An official website of the United States government
The National Science Foundation is seeking a qualified candidate for an Interdisciplinary (Supervisory Environmental Scientist) position within the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO), Office of Polar Programs (OPP) in Alexandria, VA.
For more information on GEO please click here.
For more information on OPP please click here.
Learn more about this agency12/03/2024 to 12/18/2024
$169,430 - $204,000 per year
AD 4
1 vacancy in the following location:
No
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Yes—Relocation MAY be paid contingent upon the availability of funds.
Permanent
Full-time
Excepted
None
Yes
No
OPP-25-12618568
821953300
Applications will be accepted from all US citizens who meet citizenship and eligibility requirements. Please see the "Other Information" section for further information.
Consisting of three sections with a staff of approximately 70+, OPP has an annual budget of $550 million. The Office supports research in all areas of fundamental science and engineering in polar regions through research grants and awards to universities and other research organizations, as well as the provision of logistics support and infrastructure in the remote polar regions. Its responsibilities also include interagency coordination of Arctic research and management of the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP).
The Environmental Officer holds a pivotal role in implementing, overseeing, and evaluating the integration of policies and procedures related to environmental management, monitoring, protection and conservation in polar regions. The Environmental Officer is also responsible for supervising OPP research activities from an environmental perspective, ensuring appropriate environmental protection and stewardship of the environment. The incumbent will leverage their current knowledge of environmental policy, science, and engineering, as well as national and international environmental policy directives and U.S. legislation, to guarantee that the research and support activities pursued by NSF-funded research in polar regions are environmentally sound.
II. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The incumbent, in this collaborative role, works closely with the science programs managers and with OPP managers responsible for environmental projects, safety and health, facilities engineering, maintenance and construction, logistics, operations, science support, and information technology. This collaborative approach ensures the effective incorporation of environmental policies and procedures, and the incumbent has the following specific duties and responsibilities:
The incumbent, in this globally impactful role, must be fully cognizant of policies and legislation related to environmental management, monitoring, protection, and conservation in the Arctic and Antarctic, with a focus on the areas of major NSF responsibility. The work regularly involves contact and consultation with NSF, U.S., and foreign officials who are knowledgeable about and responsible for environmental activities. The incumbent also plays a key role in developing policy responses to emerging issues, such as impacts from increasing human activities in Antarctica, and in conducting special investigations of new technologies, materials, equipment, and construction methods which may underpin environmental policies and programs.
The incumbent provides guidance and technical direction concerning environmental issues to other staff and scientific grantees, support contractors, and researchers funded by other U.S. Government agencies and works with counterparts in other national programs in Antarctica. Activities in the Environmental Officer's portfolio include: Antarctic Specially Protected Areas and Antarctic Specially Managed Areas Environmental Impact Assessments Antarctic Conservation Act Permit and Investigations Program Environmental Research Program in coordination with Science Programs Environmental Education Outreach
Working under the direction of OPP management, the incumbent will develop an annual plan for evaluating all components of OPP's activities that could impact the environment. The incumbent will also conduct comprehensive compliance audits and reviews and use the results to prepare analyses, planning and management documents, special reports, and directives that will further compliance with environmental obligations. Where evaluations and reviews identify deficiencies, the incumbent will budget for, in consultation with OPP managers, and monitor the implementation of corrective actions. The work includes identifying the need for and negotiating grants, contracts, interagency agreements, and other performance mechanisms designed to assist OPP in managing its environmental responsibilities.
The incumbent may be responsible for conceptualizing and coordinating special workshops related to OPP's environmental activities. The incumbent may represent OPP and the U.S. Government at national and international conferences and workshops that relate to environmental activities and serve on national and international panels and working groups. The incumbent may be required to prepare and deliver up-to-date, in-depth briefings about the aspects of NSF-supported activity in these and other forums.
Planning, funding, and implementing a program of scientific research in the polar regions. Integrating scientific research with education to broadly disseminate current science, to leverage interest in science, and to increase diversity in participation in science.
Ensuring compliance with federal environmental laws and guidelines such as Antarctic Conservation Act and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, and other relevant international treaties.
Other duties as assigned.
This position is outside the competitive civil service.
You must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
All online applicants must provide a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full/blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
Please refer to the Qualifications section.
If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, please also submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency.
Relocation expenses MAY be paid contingent upon the availability of funds.
It is NSF policy that NSF personnel employed at or IPAs detailed to NSF are not permitted to participate in foreign government talent recruitment programs. Failure to comply with this NSF policy could result in disciplinary action up to & including removal from Federal Service or termination of an IPA assignment & referral to the Office of Inspector General. Foreign Talent Definitions
This announcement is open to All US Citizens who meet citizenship and eligibility requirements.
Federal Appropriations Law requires that Non-Citizens meet certain eligibility criteria to be considered. Therefore, Non-Citizens must certify eligibility by signing and attaching this Citizenship Affidavit to their application. Non-citizens who do not provide the affidavit at the time of application will not be considered.
This announcement may be used to fill like positions in other organizations within the National Science Foundation.
NSF has determined that all of its positions are eligible for telework. Work suitable for telework depends on job duties; therefore, employees must receive approval from their supervisor for telework and have a telework agreement in place. Entering into a telework agreement is voluntary.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated on the extent and quality of your experience, expertise, education, and research activities relevant to the duties of the position. In some cases, additional assessment processes may also be used. We strongly encourage you to specifically address the Quality Ranking Factors below. This will ensure that you receive full consideration in the evaluation process.
Quality Ranking Factors
All applicants must submit a resume in any format and may also submit a cover letter.
In order to be considered for federal appointments, Non-Citizens must affirm that they meet the Appropriations Law eligibility criteria by signing and attaching this Citizenship Affidavit to their application. Non-citizens who do not provide the affidavit at the time of application will not be considered. Non-Citizens who are exempt from the Appropriations Law requirements due to their status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on December 16, 2009 must provide a statement with their application noting their exemption with documentation of proof of status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on that date.
You are strongly encouraged to upload a current performance appraisal and/or letter(s) of recommendation and a supplemental statement that describes how your background relates to the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) listed in the Qualifications and Evaluation Requirements section of this announcement. Additionally, you are encouraged to list all applicable awards either in your CV or in a supplemental statement. This information will be used in the evaluation process.
Transcripts are not required; however, please indicate the year that each degree was obtained on your application materials. If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, you MUST submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency.
All uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern time on the vacancy closing date.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Applicants must complete and submit an application online at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) USAJOBS website at https://www.USAJOBS.gov. An account must be established at the OPM website following the instructions provided in order to apply for the position. Once you have completed the USAJOBS process, you will be re-directed to the USA Staffing system to complete your application process, answer the online questions, and submit all required documents. Applications submitted other than the USAJOBS online application WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED under this announcement.
- Your application and all supporting documents must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Applicants applying online for this position will be able to apply until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Please allow adequate time to complete your application.
-If you encounter technical difficulties during the process, please submit a USA Staffing Help Ticket for assistance. If you have technical difficulties applying to the vacancy on the USAJOBS website, click on Contact USAJOBS. It is suggested that you do not wait until the last day to apply for a vacancy announcement. We will not accept applications other than those submitted through USAJOBS.
- As the applicant, it is your responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, and submitted is received and is accurate. Ensure that your application includes the required documents listed under "Required Documents" and that they are uploaded in the appropriate fields.
- If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of this application and hiring process, please notify the point of contact on this job opportunity announcement.
IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR DATE OF BIRTH ON YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS.
WARNING! Applications submitted online must have a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full or blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
You may check the status of your application at any time on the USAJOBS website
Applicants should click 'Track this Application' in the Applicant Dashboard to receive application updates.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/821953300. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
NSF was ranked in the Top 10 best places to work among mid-sized agencies in the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government® Rankings. Come join our talented and diverse workforce and help us keep NSF at the frontier of discovery!
NSF is on the leading edge of discovery in areas from astronomy to geology to zoology. In addition to funding research in traditional academic areas, the agency also supports innovative ideas, novel collaborations and numerous projects that may seem like science fiction today, but become the reality of tomorrow.
NSF ensures that research is fully integrated with education so that today's revolutionary work will also be training future scientists and engineers. We are also at the forefront of federal business and operations best practices, ensuring accountability and efficacy of the work we do.
Become a part of our mission to maintain and strengthen the vitality of the US science and engineering enterprise. For over 70 years, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has remained the premier Federal agency supporting basic research at the frontiers of discovery across all fields, as well as science and engineering education at all levels.
