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

Physical Science Technician

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Region, Office of Technical Data Management (TDM)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) works to promote safety, protect the environment, and conserve resources offshore through vigorous regulatory oversight and enforcement. For information about our bureau go to: http://www.bsee.gov/

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
05/14/2024 to 06/11/2024
Salary
$39,576 to - $77,955 per year

First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level.

Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 9
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Jefferson, LA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—Yes - as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel 1-5 nights per month for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
9
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
BSEE-EENN-24-CM-174(DEU)
Control number
790992800

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens

Duties

Help

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Region, Office of Technical Data Management (TDM), Jefferson, Louisianna.

If applying to a specific duty station, you may be allowed to telework a set number of day(s) per pay period, with supervisory approval".

At the full performance level (GS-9) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:
1. Processes incoming petroleum geosciences data and ancillary engineering information.
2. Analyzes error and exception processing reports and contacts GOM OCS data reporters to resolve errors or exceptions.
3. Resolves reporting problems with GOM OCS data reporters and provides explanations to reporters on complying with regulatory requirements and established data standards.
4. Researches existing historical geosciences and related engineering information for verification, corroboration, and error correction of data and documents to assure the information is as close to the established standards as practical.
5. Researches and resolves technical data problem reports submitted by BSEE and BOEM users, contractors, and the public.
6. Operates a personal computer and workstation system to access various programs.
7. Works on a team with professional, technical, and supervisory, personnel to establish procedures for processing data and participates in the orientation and training of new technicians.
8. Is an active participant, and often the lead, in the teamwork necessary to keep the Data Management Unit Business Process procedures and documents current.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

This position is included in a bargaining unit. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Local 3457, is the exclusive representative of all employees in this bargaining unit.

Salary Information
GS-05: Step 1 $39,576 - Step 10 $51,466 per annum.
GS-06: Step 1 $44,117 - Step 10 $57,354 per annum.
GS-07: Step 1 $49,025 - Step 10 $63,733 per annum.
GS-08: Step 1 $54,292 - Step 10 $70,578 per annum.
GS-09: Step 1 $59,966 - Step 10 $77,955 per annum.

This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

This vacancy is also announced as BSEE-EENN-24-CM-175(MP) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Merit Promotion procedures.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  1. You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  2. You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
  3. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
  4. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.
  5. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position you must meet the (1) Basic Educational RequirementsAND (2) Specialized Experience or Education for the series/grade to which you are applying.

Physical Science Technician Series, 1311:
Individual Occupational Requirement
(1) Basic Educational Requirements:

To be eligible for this position, you must meet A or B below for the series/grade to which you are applying.

A. Specialized Experience
All Grades GS-05 - GS-09: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to a least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include work in the fields of astronomy, physics, geophysics, chemistry, hydrology, health physics, engineering, electronics, geology, oceanography, and metallurgy.
Experience as a laboratory mechanic or in a trade or craft may be credited as general or specialized experience when the work was performed in close association with physical scientists or other technical personnel and provided intensive knowledge of appropriate scientific principles, methods, techniques, and precedents.

-OR-

B. Education
GS-5:
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 such as physical science, engineering, or any branch of mathematics, except financial and commercial mathematics.

Please Note: This position allows specific educational coursework to qualify at the GS-5 grade level. You MUST provide transcripts in order to verify that the educational requirements have been met. This information must be received by the closing date of the announcement. Failure to provide this information may result in you receiving an "INELIGIBLE" rating.

AND

In addition to meeting the Basic Educational Qualification requirements, applicants must have either A. Specialized Experience or B. Education (directly related) or C. Combination of Education and Experience to qualify for the grade to which you are applying.

GS-05
A. Specialized Experience:
To qualify for the GS-05, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through 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 work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) cataloging and storing of data and documents (both hardcopy and digital); and 2) utilizing a computer in the use of different types of storage devices (tape drives, hard drives, and disk drives). MUST MEET ALL.

-OR-

B. Education: You may substitute education for experience at the GS-05 level if you have completed a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation.

-OR-

C. Qualifying combination of Education and Experience: Appropriate combinations of post-high school education and professional experience that totals 100% of the requirement for the GS-05 grade level. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements.

GS-06
A. Specialized Experience:
To qualify for the GS-06, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through 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 work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) cataloging and storing of data and documents (both hardcopy and digital); 2) utilizing a computer in the use of different types of storage devices (tape drives, hard drives, and disk drives); and 3) applying knowledge of relational databases to access and reassemble data. MUST MEET ALL.

-OR-

B. Education: You may substitute education for experience at the GS-06 level if you have successfully completed one-half year (13.5 quarter or 9 semester hours) of graduate education that is directly related to the occupation.

-OR-

C. Qualifying combination of Education and Experience: Appropriate combinations of graduate level education and professional experience that totals 100% of the requirement for the GS-06 grade level.

GS-07
A. Specialized Experience:
To qualify for the GS-07, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through 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 work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) cataloging and storing of data and documents, (both hardcopy and digital); 2) utilizing a computer in the use of different types of storage devices (tape drives, hard drives, and disk drives); 3) applying knowledge of relational databases to access and reassemble data; and 4) applying knowledge of geospatial data (i.e. maps), geophysical data (i.e seismic data), and geological data (i.e. well logs) to work situations. MUST MEET ALL.

-OR-

B. Education: You may substitute education for experience at the GS-07 level if you have successfully completed one full year of graduate education that is directly related to the occupation.

-OR-

C. Qualifying combination of Education and Experience: Appropriate combinations of graduate level education and professional experience that totals 100% of the requirement for the GS-07 grade level.

GS-08
A. Specialized Experience:
To qualify for the GS-08, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through 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 work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) cataloging and storing of data and documents, (both hardcopy and digital); 2) utilizing a computer in the use of different types of storage devices (tape drives, hard drives, and disk drives); 3) applying knowledge of relational databases to access and reassemble data; 4) applying knowledge of geospatial data (i.e. maps), geophysical data (i.e. seismic data), and geological data (i.e. well logs) to work situations; and 5) inputting petroleum and geoscience data into an information management system or database. MUST MEET ALL.

-OR-

B. Education: You may substitute education for experience at the GS-08 level if you have successfully completed one and a half years (40.5 quarter hours or 27 semester hours) of progressively higher level graduate education that is directly related to the occupation.

-OR-

C. Qualifying combination of Education and Experience: Appropriate combinations of graduate level education and professional experience that totals 100% of the requirement for the GS-08 grade level.

GS-09 qualifications continued in Education section.

Education

GS-09
A. Specialized Experience:
To qualify for the GS-09, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-08 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through 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 work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) cataloging and storing of data and documents, (both hardcopy and digital); 2) utilizing a computer in the use of different types of storage devices (tape drives, hard drives, and disk drives); 3) applying knowledge of relational databases to access and reassemble data; 4) applying knowledge of geospatial data (i.e. maps), geophysical data (i.e seismic data), and geological data (i.e. well logs) to work situations; 5) inputting petroleum and geoscience data an information management system or database; and 6) processing petroleum and geoscience data and conducting analysis to determine when corrections or adjustments are needed in order for the data to meet regulatory requirements. MUST MEET ALL.

-OR-

B. Education: You may substitute education for experience at the GS-09 level if you have successfully completed two full years of graduate education that is directly related to the occupation.

-OR-

C. Qualifying combination of Education and Experience: Appropriate combinations of graduate level education and professional experience that totals 100% of the requirement for the GS-09 grade level.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements.

Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the specific educational requirements as stated above. 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: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Additional information

Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire

Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

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.

The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork


In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online assessment will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. You are being evaluated under the Category Rating method, which means, if you are determined to be qualified you will be placed in one of three pre-defined categories. These categories are "Platinum", "Gold", and "Silver". However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Candidates placed in the "Platinum" category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.

If you are a status applicant (current career or career-conditional Federal employee or former permanent Federal employee with reinstatement eligibility in the competitive service), or are eligible under a special appointing authority and you are selected under this vacancy, you may be subject to serving a new one-year probationary period.

To preview the application click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12406161

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.