Physical Scientist

• Duties

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Duties

Summary

These positions are to be filled under the OPM Government-Wide Direct Hire Authority Certain STEM Positions for grades GS 11-15. This serves as a public notice for the use of the Direct Hire Authority in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3327 and 3330 and 5 CFR 330. Applications will be accepted for each location/ installation identified. There may or may not be actual/projected vacancies at the time you submit your application.

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Responsibilities

This series includes positions that involve professional work in the physical sciences and may include work in a combination of physical science fields.

As a Physical Scientist, at minimum you will:

• Provide scientific advice and guidance to officials, managers, scientists, and engineer.
• Serve as an expert for a significant segment of a specific area in one or more of the following: advanced scientific computing research; basic energy sciences; biological and environmental research; fusion energy sciences; high energy physics; nuclear physics; and workforce development.
• Provide technical guidance on proposed research projects and programs of interest.
• Coordinate, implement, and evaluate segments of research programs in the assigned area of responsibility.
• Assemble essential information on topics of assigned segments of research through various source materials.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

None

• Job family (Series)

1301 General Physical Science

• Requirements

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Subject to satisfactory security and suitability requirements.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Positions are located agency-wide and may be filled as permanent, term, or temporary with a full-time or part-time work schedule. Pay will vary by geographic location.
• Appointments made with this authority will be processed as a new appointment into the Civil Service.
• The vacancies filled through these appointments have varying levels of background investigative requirements, up to?a Top Secret -?DOE "Q" clearance.

Qualifications

You must meet the Basic Requirement and "Specialized Experience" to qualify for this series as described below.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

The specialized experience listed are the minimum requirements for the series, each particular vacancy may have additional experience necessary to meet the applicable grade level.

A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for these positions are defined as:

GS-11: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Experience includes conducting site investigations and surveys to determine compliance requirements; participating in policy and guidance development to enable organizational implementation of policy or program initiatives; assisting in preparing technical reports, standard operating procedures, correspondence, and local guidance documents to achieve and support compliance with Federal and local guidelines; and providing research and science support information for program policy or program management.

OR

3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

GS-12: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Experience includes communicating progress, status, and approval in order to evolve efficient and technically adequate responses; providing assistance in the planning, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of research programs; analyzing regulations to resolve environmental compliance issues during project execution; leading a research group and/or project; and/or assisting with monitoring program implementation and making recommendations on the allocation of resources.

NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 level.

GS-13: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Experience includes communicating progress, status, and approval in order to evolve efficient and technically adequate responses; preparing reports to recommend solutions to compliance issues; performing consulting or other professional, scientific, technical, administrative, fiscal, or other specialized work; and/or performing management planning duties such as concept development, master integration planning, and programming design for programs or projects, taking into account feasibility, costs, and economics.

NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-13 level.

GS-14: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Experience includes performing consulting or other professional, scientific, technical, administrative, fiscal, or other specialized work; reviewing and evaluating program priorities and conduct periodic scientific reviews to evaluate facility performance; preparing, justifying, and supporting the portions of the budget relating to the program; and/or analyzing regulations to resolve compliance issues during project execution.

NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-14 level.

GS-15: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service. Experience includes evaluating the effect of technical developments on fundamental policies, objectives and goals; developing new concepts, plan, and evaluate long-range programs and projects; planning and executing specialized programs on scientific, technical, administrative, and fiscal matters; and/or developing and managing funding for scientific research programs, determining funding levels, and recommending proposal, denials and program determinations for assigned programs.

NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-15 level.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

OPM Qualification Standards for the GS-1301 series can be found at the following website: OPM Qualification Standards for the GS-1301 series.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

This public notice may be used to fill multiple positions as needed; therefore, applicants must meet the qualifications at the time the applications are reviewed.

Education

Basic Requirement:

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.

This position has a positive education requirement. Therefore, you MUST provide documentation supporting any education claims in your application. This documentation can include unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned and final grade. For specific education requirements, please see the Education Requirements.

If selected, official transcripts may be requested.