Research Physical Scientist ZP-1301-3/4 (Direct Hire)

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Department of Commerce

Job Summary

IMPORTANT APPLICATION DEADLINE: It is anticipated that there will be significant interest in this announcement. As a result the announcement will close at 11:59 PM EST on the date of receipt of the 150th application or at 11:59 PM EST on April 15th, 2020; whichever occurs first. This is a Direct Hire Public Notice. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior tosubmitting your application for consideration.

Major Duties

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), with 2 vacancies in Silver Spring, MD, 1 vacancy in Norman, OK, and 7 vacancies in Boulder, CO.

Positions in Silver Spring, MD are with the Climate Program Office’s Ocean Observing and Monitoring Division and will lead Argo and Arctic Research Program activities. The position in Norman, OK, is with the National Severe Storms Laboratory and will lead Warn-on-Forecast Program activities. Positions in Boulder, CO are with the Earth System Research Laboratory’s Global Systems Division and will lead advanced technology, numerical weather prediction data assimilation, decision support services, and impact-based verification activities.

As a Research Physical Scientist, you will perform the following duties:

  • Formulate and conduct a research or non-research program of considerable scope and complexity under general guidance, in some positions directing a research team or providing technical supervision of mission-supporting scientific and engineering work.
  • Manage, plan, organize, and carry out research for critical problems of the physical science phenomena, ensuring the effective integration of the program's science, objectives, and planning while analyzing, developing, and executing resolutions to difficult and complex scientific policy, procedural, and theoretical issues.
  • Lead physical science investigations of long range problems requiring the use of a variety of theories and techniques, to assess the dynamic interaction of the phenomena studied, recommend solutions, publish scientific and technical papers, and attend or present at conferences, meetings, and workshops.
  • Conduct scientific research related to complex physical science processes.

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.EDUCATION:

To

qualify for the 1301 series:

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of specialized experience in order to be found minimally qualified. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:

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 an 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-3 or GS-11 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, 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: Providing technical support for planning, managing, and conducting oceanographic or meteorological investigations and analyses; and

Assisting with developing environmental processes associated with coastal and open-ocean systems, or meteorological systems. OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Master's or equivalent graduate degree.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of graduate level education and experience as described above. To qualify at the ZP-4 or GS-13 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:In addition to meeting the basic requirements, 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: Assisting with planning and conducting oceanographic or meteorological investigations and analyses;

Assisting with managing oceanographic or meteorological investigations and/or marine meteorology and/or related disciplines problems; and

Drafting technical oceanographic or meteorological research reports or papers for potential presentation or publication.

Pay Range

$64,009.00 - $157,709.00

More information...

End Date: 

Wednesday, April 15, 2020