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Ecologist

Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located within the Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research(OAR), Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) with (1) vacancy located in Ann Arbor, MI.

This position is also announced under vacancy number OAR-GLERL-23-11995862-ST, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open date: 06/13/2023
Closed date: 06/27/2023
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$51,453 - $90,103 per year
Pay scale & grade
ZP 2
Promotion potential
3
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
OAR-GLERL-23-11995863-DE
Control number
731361700

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.,VRA, 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 an Ecologist, you will perform the following duties:

  • Conduct field and laboratory investigations of Great Lakes water quality, biochemical parameters, and organisms including phytoplankton, zooplankton, and benthic invertebrates. Organize data and metadata, maintain databases, and use quantitative skills to assist in interpreting ecological systems. Maintain an understanding of relationships between the environment and organisms. Interpret and synthesize water quality data and biological data in the Great Lakes.
  • Maintain, calibrate and operate laboratory and field equipment and instrumentation; and use multiple techniques to measure biochemical variables.
  • Write scientific reports and assist in preparing manuscripts on work accomplished, stating clearly and concisely the nature of the problem, steps taken in its solution, and results achieved. Verbally communicate methods, work progress, and results.
  • Prepare standard operating procedures for review; and assist in preparing quality assurance plans and environmental compliance documentation. Perform quality assurance/quality control checks of data, methods, visual presentations of data, and written products.

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-2 is equivalent to the GS 7-10 grade levels.

NOTE:
*A one year probationary/trial period may be required.
*Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.
*This position is in the bargaining unit. This position is covered by 2175.

Key Requirements:
  1. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
  2. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
  3. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
  4. Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov)

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.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of specialized experience in order to be found minimally qualified. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:

To qualify for the 0408 series:
Degree: biology, or a related field of science underlying ecological research that included at least 30 semester hours in basic and applied biological sciences. These hours must have included at least 9 semester hours in ecology, and 12 semester hours in physical and mathematical sciences.

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.

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.

To qualify at the ZP-2 or GS-07 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
In addition to Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-1 or GS-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

  • Participating in the collection and processing of samples for water quality, biochemical parameters, and/or organismal measurements for aquatic science; and
  • Participating in the compilation and organization of data in scientific reports.


OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION:
One full year of graduate level education.

OR

SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
: As demonstrated by a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with one of the following. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your application clearly states how you meet the provision below:

  • A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last 2 full years of undergraduate study;
  • A GPA of 3.5 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for required courses completed in a major field of study, or those courses completed in a major field of study during the last two years of undergraduate study;
  • Class standing of upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision of the college;
  • Membership in a national Scholastic Honor Society certified by the Association of College honor Societies, excluding freshman honor societies.


OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR (MANDATORY)

In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the following selective placement factors in addition to the specialized experience. If you do not meet these requirements, you will be rated ineligible for this position.

Maximum Entry Age: This position is a covered primary law enforcement position under Title 5 U.S.C 3307 Maximum Entry Age, the special retirement provisions for Federal Law Enforcement Officer (LEO). Candidates without previous LEO service must be under age 37. Those with current or prior federal LEO coverage will be considered only if they can demonstrate that they will have completed 20 years of covered service by mandatory retirement age of 57. This requirement is waived for Veterans; please click here.

If you have current or prior Federal Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) coverage you must submit appropriate SF-50s that shows period of coverage. Failure to provide proof of Federal LEO coverage may result in removal from consideration.

Incumbent must maintain requirements to qualify for LEO retirement coverage (5 USC 8336(c) and 5 USC 8412(d)).

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP): Incumbent is subject to work unscheduled duty hours and must be available for unscheduled duty based upon the needs of the agency. Therefore, the incumbent is eligible for Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) of an additional 25% and is subject to the provisions of the LEAP Act of 1994.

Training Requirements: Incumbent must successfully complete all training courses outlined by agency.

Drug Testing Requirement: This position is subject to random and pre-employment drug testing.

Lautenberg Amendment: This position is covered by the 1996 Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968. A person convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence is not eligible for the position. False or fraudulent information provided by candidates is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment (Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1001).

Mobility Agreement: This position may require the incumbent to be reassigned to a different geographic location. Accordingly, the incumbent will be required to sign a mobility agreement, which will remain in effect while assigned to this position as a criminal investigator.

Inclement Weather: The duties of this position require exposure to inclement weather.

Special Retirement Coverage: This position is a secondary law enforcement position and, as such, provides for the continuation of law enforcement retirement coverage for those currently encumbering a covered position. Provisions for continued law enforcement retirement coverage include: Applicants currently covered by the Civil Service Retirement System who are in a primary or secondary position under 5 USC 8336(c) must transfer to this secondary law enforcement position without a break in service exceeding 3 days, in order to maintain their law enforcement retirement coverage. Applicants currently covered by the Federal Employees' Retirement System in a rigorous position under 5 USC 8412 (d) must have been in that position for at least 3 years before transferring directly, without a break in service exceeding 3 days, to this secondary position. All candidates currently covered by Federal law enforcement retirement coverage as cited in this notice are subject to mandatory separation age requirements in accordance with applicable statutes. In order to be covered under special retirement, must have completed 3 years in a rigorous position; moved directly from rigorous to secondary position; been continuously employed in secondary since transferring from a rigorous position.

Education

College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., Bio 101, Math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.

Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website. You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation by the closing date of the announcement will result in lost consideration. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated visit: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation.

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?
  • 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.
  • If you are a Federal employee applying for a promotion (under merit promotion procedures) you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Additional information

Well-qualified for CTAP and ICTAP eligibility includes those candidates who have been determined to exceed minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85, but otherwise may or may not be among the highly or best-qualified candidates. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-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 knowledge skills, abilities and/or competencies:

Compliance, Ecology, Technology Application, and Written Communication

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) and place you in one of the three pre-defined categories. The categories are "gold", "silver" and "bronze". However, your resume or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Candidates placed in the "gold" category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

How you will be evaluated for preference eligibility: Within each category, those entitled to veterans' preference will be listed at the top of the pre-defined category for which they are placed. Preference eligible with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category (gold) depending on the position and grade level of the job. For more information on Category Rating, please go to Category Rating.

The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response.

--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 and/or not qualified.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency within the US Department of Commerce that focuses on the conditions of the oceans, major waterways, and the atmosphere. NOAA warns of dangerous weather, charts seas, guides the use and protection of ocean and coastal resources, and conducts research to provide understanding and improve stewardship of the environment.

Agency contact information

Kia Jenkins
Phone
703-259-9465
Email
kia.jenkins@noaa.gov
Address
NOAA Office of Human Capital Services (OHCS)
1315 East West Hwy
SSMC4
Silver Spring, MD 20910
US

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