This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/651058400. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
This is the position of Astronomer, Optical Telescope Data Center (OTDC) Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory (FLWO), Optical and Infrared Astronomy Division (OIR), Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO). The purpose of the position is to facilitate and participate in the scientific investigations carried out using the 1.5-Meter Tillinghast, 1.3m, 1.2m, and other FLWO telescopes located on Mt. Hopkins in Amado, AZ.
Learn more about this agency04/26/2022 to 06/18/2022
$95,648 - $124,340 per year
IS 13
1 vacancy in the following location:
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required to attend scientific, technical, or administrative meetings or other functions at SAO or other institutions.
No
Permanent - This position is open to all qualified candidates. Permanent - Trust Fund Indefinite - This is NOT a federal position.
Full-time - Full Time
Competitive
13
No
No
22-46
651058400
1.Serves as the scientific lead and manages the day-to-day science operations of the FLWO 1.5m, 1.3m, and 1.2m telescopes and associated instrumentation. This includes the following:
Qualification requirements are derived from the Office of Personnel Management's Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on the web at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/IORs/gs1300/1330. Qualification requirements must be met within 30 days after the closing date of announcement.
All applicants must meet these Basic Requirements:
Degree in one or a combination of astronomy, physics, mathematics, space science, or electronics. The course work must have included differential and integral calculus and 12 semester hours in astronomy and/or physics.
OR
Combination of education and experience -- at least 30 semester hours of courses equivalent to a major in any combination of astronomy, space science, physics, mathematics, and electronics, with required course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
In addition to Basic Requirements above, you must have one year of specialized experience (Federal or other) that is equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal government performing the following duties: Operating a meter class telescope at a research or university observatory, coordinating/directing the work of others, and participating in a research project in astronomy or astrophysics. Specialized experience for this position would typically include activities such as participating in the management of the operation of meter class telescopes and associated instruments, operating a telescope at a world class or university observatory, leading independent astronomical or astrophysics research, and publishing papers in astronomical journals and conference proceedings.
PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the average number of hours per week spent in such employment.
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE One full year of graduate level education in astronomy, physics, mathematics, space science, or electronics or A Bachelor's degree with a major in any combination of astronomy, space science, physics, mathematics, and electronics with Superior Academic Achievement.
COMBINATION OF GRADUATE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE If you have less than the full amount of graduate education and less than the amount of experience described, but have a combination of the type of graduate education and the type of experience described, you may meet the minimum requirements for the position. The total percentage of education and experience must equal at least 100 percent to qualify under this provision.
ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. Failure to provide your college transcripts or a list of completed college courses will result in you not receiving consideration for this position, and you will receive an ineligible rating.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements. You must show proof that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.
NOTE: The Smithsonian does not recognize academic degrees from schools that are not accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the Department of Education. Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from Federal employment to removal from Federal service.
Relocation expenses will not be paid.
A recruitment bonus may be paid, if eligible.
Employees must participate in Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds for salary payment.
The Smithsonian embraces diversity and equal employment opportunity.
Because the employee must travel unpaved mountain road in SAO vehicles, possession of a valid driver’s license is required along with the ability to responsibly drive SAO vehicles.
Incumbent will be required to respond to telescope operational emergencies that can arise at any time, and may require off-hours, on-site presence.
The ability to work at an altitude of ~8,650’ is required
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your application will be evaluated first for the basic qualifications described above. Applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:
Important Note: Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience. Your resume should provide detailed information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.
Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position.
Your application package should include the following documents:
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.
Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page. Please Note:
You will receive an e-mail to acknowledge that your application has been received. Please be aware that the confirmation e-mail could reside in your "junk" or "bulk" mail folder depending on your filters. The Smithsonian receives many applications for each job. Each application is reviewed carefully which may take a few weeks. We will send you an e-mail to update you as we go through phases of the application review process. You may also check your application status by logging into www.usajobs.gov and selecting the tab "My USAJOBS;" e-mailing vacancy.info@si.edu; or by contacting the Office of Human Resources Representative listed.
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/651058400. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is part of what is arguably the largest and most diverse astrophysical institution in the world, where the staff carries out a broad program of research in astronomy, astrophysics and earth and space sciences. If you would like to join this exciting organization, apply today!