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PHYSICAL SCIENTIST

Department of Defense
Defense Threat Reduction Agency
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
12/20/2024 to 01/06/2025
Salary
$104,498 to - $160,533 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13 - 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Kirtland AFB, NM
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
DTRA-24-12645198-DH
Control number
825411700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens

Duties

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As a PHYSICAL SCIENTIST at the GS-1301-13/14 some of your typical work assignments may include:

  • Plans, coordinates, integrates, implements and evaluates research and development programs addressing war-fighter requirements for combating WMD capabilities, requiring regular contact with R&D managers and senior staff within DTRA, OSD, other DoD Agencies and external organizations to include contractors and the DOE. Contacts are primarily focused within the scientific and engineering communities supporting DTRA programs.
  • Presents scientific and engineering data to interested parties both within and external to the organization. Data relates to operational effectiveness of concepts, technical performance of systems, statistical comparisons.
  • Supports Program Managers by providing technical justification for the engineering, testing, or analysis that is driving funding and budget requirements. Assists Program Managers in preparing and processing acquisition statements of work, statements of objectives, evaluation criteria, and performance work statements, including objectives, evaluation criteria and conducting technical evaluations and program reviews as an integral member of a multi-disciplined Integrated Product Team. Assists in acquisition planning and reviews project progress, measuring performance, and taking necessary corrective actions to maintain agreed upon schedule and cost.
  • Plans, designs and carries out programs and studies for deriving realistic project concepts from high level mission requirements and turning them into studies and programs that can be executed by a program manager. Plans and independently manages programs advancing the state-of-the art in DoD capability to defeat or mitigate the effects of WMD possessed or employed by adversaries. Maintains technical knowledge/leadership in the development of DTRA applications. Speaks and deals authoritatively in his/her subject area and represents the Agency in interpreting Agency policy and practices to steer specific research efforts in discussions with contractors.
  • Establishes measures of effectiveness for R&D projects, monitors results to assess the degree contractors meet those measures, draws conclusions about the technical findings, draws conclusions to the priority, timing and direction future programs should take, and initiates necessary corrective actions.
  • Evaluates, on a continuing basis, performance of governmental and industry organizations pursuing program objectives, particularly as they relate to efforts requiring breakthroughs or
    involving highly controversial objectives.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Travel (up to 25%) is required.
  • Work Schedule: Full-time
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Overtime: Occasionally
  • Tour of Duty: Flexible
  • Recruitment Incentives: May Be Authorized
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Not Required
  • Telework Eligibility: This position is telework eligible
  • This is an Acquisition Workforce position in the Engineering and Technical Management functional area. The incumbent will be required to become certified in the Practitioner Tier.
  • This position requires the incumbent to be able to obtain and maintain a Special Sensitive- Top Secret/SCI security clearance.

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS 14 , if you fulfill the following qualifications:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service as listed below:

  • Knowledge of the theories, principles and methods in fields of engineering, mathematics, physics,
    geophysics, and/or chemistry sufficient to apply these to research and development of conventional weapons.
  • Knowledge of the process to plan, develop, coordinate, test, and evaluate research and development programs with limited direction and oversight, to address war-fighter requirements for combating weapons of mass destruction.
  • Knowledge of program planning and budgeting cycles, financial control and budget systems, and the basic principles of financial management.
  • Ability to recognize the need for and then develop new procedures to solve problems or to perform more refined analyses.
  • Advise others in the application of DoD/Agency rules, regulations and procedures; demonstrate the skill to identify problems, gather information, and draw conclusions, recommend solutions, etc.
  • Prepare papers and reports for publication.
  • Ability to develop statements of work, statements of objectives, evaluation criteria, and to review proposals in support of acquisition efforts.
  • Experience in independently establishing measures of effectiveness for R&D projects, monitoring results to assess measures were met and draw conclusions about technical findings, and report these conclusions to high level officials.
  • Experience in evaluating programs and draw conclusion to the priority, timing and direction future programs should take, in anticipation of future warfighter needs.
  • Experience in integrating and coordinating the efforts of others who are themselves experts within the government and industry pursuing research, development and projects, particularly as they relate to efforts requiring breakthroughs or highly involved controversial objectives
You may qualify at the GS 13 , if you fulfill the following qualifications:

B. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service as listed below:
  • Knowledge of the theories, principles and methods in fields of engineering, mathematics, physics,
    geophysics, and/or chemistry sufficient to apply these to research and development of conventional weapons.
  • Knowledge of the process to plan, develop, coordinate, test, and evaluate research and development programs with limited direction and oversight, to address war-fighter requirements for combating weapons of mass destruction.
  • Knowledge of program planning and budgeting cycles, financial control and budget systems, and the basic principles of financial management.
  • Ability to recognize the need for and then develop new procedures to solve problems or to perform more refined analyses.
  • Advise others in the application of DoD/Agency rules, regulations and procedures; demonstrate the skill to identify problems, gather information, and draw conclusions, recommend solutions, etc.
  • Prepare papers and reports for publication.
  • Ability to develop statements of work, statements of objectives, evaluation criteria, and to review proposals in support of acquisition efforts.
In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 1301, series as listed below:

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 in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

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.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims.

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

Other Notes:

ACQUISITION POSITION: This is an Acquisition Workforce position in the Engineering & Technical Management functional area. The incumbent will be required to become certified in the Practitioner tier within 5 years. The incumbent is required to acquire a minimum of 40 continuous learning points (CLPs) every year as a goal and 80 CLPs being mandatory within 2 years.

RE-EMPLOYED ANNUITANT: This position DOES/DOES NOT meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf

All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see Who Needs to Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov))

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 and supporting documents, to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and evaluate your relevant work experiences as it relates to fundamental competencies, identified below, required for this position.

Traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply to this vacancy. Your application (resume and supporting documentation) will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required as listed on the announcement under qualification requirements.

Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to veterans preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency.

For information on entitlement see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx

Military Spouse Preference: If you are entitled to military spouse preference, in order to receive this preference you must choose the spousal eligibility in your application package referencing MSP Military Spouse Preference. Your preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. If you are claiming military spouse preference and qualified for the position, your name will be placed below preference eligible veteran candidates and above non-preference candidates on a list sent to the hiring manager for employment consideration. To claim Military Spouse Preference (MSP) please complete the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist, save the document and attach it to your application package.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program(ICTAP): This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria AND 2) be rated well-qualified for the position AND 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. Well-qualified means you possess the type and quality of experience that exceeds the position's minimum qualifications. See the Required Documents section of this announcement for more information.

Appointment of Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612) (NonComp Mil Sp): To receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the " Appointment of Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612) (NonComp Mil Sp)" eligibility. If you are claiming Military Spouse eligibility and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager. Information and required documentation for claiming Military Spouse eligibility may be found at the General Applicant Information and Definitions link below.

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