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Physical Scientist

Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Office of the Under Secretary
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of the Under Secretary (UNSEC), Interagency Meteorological Coordination Office (IMCO) with two vacancies in Silver Spring, MD.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/06/2023 to 04/26/2023
Salary
$112,015 to - $172,075 per year
Pay scale & grade
ZP 4
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Silver Spring
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
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
UNSEC IMCO-23-11867654-ST
Control number
717936300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to current or former Federal employees w/perm comp status; OR those eligible under a special or noncomp appointing authority (e.g., disabled, Pathways Interns & Recent Grads who are elig for noncomp conversion, etc.); OR current or former employees who are serving, or previously served, on temp or term appt in a land mgmt agency; OR veterans with preference or have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after approx 3yrs or more of continuous active service.

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Duties

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As a Physical Scientist, you will perform the following duties:

  • Facilitate interagency coordination and communication in physical science and Meteorological services (i.e., Earth System Science).
  • Collaborate with senior officials and scientists of federal agencies, addressing emerging issues, opportunities, and challenges in Earth Science.
  • Maintain active scientific community engagement and promote awareness among academic and federal meteorological agencies.
  • Assist other committees and sub entities as directed.
  • Coordinate and lead the development of interagency plans and perform analyses of related Meteorological (i.e., Earth System) services.
  • Knowledge of numerical Earth System Science prediction, meteorological sensors, climate science issues, as well as current and emerging science issues related to extended Earth System or climate prediction and decision support services.
  • Coordinate interagency planning and prioritization in Earth System services and research.
  • Negotiates with senior officials and scientists of federal agencies as directed.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). This system replaced the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band.

The ZP-4 is equivalent to the GS-13/14.

*A one year supervisory probationary period may be required.
*Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.
*This position is not in a bargaining unit.

Key Requirements:
  1. Must be a U.S. Citizen or National to apply.
  2. Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
  3. Must be suitable for Federal employment.
  4. Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
  5. Qualifications requirements must be met by closing date of announcement.

Applicants must meet ALL application requirements, to include a complete online resume, by 11:59 p.m. EASTERN TIME (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy.

Basic Requirement:
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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED FOR CONFIRMATION)

or

Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, you must also meet the Specialized Experience.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

To qualify for the ZP-4 (GS-13): One full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-3 (GS-12) in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

  • Providing guidance to managers and scientists in at least one Meteorological or Earth Systems Science (Meteorology, Hydrology, Oceanography, Space Weather, Climate Science);
  • Collaborating with seniors and scientists in at least Earth Systems Science; and
  • Assisting with operations, science planning, or research in numerical prediction and/or Climate Science issues.

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

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 .

There is no substitution for education at the ZP-4 (GS-13) grade level.

Additional information

CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide Career Transition

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
  1. A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
  2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
  1. A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
  2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
Non-Competitive Reinstatement to a Higher Grade/Band than Previously Held MUST submit the following documents:
1. SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action: you must provide the most current Notification of Personnel Action (Form SF-50) that verifies career/career-conditional status, title, series, and highest grade level held on a permanent basis for your previous position. (do not submit an Award SF-50) AND, the SF-50 that verifies your separation date; AND.
2. Performance Appraisal - most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. Do not submit a performance plan that does not include this information.

NOAA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.

The Department of the Commerce (DOC) 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.

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 competencies:

  • Customer Service
  • Problem Solving
  • Planning and Evaluating
We will review your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions).

To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11867654

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