and guidance to top agency management in multidisciplinary earth-science investigations involving coastal and marine sciences at national and regional meetings, seminars, and conferences, actively promoting USGS programs and coordinating with other participants.
  • Engage as a team member with other USGS Science Center Directors in the Southwest Region, Southwest Regional Office Leadership, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, and others, to employ science capabilities in the most effective manner with the highest standards of science quality.
  • Operates a governmental owned or leased vehicle as an incidental driver.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Key Requirements:

  1. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
  2. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
  3. Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period.
  4. Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period, if one has not been previously completed.
  5. Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record.
  6. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?
  • If selected you may be asked to provide information regarding your COVID-19 vaccination status for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols, such as those related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
  • Selectee will be required to file OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Statement, upon reporting and annually.
  • Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment. Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued.
  • A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
  • Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualifications

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Physical Scientist, all grade levels.

A. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours or the equivalent in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

**OR

B. A combination of education and experience--education equivalent to one of the majors shown in "A" above (24 semester hours or the equivalent in physical science, engineering, or mathematics) that included at least 24 semester hours or the equivalent in physical science and/or related engineering science as described above, plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in "A" above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE)

**Copies of ALL unofficial transcripts are required to confirm that you meet the basic education requirements for the position. If you do not provide all of the required documentation by the closing date of the announcement, you will be disqualified from further consideration.**


For GS-15:In addition to the basic education requirements as stated above, applicants must have one year of specialized experience at or equal to the next lower grade level.

Examples of appropriate GS-14 level work may include: 1) Developing and coordinating major interdisciplinary projects that may impact national scientific objectives; 2) developing or directly influencing the scientific, administrative and technical policies necessary for the effective direction, management, and operation of a multi-discipline, multi-million dollar scientific program, including the supervision of multiple senior employees; 3) resolving critical problems resulting from the unprecedented complexities of a multi-disciplinary program; 4) serving as the principal scientific or technical contact with other Federal agencies, state and local government organizations, the public, and other groups that may affect the success of a major interdisciplinary scientific program.


You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

  • 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.
  • Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .

Additional information

Other Information:

  • Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
  • Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position.
  • USGS employees are subject to Title 43, USC Section 31(a) and may not: (a) have any personal, private, direct or indirect interest in lands or mineral wealth of lands under survey; (b) have any substantial personal, private, direct or indirect interests in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business with the United States; or (c) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations.
  • The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.
  • DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
  • The Department of the Interior (DOI) places a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspectives and encourages applications from all interested eligible candidates. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental principles that guide the Department and allow us to successfully achieve our mission.
  • THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
Agency Benefits:

How you will be evaluated

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

--Vacancy Related Questions: As part of the online application process, you will need to respond to a series of questions designed to assess your possession of the following knowledge skills, abilities and/or competencies:

  • Supervision and Leadership
  • Program/Project Management
  • Scientific Knowledge
  • Dissemination of Data
  • Teamwork
  • Interpersonal Communication
--Basis of Rating: Category rating will be used in the ranking and selection process for this position. The quality categories are Best Qualified and Qualified. You will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position. If you are eligible, your on-line responses to the application questions will determine your placement in the appropriate quality category described above. Your responses must be substantiated by your resume. If you do not respond to the application questions you may be rated ineligible. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.

--Additional Assessment Required: If you meet the eligibility and basic qualification requirements for this position, you will be contacted via email and asked to provide narrative responses to questions that are specific to this job. The email will include the instructions and deadline in which the responses must be submitted. A subject-matter-expert(s) will use these narrative responses to further evaluate your knowledge, skills, abilities, and competences as they directly relate to the duties of this position. Failure to submit this information upon request will result in your disqualification from further consideration.

1) The Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center scope of research includes sea level rise, storms, coastal erosion, vulnerability and resilience; the role of coral reefs, barrier islands, and wetlands in protecting coastlines; offshore earthquakes, tsunami, and submarine slides; marine minerals; and coastal and ocean ecosystems. The Center also maintains laboratories, marine instrumentation, and operational expertise. Strategic partnerships with Federal, State and local governments, universities, tribes, and other groups are critical to the Center's success. Please describe your experience developing and executing partnerships to advance the type of research conducted at the Center and to serve stakeholders.

2)The Center Director of the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center formulates short- and long-range operational plans, establishes goals and objectives, assesses facility and staffing needs, administers the Center's budget, and supports and implements USGS policies. The Center Director coordinates and supports research scientists, scientific support staff, and marine operations personnel; manages the Center's administrative staff; and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility for the workforce. Please describe your background fulfilling demanding administrative and financial responsibilities in a complex, dynamic work environment and your approach to leading and managing personnel requiring different levels of supervision.

As part of the final selection process, a presentation may be required.

--NOTE: If it is determined that you have rated yourself higher than is supported in your description of experience and/or education as described in your resume/application, or that your resume or application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible, not qualified, or your score may be lowered.

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