Physical Scientist

Full Job Description

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), with multiple vacancies throughout NOS.

Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) has two vacancies located in Silver Spring, MD.

Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) has one vacancy located in Silver Spring, MD.

Office of Coast Survey (OCS) has one vacancy located in Silver Spring, MD; Seattle, WA; Norfolk, VA; or Durham, NH. 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-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ 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 an experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown 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: Participating in analyzing or evaluating data from oceanographic or hydrodynamic models; Identifying or recommending solutions or improvements for oceanographic or hydrodynamic models; and Assisting in developing technical reports or peer-reviewed publications related to coastal ocean modeling or technical procedures.

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 successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience may be used to meet the total experience requirements.

Note: Only graduate-level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower band level may be combined with experience.

To qualify at the ZP-4 or GS-13 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-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service.

Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Conducting research to advance oceanographic or hydrodynamic models from research into operational environments; Analyzing oceanographic or hydrodynamic models or data to diagnose and resolve model performance issues; and Producing, reviewing, or overseeing technical reports or peer-reviewed publications related to coastal ocean modeling or technical procedures.

Major Duties:

As a Physical Scientist, you will perform the following duties: Lead and manage the implementation of oceanographic or hydrodynamic models from research into operational applications (e.g.

through collaborative research teams or testbeds).

Identify and diagnose complex operational issues within the oceanographic or hydrodynamic model using advanced scientific analysis skills, develop innovative insights to resolve these operational issues, and implement solutions into operations on high performance computers.

Formulate and apply project management techniques to initiate, plan, manage and complete complex implementations in coordination with internal and external partners to ensure a successful implementation.

Identify strategies and performance measures for assigned projects and determine needs and allocation.

Communicate project status to technical and non-technical audiences both orally and in writing to support the development, implementation, and operational use of coastal ocean modeling capabilities.

Serve as a representative on technical boards and commissions both within the NOAA coastal ocean modeling community and externally.

Develop and sustain cooperative working relationships and alliances with coastal ocean modeling researchers and the NOAA operational coastal ocean modeling community.

Work with groups and committees related to physical and operational oceanographic applications and products in support of water level, current, modeling and prediction activities.

NOTE: These duties are described at the full performance level of the ZP-4; the ZP-3 is developmental leading to such performance.

Conditions of Employment: This position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle.

This position requires the operation of a government vehicle for field work, movement of equipment and/or supplies between buildings, acquisition of supplies, or meetings at other locations.

Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license to operate a government vehicle.

Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active.

Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.