Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Environmental Scientist

Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service (NOS), Office for Coastal Management (OCM)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This is a Direct Hire Public Notice. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office for Coastal Management (OCM), Learning Services Division (LSD), Training and Engagement Program (TEP) with one vacancy in Dover, Delaware or Tuckerton, NJ or Salisbury, MD.

Location is Negotiable among the three locations.


Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
12/18/2023 to 12/26/2023
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$69,107 to - $176,842 per year
Pay scale & grade
ZP 3 - 4
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Dover, DE
Salisbury, MD
Tuckerton, NJ
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to domestic travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
4 - If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you may be non-competitively promoted if you perform succesfully and if recommended by management.
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
NOS OCM-24-12240634-DHA
Control number
766487400

Videos

Duties

Help

As an Environmental Scientist, you will perform the following duties:

  • Provide environmental science expertise, and apply learning science and knowledge transfer theory to develop instructional products and services. Direct project teams, incorporating National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Ocean Service (NOS) goals focused on coastal community resilience, ecosystems, and economies into learning products and services that help coastal communities enhance their resilience to climate change and coastal hazards.
  • Develop and support collaborative and strategic partnerships with agencies and organizations (national and regional) and with the Office for Coastal Management's (OCM) target users of environmental science information, representing (OCM) learning services capabilities.
  • Lead project team focused on developing and delivering conservation/restoration and nature-based products and services. Use adult learning principles to translate science and technical findings into practical, actionable information delivered, for example through courses, workshops, webinars, tutorials, and quick references. Provide vision and leadership, integrating OCM, NOS, and NOAA mission, vision and priorities into annual project work plans.
  • Guide regional natural infrastructure engagement representing NOAA, NOS, and OCM in regional meetings, interagency efforts, and conferences. Serve on advisory boards or committees. Understand needs related to conservation and nature-based products and services at local and regional scales and implements technical assistance for their use.
These duties are described at the full performance level of the ZP-4, the ZP-3 is developmental leading to such performance.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

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

The ZP-3 is equivalent to the GS-11/12.
The ZP-4 is equivalent to the GS-13/14.

Salary ranges for the duty locations are as follows:

Dover, DE: (ZP-3) $75,833-$118,161; (ZP-4) $108,084-$166,036
Tuckerton, NJ: (ZP-3) $80,769-$125,851; (ZP-4) $115,118-$176-842
Salisbury, MD (RUS): (ZP-3) $69,107-$107,680; (ZP-4) $98,496-$151,308

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. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
  5. Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (ww.sss.gov)
  6. This position is not in the bargaining unit.
  7. Incumbent is required to participate in domestic travel
  8. Incumbent will work remotely from one of the three identified locations.

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?

  • This vacancy is limited to the first 100 applications received and will close at midnight Eastern Time on the day this application limit is reached regardless of the closing date specified in this vacancy announcement. Any application received prior to midnight Eastern Time of the day the application limit is reached will be accepted and considered. You are strongly encouraged to submit all required supporting documents at the time of application should the vacancy close earlier than stated in this announcement due to the applicant limit being reached. Supporting documents will not be accepted once the vacancy announcement closes.
  • 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

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 REQUIREMENTS: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one full year (52 weeks) of Specialized Experience OR substitution of education for experience OR combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements:

To qualify for the 0401 Series:

Education:

A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

AND

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-3 or GS-11 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-2 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
  • Analyzing environmental science research findings on climate adaptation or coastal resilience to be used in the development of learning products or services that support educational or outreach activities;
  • Networking with stakeholders in order to build collaborative relationships; and
  • Supporting activities used to identify and address the learning needs of coastal manager audiences.
OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above. Note: Only graduate education in excess of 2 full years is qualifying for combination of education and experience.

To qualify at the ZP-4 or GS-13 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
  • Utilizing environmental science research findings on climate adaptation or coastal resilience to lead teams to plan, develop and implement learning products or services that support educational or outreach activities;
  • Establishing and maintaining collaborative partnerships with stakeholders engaged in coastal ecosystem management; and
  • Conducting research to identify and address the learning needs of coastal manager audiences using various methods, such as utilization of technology, technical assistance, and development of educational products and services.

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: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation

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: 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.

Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.

NOAA 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 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.

We will review your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position.

Veteran's Preference does not apply to direct hire recruitment procedures.

Any selections made under this notice will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Therefore, Current Federal employees would be given new appointments to the civil service and may have to serve a new probationary period under CFR 315.802 (b).

NOTE: A one year probationary period will be required under the Direct Hire Authority unless you are a current Department of Commerce employee and are in the same line of work and with no more than a 30 day break in service.

--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.

To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12240634

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.