Clarification from the agency

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

• Conduct and synthesize research to advance NOAA's Climate, Ecosystems, and Fisheries Initiative (CEFI) through deeper understanding and modeling of regional ocean physical and biogeochemical processes. Apply knowledge of global earth system and climate models, regional ocean models, empirical models, and/or observation-based process understanding. Validate and deliver coastal and ocean model predictions for use in stock assessment, ecological, and other models as part of ecosystem-based fisheries management processes, to increase the resilience of coastal ecosystems and communities.
• Develop techniques that identify sources of coastal and marine predictability, and apply those techniques to improve sub-seasonal to annual forecasts and long-term projections of key ocean variables and to improve regional ocean model skill in key ocean variables to support living marine resource management along the North American coastline.
• Serve as a technical expert conducting research that requires unconventional or novel approaches, including sophisticated research techniques and tools used to support assessment and management of protected and harvested species and more generally to support the development of NOAA's CEFI and ecosystem-based fisheries management.
• Develop original research ideas and use a variety of approaches, methods, and procedures to plan and execute assignments, contribute findings, either acting as lead author or by mentoring junior scientists, in scientific reports and/or papers for publication in peer reviewed scientific journals to enhance real-time forecasts of physical coastal variables to interested stakeholders.

NOTE: These duties are described at the full performance level of the ZP-4; the ZP-3 is developmental leading to such performance.

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.

* A three year probationary period may be required.
* Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.
* Payment of relocation incentives OR recruitment incentives may be authorized. Note: Relocation incentives are for current federal employees only.
* NWFSC positions located in Seattle, WA is covered under bargaining unit 2274. NEFSC positions in Sandy Hook, NJ is covered under bargaining unit 2218. All others are not in the bargaining unit.

Key Requirements:

1. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
2. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
3. Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov)

• This vacancy is limited to the first 150 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 year 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:

EDUCATION:

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 above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, 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:

• Participating in scientific research related to global, regional, or coastal earth system models, empirical models or observation-based processes; and
• Assisting with writing research proposals and preparing scientific papers for publication.

• Developing methods to identify oceanic and other climate sources of coastal predictability; and
• Conducting scientific research, analyzing data, and presenting findings at scientific conferences or to stakeholders.

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 three 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/12320369