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Physical Science Technician

Department of Labor
Mine Safety and Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position provides technical assistance and laboratory services for the inspection program in a Technical Group within Enforcement Mine Safety and Health Administration. The primary focus of the position is the calibration and repair of sampling instruments used by inspection personnel in their daily work and ensuring that instruments and related expendable supplies are readily available to the inspection force.

This position is inside the bargaining unit.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
11/22/2022 to 12/13/2022
Salary
$36,118 to - $52,341 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 05 - 06
Location
Morgantown, WV
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel required approximately 25% of the time.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
06 - There is no obligation to provide future promotions if you are selected. Promotions are dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, meet all the performance requirements, and supervisor’s recommendation to the next grade.
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
DE-23-DAL-MSHA-111
Control number
690614700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to all U.S. Citizens; ICTAP/CTAP eligibles within the local commuting area. Also advertised as MS-23-DAL-MSHA-111 for current/former federal employees with competitive/reinstatement eligibility; ICTAP/CTAP eligible(s) in the local commuting area; Interchange Agreement; VRA eligible(s); Military Spouse, 30% Disabled Veterans, Veteran Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) eligible(s); Schedule A eligible(s); Land and Base Management eligible(s) and those under other special hiring authorities.

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Duties

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This vacancy has been extended and will now close on 12/13/2022.

The responsibilities described are for the full performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope performed with less independence, and limited complexity.

  • Calibrates a wide variety of instruments used in the inspection program including those that measure air qualities, mine gases, noise, respirable dust, and other physical agents. Schedules calibration work to ensure that instruments are readily available and working properly for use by inspectors and specialist in their daily work. May perform calibration duties at the mine site in the event of a mine fire or other mine emergencies.

  • Advises and assists mine operators in setting-up a respirable dust pump calibration facility, including required equipment, placement and assembly and calibration methods, so that mine operators can check the flow rate and calibration of their sampling equipment. 

  • Maintains complete history for each instrument, including calibration records, repair history and service life. 

  • Inspects instruments that are not functioning properly or will not calibrate properly to determine the source of the problem and make needed repairs. Disassembles the instruments, replaces malfunctioning parts, and reassembles the instrument for testing and calibration.

  • Repairs calibration systems and test results against secondary laboratory standards that are traceable to the National Bureau of Standards. 
  • Maintains an adequate supply of repair parts and expendable supplies for the various sampling instruments used in the field, ensuring that sufficient stock is on hand to support the inspection program.

  • Reviews dust data cards for accuracy and packages and mails dust samples to the laboratory for analysis. 

  • May be called upon to testify in court hearings as to the accurate calibration or repair of sampling instruments or the observance of proper sampling procedures. 

  • Maintains cap lamps and charges for the duty station by inspecting, testing and replacing defective parts, and ensuring the batteries are charged to full capacity.

  • Provides training to enforcement personnel on a variety of equipment. 

  • Enters, retrieves, compiles and prints dust-related data for the MSHA system. 

  • Use word processing equipment and software to create, print, copy, store and retrieve work documents including correspondence and reports in a variety of formats. 

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.
  • Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
  • Must be at least 16 years old and a U.S. Citizen.

Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.

Notification Concerning COVID-19 Vaccinations.  As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal executive branch 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 to submit documentation of proof of vaccination or to be in the process of requesting an exception to the vaccination requirement before appointment or onboarding with the agency.  The agency will provide additional information regarding which forms of documentation can be accepted and how you can request to be considered for a legally required exception from this requirement.  

Currently, implementation and enforcement of Executive Order 14043 has been suspended pursuant to an injunction pending further litigation.

Qualifications

For the GS-05 Grade Level: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-04, in the Federal Service. 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. 

Examples of specialized experience include, but not limited to:

  1. Participation with testing and calibrating mine hazard detection instruments;
  2. Experience in reading schematics and comprehend relevant technical literature;
  3. Experience with the operation, maintenance and use of self-contained self rescuers; and
  4. Experience in record keeping, gathering and maintaining data.

OR

Successful completion of 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 in physical science, engineering, or any branch of mathematics, except financial and commercial mathematics.

OR

Possess a combination of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level in or related to the work of this position and education that is directly related to the work of this position.

For the GS-06 Grade Level:Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-05, in the Federal Service.  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.

Examples of specialized experience include, but not limited to:

  1. Experience testing and calibrating mine hazard detection instruments;
  2. Experience in reading schematics and comprehend relevant technical literature;
  3. Experience with respirator fit testing procedures;
  4. Experience with the operation, maintenance and use of self-contained self rescuers; and
  5. Experience in record keeping, gathering and maintaining data.

There is no education substitution. 

Education

Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.

If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

Additional information

Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services.

DOL seeks to attract and retain a high-performing and diverse workforce in which employees' differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility, and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.

Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATIONREASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATIONFORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

All MSHA employees and their spouses, and minor children are prohibited by regulation from having any interest, direct or indirect, in any mine or mining company that may be directly affected by the work of MSHA through its investigations, technical research, or other activities. These interests are prohibited under the Department of Labor's Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct Regulations at 5 CFR 5201.105. Certain MSHA employees are required to file a financial disclosure report. For questions, please contact the vacancy contact on this announcement.

Position Telework eligibility is determined by management based on position duties during the recruitment process. Employee participation in telework on a routine or situational basis is determined by management primarily based on business needs.  Employees participating in telework are subject to the terms and conditions of the Department of Labor’s Telework Program.

Department of Labor may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/

How you will be evaluated

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

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be evaluated against the evaluation factors below and will be placed into a category based on your vacancy question responses.

Categories

Category A - Meets the basic qualification requirements for the vacancy and has successful experience in the same or similar job that has demonstrated superior proficiency in applying critical competencies required by this position to work of increased levels of difficulty and complexity.

Category B - Meets the basic qualification requirements for the vacancy and demonstrates satisfactory proficiency in the critical competencies required by this position.

Category C - Meets the specialized experience described in the minimum qualifications requirements section of this announcement and demonstrates proficiency in the basic competencies.

Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:

  • Teamwork/Flexibility: Encourages and facilities cooperation, pride, trust and group identify; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals and able to adapt to changing priorities.
  • Manages and Organizes Information: Identifies a need, gathers, organizes and maintains information; determines it's importance and accuracy, and communicates it by a variety of methods.
  • Customer Service: Works with and communicates with clients and customers (e.g., any individuals who work in your agency or in other agencies or organizations, outside the Government) to satisfy their expectations. Committed to quality services. May include responding to customer complaints.
  • Applies Technology to Tasks: Selects and understands procedures, machines, or tools that will produce the desired results; identifies or solves problems in machines, computers, or other technologies as they are related to performing tasks.

The information you provide on your resume may be verified by a review of your work experience, employment start/end dates/hours worked and/or education, by checking references and through other means (ex. interview). The examining Office of Human Resources (OHR) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the vacancy questions. If not, the OHR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume. Your evaluation may also include a review by a Human Resources Specialist or panel and may include other assessments (ex. interview, panel review, written test, writing sample, etc.)

INFORMATION FOR ICTAP/CTAP ELIGIBLE(S) ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under ICTAP/CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. ICTAP/CTAP eligible(s) who are placed into Category B or higher will be considered "well-qualified." Be sure to review DOL Account Eligibility Questions #24 to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation. Click Application of Veterans Preference for Category Rating Jobs for more information.


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