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This is a Direct Hire Public Notice. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), Ocean Exploration and Research (OER), with four vacancies in Silver Spring, MD and Durham, NH.

As a Physical Scientist, you will perform the following duties:
  • Oversee expedition planning lifecycle from initial conception to completion. Plan and lead sea-going missions utilizing telepresence, ocean mapping sonars, remotely operated vehicles (ROV), human occupied vehicles (HOV), autonomous technologies and/or novel technologies including logistical planning and conducting operational evaluations of new technologies and concepts of operation.
  • Provide project management support for ocean exploration projects and expeditions. Develop and ensure completion of expedition reporting and summary products. Review technical procedures and evaluate scientific data integrity and quality. Utilize geospatial software and geographic information systems (GIS) databases to analyze and collect GIS data.
  • Assess and develop resolutions for ocean mapping and exploration challenges. Stay informed on regulations and guidelines as well as new program requirements and ocean resource management decisions. Make recommendations to leadership for future technology improvements, new data products, and improvements to operations.
  • Communicate scientific information to technical and non-technical audiences (verbally and in writing) at outreach and educational events and others to develop and execute expedition engagement plans and activities, including coordinating and supporting in port events, ship tours, and live interactions.

Conditions of Employment

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National to apply.Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.Must be suitable for Federal employment.Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov)Qualifications requirements must be met by closing date of announcement.·         As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee’s duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination by November 22, 2021 or before appointment or onboarding with the agency, if after November 22. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of the agency a legally required exception from this requirement.
·         Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement within 45 days. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the agency’s telework policy. 
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. 
Salary ranges will vary based on the location. Please visit: OPM Salary Charts  for specific salary information related to a specific location.
The ZP-3 is equivalent to the GS-11/12. 
The full performance level of the position is ZP-3 or GS-12.

Category Rating, Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to this Public Notice.

* A one year probationary period may be required.

* Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.

* This position is not in the bargaining unit.


Qualifications

(continued from Requirements section)
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: This position requires the operation of a Federal Motor vehicle. This position has physical requirements. 
  • 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.
  • Able to work up to 12 hours per day of variable hours while deployed to field units, for up to 30 days including weekends & holidays.
  • Ability to work aboard moving vessels & lift/wear/perform in equipment that weighs up to 50 lbs.
  • May require use of government vehicle to transport gear to vessels.
NOTE:

*This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Physical Scientist, ZP-1301-3 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-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:
  • Planning or leading at-sea ocean exploration or ocean research projects (i.e. ocean mapping, hydrographic survey, ocean exploration, oceanography, marine geology, benthic ecology, marine science, geophysics, deep sea science, biology, GIS, geography, marine archaeology, or a related ocean science discipline) and utilizing geospatial and GIS software; 
  • Acquiring and/or processing data from ocean mapping and/or science projects and/or research cruises/expeditions; and
  • Supporting communication and outreach activities, such as interacting with school groups and working across different academic or industry partnerships, and delivering reports, briefings, and/or presentations to various audiences.
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: A combination of education and experience as described above. Note: Only graduate-level education in excess of two years is qualifying for combination of education and experience.


Education

College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.

Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.




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SALARY WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE LOCATION OF THE POSITION YOU SELECT.