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Interdisciplinary Scientist

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Office of Environmental Programs, Division of Environmental Assessment
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) manages the exploration and development of the nation's offshore resources. It seeks to appropriately balance economic development, energy independence, and environmental protection through oil and gas leases, renewable energy development and environmental reviews and studies. For information about our bureau go to: http://www.boem.gov/

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/17/2024 to 07/27/2024
This job will close when we have received 75 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$72,553 to - $131,452 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 11 - 12
Locations
Few vacancies in the following locations:
Anchorage, AK
Camarillo, CA
New Orleans, LA
Sterling, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
BOEM-MMGG-24-FS-110(DEU)
Control number
800149200

Duties

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These positions are located within the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Environmental Programs, Division of Environmental Assessment, Branch of Environmental Coordination, duty stationed in Anchorage, AK, Camarillo, CA, New Orleans, LA or Sterling, VA.

At the full performance level (GS-13) the major duties of this position include but are not limited to the following:

  1. Prepare, review, and coordinate environmental and policy documents concerning potential impacts from Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) activities.
  2. Evaluate environmental and/or human-interest issues and conduct analyses that integrate state-of-the-art methods, scientific information, legal requirements, and BOEM policies.
  3. Help develop and implement new procedures to improve environmental analyses.
  4. Recommend and assist in the planning and management of research necessary to adequately assess impacts from the use of OCS activities.
  5. Support inter-agency coordination and environmental consultation required under various environmental laws and regulations.
  6. Represent the Bureau or Department concerning related to environmental assessment or environmental issues.
Telework:
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Work Environment:
Work is usually performed in an office environment. Occasional laboratory inspections and cruises on research vessels may be necessary.

Salary Range Information:
Anchorage, AK Salary Range Information (Per Annum):
GS-11: $81,956 - $106,541
GS-12: $98,232 - $127,698

Camarillo, CA Salary Range Information (Per Annum):
GS-11: $84,366 - $109,673
GS-12: $101,121 - $131,452

New Orleans, LA Salary Range Information (Per Annum):
GS-11: $72,553 - $94,317
GS-12: $86,962 - $113,047

Sterling, VA Salary Range Information (Per Annum):
GS-11: $82,764 - $107,590
GS-12: $99,200 - $128,956
*First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level.

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

This vacancy is also announced as BOEM-MMGG-24-FS-111(MP) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Merit Promotion procedures.

Requirements

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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

To qualify for this position, you must meet the (1) Basic Educational Requirements AND (2) Specialized Experience for the series/grade to which you are applying.

(1) Basic Educational Requirements:


In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, applicants must meet the Basic Educational Requirements for the series to which you are applying:

NOTE: This position requires specific educational coursework to qualify. You MUST provide transcripts (unofficial are acceptable) 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.

Social Science Series, 0101
Individual Occupational Requirements
Basic Educational Requirement:

A. Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

-OR-

B. Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
-OR-

C. Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

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Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series, 0401
Individual Occupational Requirements
Basic Educational Requirements:

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.

--------------------------------------

Oceanography Series, 1360
Individual Occupational Requirements
Basic Educational Requirements:

A. Degree: major study of at least 24 semester hours in oceanography or a related discipline such as physics, meteorology, geophysics, mathematics, chemistry, engineering, geology, or biology, plus 20 additional semester hours in any combination of oceanography, physics, geophysics, chemistry, mathematics, meteorology, computer science, and engineering sciences.

-OR-

B. Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

NOTE: Applicants who qualify on the basis of major study in biology or geology must have had at least 6 semester hours in the major directly concerned with marine science or 6 semester hours in oceanography; applicants who qualify on the basis of other physical sciences or engineering must have had differential and integral calculus and at least 6 semester hours in physics.

-AND-

(2) Specialized Experience:

In addition to the Basic Education Requirements above, applicants must also meet the specialized experience described below for the grade to which you are applying.

A. GS-11 Specialized Experience:

To qualify for the GS-11, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 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. Interpreting environmental laws, regulations or policies to improve or support environmental assessments; AND
2. Training and/or experience assessing the interrelationships of human activities and the environment; AND
3. Preparing or supporting the preparation of documents related to environmental or socio-cultural issues and delivering professional presentations related to those issues.
MUST MEET ALL.

-OR-

B. Education: You may substitute education for experience if you have achieved:
  • 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or
  • Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

-OR-

C. Appropriate Combinations of Education and Experience:
A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience that totals 100% of the requirement for the GS-11 grade level.

NOTE: Applicants utilizing education to qualify at the respective grade level must provide transcripts (unofficial are acceptable) in order to verify that the educational requirement has been met. The documents must be received by the closing date of the announcement. Failure to provide this information will result in you receiving an "INELIGIBLE" rating.

----------------------------------

A. GS-12 Specialized Experience:

Note: Applicants may not substitute Education for Experience at the GS-12 level and above.

To qualify for the GS-12, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 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. Interpreting environmental laws, regulations or policies to improve environmental assessments pertaining to the marine and coastal environments; AND
2. Assessing the interrelationships of offshore program activity, human activity, and/or the marine and coastal environments; AND
3. Analyzing and preparing documents related to controversial or complex environmental or socio-cultural issues and delivering professional presentations related to those issues.
MUST MEET ALL.

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

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

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.

Important Note: All Department of the Interior (DOI) employees are subject to the conflict of interest restrictions imposed upon all employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and may be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report. In addition, DOI employees, GS-15 and above, who work in the Office of the Secretary; along with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) employees (at ALL grade levels), are further restricted concerning their interests in Federal lands and resources administered or controlled by the Department of the Interior. This includes holding stock in energy corporations which lease Federal lands (e.g.: oil, gas, coal, alternative energy resources, etc.). If you have any such investments you should contact the DOI, BOEM or BSEE Ethics Office before accepting employment. DOI employees are held to the highest level of integrity. Employees must be objective and impartial in the performance of their work. All potential issues (e.g.: work-related interactions with friends, family members, or previous employers) must be disclosed at the time of application or during the interview process.

NOTICE: This employer participates in E-Verify and will utilize your Form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.
A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The preliminary background check consists of a search of Office of Personnel Management and Department of Defense background investigation files and an FBI National Criminal History Fingerprint Check; it may take up to 3 weeks to complete. If selected for this position, you will be extended a tentative offer of employment pending a satisfactory background check. Current Federal employees or individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check; these will be handled on a case-by-case basis in coordination with the Bureau security office.

How you will be evaluated

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

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.

Your answers to the on-line assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

  • Flexibility - Is open to change and new information; adapts behavior or work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles; effectively deals with uncertainty.
  • Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on the job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
  • Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience; expresses information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information.
  • Oral Communication - Presents in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience; expresses information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information.
  • Teamwork - Works cooperatively with others to accomplish objectives to build and maintain mutually-beneficial partnerships, leverage information, and achieve results. Fosters an environment that emphasizes knowledge sharing, shared vision, and group participation.
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 assessment questionnaire click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12479570

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