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PHYSICAL SCIENTIST

Department of Defense
Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Research and Development Directorate (RD)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Defense Threat Reduction Agency. The incumbent will be responsible for directing the formulation, development, implementation, and dissemination of a significant component of DTRA's research and development efforts involving Nuclear Weapons Effects (NWE) and to provide technical expertise on these research matters.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
10/13/2022 to 11/03/2022
Salary
$80,005 to - $123,675 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
Kirtland AFB, NM
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
DTRA-23-11680824-DH
Control number
683010700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens

Duties

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As a PHYSICAL SCIENTIST at the GS-1301-12/13 some of your typical work assignments may include:

  • Specifically, the work includes initiating and directing research and development related to historical knowledge preservation of nuclear weapons detonations, the resulting propagation and effects on civilian and military personnel, equipment, systems, networks, and infrastructure.
  • The incumbent is responsible for management and coordination of efforts that address the needs of DTRA and the DoD, and involve the activities of numerous other government, commercial, and academic organizations.
  • As DTRA's technical expert in the integration of DTRA's NWE compendium of knowledge into DoD's nuclear Effects Manual One (EM-1), the incumbent performs a wide range of functions either individually or through the coordinated efforts of other technical and managerial staff at DTRA, contractor organizations, government laboratories, and universities.
  • Formulates, develops, implements and technically manages and coordinates assigned projects. Provides expert advice and consultation on all aspects of legacy NWE M&S test data.
  • Work emphasizes NWE M&S tools that are of direct application to enhancing the effectiveness of the warfighter, and that can serve as initial or exploratory work for future direct applications.
  • Develops required programmatic and fiscal documentation to support the planning, programming, and budgeting system.
  • Develops and prepares contract, Military Intergovernmental Purchase Request (MIPR), Interagency Order (IO), or any other packages necessary to implement projects.
  • Executes all functions necessary to bring procurement actions to a successful conclusion.
  • Provides a high degree of management and technical innovation to provide a quality product that meets requirements at the lowest cost.
  • Maintains required liaison with personnel within DTRA, the military services, DoD agencies, Department of Energy (DOE) and any other organizations.
  • Plans, conducts and chairs meetings to address technical problems concerning their area of responsibility, keeping informed and advised on significant developments.
  • Represents DTRA at meetings and as a member on panels and working groups.
  • Keeps abreast of latest scientific theories, experiments, and technology trends which may have bearing upon activities of the Division.
  • Provides scientific advice to the supervisor and DTRA management.



Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Travel in the performance of temporary assignments may be required up to 25% of duty time. Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid passport.
  • Work Schedule: Full-time
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Overtime/compensatory time may be required to accommodate operational needs of the organization.
  • Tour of Duty: Flexible
  • Recruitment Incentives: Authorized https://www.dtra.mil/Business/DTRA-Opportunities/
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Non-Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Required
  • Telework Eligibility: This position is telework eligible
  • COVID19: Please see, additional information.
  • Must consent to and pass pre-employment drug testing and be subject to periodic random drug testing thereafter.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET clearance and access to NATO, CNWDI, RD and Special Compartmented Information.
  • This is an Acquisition Workforce position in the Engineering, Technical and Management (EMT) career field. The incumbent will be required to become certified Level Practitioner in the applicable career field within 5 years.
  • The incumbent is required to acquire a minimum of 40 continuous learning points (CLPs) every fiscal year as a goal and 80 CLPs being mandatory within 2 years.

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS 13 , if you fulfill the following qualifications:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service as listed below:

  • Minimum of three years experience in leading, managing, planning or overseeing complex and diverse Research, Development Test, Evaluation and Assessment Nuclear Weapon Effects Efforts.
  • Three years experience through research or management of nuclear weapon effects projects.
  • Three years experience management, acquisition, development, analysis or evaluation of scientific and technical solutions to Nuclear Weapon Effects Domain problems.

You may qualify at the GS 12 , if you fulfill the following qualifications:

B. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service as listed below:
  • Minimum of two years experience in leading, managing, planning or overseeing complex and diverse Research, Development Test, Evaluation and Assessment Nuclear Weapon Effects Efforts.
  • Two years experience through research or management of nuclear weapon effects projects.
  • Two years experience in the management, acquisition, development, analysis or evaluation of scientific and technical solutions to Nuclear Weapon Effects Domain problems.
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.

In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 1301, series as listed below:

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 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.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims.

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

COVID19 - To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily or intermittently telework.

Other Notes:
ACQUISITION POSITION: This is an Acquisition Workforce position in the Engineering, Technical & Management (EMT) career field. The incumbent will be required to become certified Level Practitioner in the applicable career field within 5 years. The incumbent is required to acquire a minimum of 40 continuous learning points (CLPs) every fiscal year as a goal and 80 CLPs being mandatory within 2 years. RE-EMPLOYED ANNUITANT: This position DOES NOT meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf

All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: This program applies 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 for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see Who Needs to Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov))

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 and supporting documents, to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and evaluate your relevant work experiences as it relates to fundamental competencies, identified below, required for this position.

Competencies:

Traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply to this vacancy. Your application (resume and supporting documentation) will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required as listed on the announcement under qualification requirements.

Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to veterans preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency.

For information on entitlement see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx

Military Spouse Preference: If you are entitled to military spouse preference, in order to receive this preference you must choose the spousal eligibility in your application package referencing MSP Military Spouse Preference. Your preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. If you are claiming military spouse preference and qualified for the position, your name will be placed below preference eligible veteran candidates and above non-preference candidates on a list sent to the hiring manager for employment consideration. To claim Military Spouse Preference (MSP) please complete the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist, save the document and attach it to your application package.

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