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Supervisory Physical Science Technician

Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), Office of Satellite & Product Operations (OSPO), Mission Operations Division (MOD), Operations Branch, with 2 vacancies in Suitland, MD.

This position is also announced under vacancy number NESDIS OSPO-24-12516040-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 & closing dates
09/03/2024 to 01/06/2025
Salary
$117,962 to - $153,354 per year
Pay scale & grade
ZT 5
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Suitland, MD
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Up to 10% of domestic travel may be required for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Multiple Schedules
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
NESDIS OSPO-24-12516013-DE
Control number
805395800

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Duties

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This is an open continuous announcement. The open period is 12 months. Applications will be reviewed on the established cut-off dates: 09/16/2024, 10/15/2024, 11/15/2024, 12/16/2024, 01/15/2025, 02/17/2025, 03/17/2025, 04/16/2025, 05/15/2025, 06/16/2025, 07/15/2025, 08/15/2025, 09/02/2025.

NOTE: The period of eligibility for applications is through each cut-off date. The agency will issue a list of eligible applicants at each cut-off date to hiring officials within the period of eligibility. Applicants will not need to reapply to be considered.

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', or 'not qualified'. If this occurs, you are eligible to reapply to a future cut-off date.

As a Supervisory Physical Science Technician, you will perform the following duties:

  • Provide technical oversight, guidance and expertise of Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO) being the point of contact lead for satellite controllers, aerospace technicians and product operators as well as contract staff who provide monitoring of full production/distribution of time critical satellite data.
  • Review and revise technical standard, routine and contingency operational procedures (SOPs, ROPs, and COPS) as provided by engineering to ensure completeness and accuracy.
  • Supervise satellite operations crew; comprised of approximately 15 environmental satellite and product operators, and provide on-going feedback on crew performance to the Operations Branch Chief, including providing performance feedback to employees.
  • Serve as the technical point of contact between satellite crews and external stakeholders such as other government agencies, international partners and private sector that utilize NOAA data or ground assets for completing mission objectives.

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 ZT-5 is equivalent to the GS-13.

* A one year supervisory probationary period may be required.
* Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.
* Payment of relocation and recruitment incentives may be authorized.
* This position is 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)
  • 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

EDUCATION: There is no positive education requirement for this position.

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 ZT-5 (GS-13) grade level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZT-4 (GS-12) in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

  • Providing feedback on work assignments for new staff members;
  • Monitoring satellite operations, and satellite and ground asset schedules; and
  • Ensuring ground command system network assets are available, functioning, and configured.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • Obtain/maintain security clearance; must be able to work.
  • Rotating 12 hour shifts on day and night shifts, seven days per week including weekends and holidays.
  • 24/7/365 rotating crew shift.
  • Individual fills a Mission Essential Position and designated an Emergency and COOP employee.

Education

Substitution of education for specialized experience is not applicable to this vacancy.

Additional information

Salary for selectee's pay may be set at any point within the pay band except for intervals 4 and 5 $153,355 to $162,694 which is reserved for supervisory performance or for current supervisors within CAPS who already have a salary within intervals 4 and 5.

CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority 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 ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: 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.

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.

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

  • Developing Others
  • Oral Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Technical Competence


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.

Category rating will be used in the ranking and selection process for this position. The quality categories are Gold, Silver, and Bronze. You will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position. If you are eligible, your on-line responses to the application questions will determine your placement in the appropriate quality category described above. Your responses must be substantiated by your resume. If you do not respond to the application questions you may be rated ineligible. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.

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/12516013

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