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This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Coast Survey (OCS), in the Hydrographic Surveys Division’s (HSD), with 2 vacancies in Silver Spring, MD.
This position is also announced under vacancy number NOS-OCS-2020-0014, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.
Learn more about this agency05/20/2020 to 06/01/2020
$48,670 - $112,240 per year
ZP 2 - 3
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
50% or less - Up to 50% of domestic travel may be required for this position. Occasional foreign travel may be required. (Physical Scientists in the Hydrographic Surveys Division are deployed to NOAA field units up to 180 days per year.)
No
Permanent
Full-Time
Competitive
3 - If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you may be non-competitively promoted if you perform successfully and if recommended by management.
No
No
NOS-OCS-2020-0015
568692000
As a Physical Scientist, you will perform the following duties:
NOTE: These duties are described at the full performance level of the ZP-3; the ZP-2 is developmental leading to such performance.
This position requires a Low Risk Security Clearance.
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 ZP-2 is equivalent to the GS-07/09.
The ZP-3 is equivalent to the GS-11/12.
* A one year probationary period may be required.
* Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.
* This position is not in the bargaining unit.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: This position has physical requirements.
Physical Scientists in the Hydrographic Surveys Division are deployed to NOAA field units up to 180 days per year. Employees must work aboard small boats on inland and near-coastal waters in extreme environmental conditions and choppy seas. They must be capable and comfortable ascending and descending rope ladders to embark/disembark small boats from ships for operations. Employees must be able to work aboard a moving vessel and occasionally lift/wear/perform in equipment that weighs up to 50 lbs.
All persons embarked on a NOAA ship must be able to perform normal work functions and possibly personal emergency response functions while the ship is underway. Employees must be capable of working up to 12 hours per day of variable hours while deployed to field units, for up to 30 days including weekends and holidays.
SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR FOR THE ZP-2: Applicants must demonstrate experience in assisting with hydrographic survey data acquisition and processing. Your application materials must clearly demonstrate this. Failure to do so will result in your application being marked as ineligible.
SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR FOR THE ZP-3: Applicants must demonstrate experience performing hydrographic surveys and in developing hydrographic survey requirements, including appropriate methods (i.e. multibeam vs. side scan sonar). Your application materials must clearly demonstrate this. Failure to do so will result in your application being marked as ineligible.
(continued from Requirements section)
NOTES:
This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Physical Scientist, ZP-1301-2/3 positions throughout NOAA. The position must be alike (e.g.: within the same geographic locations, same grade/band and requires the same qualifications and specialized experience as indicated in this vacancy announcement).
Applicants must meet ALL application requirements, to include a complete online resume, by 11:59 p.m. EASTERN TIME (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
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.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience OR substitution of education for experience OR combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements:
To qualify for the 1301 series:
EDUCATION:
A. 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
B. 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.
-AND-
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 ZP‐2 or GS‐07 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-1 or GS-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
-OR-
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: One full year of graduate-level education.
-OR-
SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Demonstrated by a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with one of the following. NOTE It is your responsibility to ensure your application clearly states how you meet one of the provisions below:
-OR-
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience.
*AND*
SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR FOR THE ZP-2: Applicants must demonstrate experience in assisting with hydrographic survey data acquisition and processing. Your application materials must clearly demonstrate this. Failure to do so will result in your application being marked as ineligible.
To qualify at the ZP‐3 or GS‐11 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-2 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
-OR-
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
-OR-
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: An equivalent combination of graduate level education and specialized experience is qualifying. NOTE: Only graduate level education in excess of two years is qualifying for a combination of education and experience.
*AND*
SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR FOR THE ZP-3: Applicants must demonstrate experience performing hydrographic surveys and in developing hydrographic survey requirements, including appropriate methods (i.e. multibeam vs. side scan sonar). Your application materials must clearly demonstrate this. Failure to do so will result in your application being marked as ineligible.
CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible 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:
ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
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.
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.
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. For more information on Category Rating, please go to Category Rating.
The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:
ALL GRADES:
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.
Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at https://www.usajobs.gov/. To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents.
To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at http://www.usajobs.gov and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.
If you have problems completing your on-line application, including problems submitting your supporting documents, please contact the Help Desk by e-mail at mgshelp@monster.com or by phone at (866) 656-6831. The help desk is available Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET
For instructions on submitting your application in an alternate format, please contact the Agency Contact listed in this vacancy announcement.
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://www.usajobs.gov and clicking on “Track Your Online Application.” The four points of notification are:
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans’ preference, disability, etc.).
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/568692000. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency within the US Department of Commerce that focuses on the conditions of the oceans, major waterways, and the atmosphere. NOAA warns of dangerous weather, charts seas, guides the use and protection of ocean and coastal resources, and conducts research to provide understanding and improve stewardship of the environment.
Watch the following video for more about NOAA - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBBnYBiY1rc
Click here to learn more about the National Ocean Service (NOS) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OVb5jaFZNPxcvy9gRoKIk0Nd_gzciqla/view
