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What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position?
Salary: GS-12 $76,730 (Step 01) to $99,753 (Step 10); GS-13 $91,242 (Step 01) to $118,612 (Step 10); NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.
Open to current or former Federal employees: SAC-2020-0064
There is one vacancy; however, this announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies if they become available.
Learn more about this agency11/18/2019 to 12/06/2019
$76,730 - $118,612 per year
GS 12 - 13
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - Overnight travel of 1-5 nights per month may be required.
Yes—Payment of relocation expenses is authorized.
Permanent
Full-Time
Competitive
13
No
No
SAC-2020-0028
552015300
As a Geophysicist within the Volcano Science Center, Hawai‘i Volcano Observatory (HVO), some of your specific duties will include:
- Oversees HVO’s geodetic instrumentation, data acquisition, processing, and archiving.
- In consultation with senior scientists, plans for expansion of geodetic monitoring equipment to augment existing networks and oversees design and installation by HVO technical staff and others.
- Organizes and oversees surveys to collect geophysical data, especially deformation monitoring data ensuring that data are of high quality
- Manages collaborative agreements with other institutions who share geodetic data with HVO and responds to requests for HVO geodetic data.
- Performs geodetic research: Applies and modifies existing models to geodetic data to support understanding of magmatic systems and volcano-tectonic processes in Hawai‘i.
Note: This position is with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), Volcano Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, located on the Island of Hawai'i. The primary mission of HVO is monitoring the active volcanoes of Hawai'i to provide timely warnings of volcano hazards. HVO conducts and supports research in volcanology and geodesy to assess hazards related to active and potentially active volcanoes, and to understand volcano-tectonic processes to improve its monitoring efforts. The incumbent is the authoritative source for volcano deformation data and information in Hawai‘i and leads all operational aspects of HVO’s geodetic monitoring program. The incumbent plans and oversees installation and upgrades of geodetic monitoring instrumentation in collaboration with the HVO technical group, supervises junior staff and volunteers, collects, processes, and interprets geodetic data from a variety of sources, and contributes to research and publications. Results are of critical importance to HVO and the scientific community worldwide.
Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?
For GS-12:
In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must have one year of appropriate professional experience in geophysics that is equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service.
Examples of such experience include planning and executing complex geophysical studies, which usually involved intensive investigations into recognized phenomena. This work would have typically involved conventional methods & techniques though it required going beyond clear precedents, and required adapting methods to the problems at hand and interpreting findings in terms of their scientific significance. At this level, Geophysicists have a very good knowledge of the principles of geophysics and their application, and the ability to independently perform scientific work of considerable difficulty.
For GS-13:
In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must have one year of appropriate professional experience in geophysics that is equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service.
Examples of such experience include planning, executing and reporting on original or ongoing geophysical studies requiring a fresh approach to resolve new problems. The complexity of this work typically required extensive modification and adaptation of standard procedures, methods, and techniques, and the development of totally new methods and techniques to address novel or obscure problems for which guidelines or precedents were not substantially applicable. At this level, scientists have extensive knowledge of the principles of geophysics, exhibit a highly developed ability in their application, and have wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment to perform scientific work of marked difficulty and responsibility.
The incumbent of this position is entitled to a cost of living allowance (COLA) of 4.76% in addition to the salary. COLA may be subject to change at any time.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
--Vacancy Related Questions: As part of the online application process, you will need to respond to a series of questions designed to assess your possession of the following knowledge skills, abilities and/or competencies:
- Scientific Instrumentation
- Scientific Knowledge
- Laboratory Techniques
- Interpersonal Communication
- Compute/Analyze Data
- Information Management
- Technology Application
- Disseminate data
- Teamwork
--Basis of rating: Category rating will be used in the ranking and selection process for this position. The quality categories are Best Qualified and Qualified. 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, not qualified, or your score may be lowered.
--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 all unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) or list of course work, which includes semester hours earned and grade received, by the closing date of this announcement or you will be disqualified from further consideration. This proof may be faxed, document uploaded, or hand delivered to the servicing Human Resources Office (see "Required Documents" and/or "Contact Information"). Please ensure that all documentation is legible.
--If you are claiming veterans' preference you must provide a legible copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, member 4 copy or any official documentation or statement from the Armed Forces that confirms your dates of service and that your separation, discharge, or release from active duty was under honorable conditions (i.e., Honorable or General Discharge). Note: If you have more than one DD-214 for multiple periods of active duty, submit a copy for each period of service.
--If you are currently on active military duty, you must provide documentation (e.g., campaign document, award citation, etc.), that verifies entitlement to veterans’ preference and that your character of military service is honorable.
--If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, in addition to the documents specified above, you must also submit documentation that supports your claim, e.g., an official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs (dated 1991 or later) or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying the existence of a service-connected disability, or the award of the Purple Heart, etc. The overall rating must be identified on your certification letter or separation orders.
--Documentation must be received by the closing date shown in this vacancy announcement. If you fail to submit any of the required documentation, you will not be granted veterans’ preference. Additional information on veterans' preference can be found in the VetGuide.
--If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, the Servicing Human Resources Office must receive proof by the closing date of this announcement that you meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330 Subpart F for CTAP and 5 CFR 330 Subpart G for ICTAP or you will not receive priority consideration. This includes a copy of the agency notice, your most recent Performance Rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Required documents may be faxed, uploaded, or hand delivered to the servicing Human Resources Office (see "Contact Information"). If you are a CTAP or ICTAP eligible, you will be considered well qualified if you earn a minimum score of 85 (prior to the assignment of veteran's preference points). For more information on CTAP/ICTAP please click here.
--Required documents may be: 1)faxed to the Agency Contact (see "Contact Information") 2)uploaded directly from your desktop 3)uploaded directly from your USAJOBS stored attachments 4)hand delivered to the servicing Human Resources Office (see 'Contact Information').
--Auto-Requested Fax: allows you to submit required documentation that will be electronically displayed along with your resume.
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.
--Applications (resume and application questions) for this vacancy must be received on-line via USAJOBS BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online resume, you will not be considered for this position. Requests for extensions will not be granted. Most libraries, employment offices, and all USGS personnel offices can provide access to the Internet. If applying online poses a hardship for you, you must speak to someone in the Servicing Human Resources Office listed on this announcement PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE for assistance.
--Instructions for Applying Online for this Vacancy Announcement: 1)Click the blue "Apply Online" button. 2)If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile. 3)As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application. 4)Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen. 5)Address the eligibility questions as well as the questionnaire containing questions and/or task statements that address the knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies for this vacancy. 6)Submit required documents using one of the available methods listed below. 7) If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk.
--If you are rated as one of the most highly qualified candidates, you will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 30-45 days of the closing date of this announcement. You will be notified via email of the outcome. You can also go to "My Account" within USAJOBS to review your Application Status.
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/552015300. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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