PDF versionJob Summary
This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), The National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science(NCCOS), of the Stressor Detection and Impacts Division with one vacancy in Silver Spring, MD or Santa Cruz, CA. This position is also announced under vacancy number NOS-NCCOS-2020-0014, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.
Major Duties
As a Research Oceanographer, you will perform the following duties:
- Design and develop models and forecasts based on satellite, field, or laboratory data to better help managers and the public address issues of concern, including harmful algal blooms, coastal water quality, and coastal habitat characterization.
- Formulate and conduct scientific research work that addresses or answers important questions in the field, while receiving only general guidance on policy, resources, and planning.
- Manage multiple research projects and initiatives for securing external funding to support research activities.
- Provide technical advice to Congress, federal, state and local government agencies and overseeing testing and adoption of model and forecast products by stakeholder groups.
These duties are described at the full performance level of the ZP-4; the ZP-3 is developmental leading to such performance.
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
EDUCATION:
To qualify for the 1360 series:
A.Degree:major study of at least 24 semester hours in oceanography or a related discipline such as physics, meteorology, geophysics, mathematics, chemistry, engineering, geology, or biology, plus 20 additional semester hours in any combination of oceanography, physics, geophysics, chemistry, mathematics, meteorology, computer science, and engineering sciences.
-OR-
B.Combination of education and experience:course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Applicants who qualify on the basis of major study in biology or geology must have had at least 6 semester hours in the major directly concerned with marine science or 6 semester hours in oceanography; applicants who qualify on the basis of other physical sciences or engineering must have had differential and integral calculus and at least 6 semester hours in physics.
-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 theZP-3 or GS-11 level:SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In additionto meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-2 or GS-09in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Analyzing research of natural and physical ocean phenomena;
Utilizing satellite data for the research of natural and physical ocean phenomena; and
Presenting scientific oceanic information to a variety of audiences. -OR-SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION:Master’s or equivalent graduate degree.
-OR-COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:A combination of education and experience as described above.Note:Only graduate-level education in excess of one year is qualifying for combination of education and experience.
To qualify at the ZP-4 or GS-13 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:In addition to meeting thethe Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Conducting research for the enhancement of oceanographic models and forecasts;
Participating on scientific research teams tasked with conducting natural and physical oceanographic studies; and
Contributing to the development of scientific research findings for dissemination and publication.
Pay Range
$72,030.00 - $170,800.00