Duties

This position is being filled under DoD Modified Direct Hire Authority, Section 1109; PL, 116-92, dated 12/20/2019 .

As a PHYSICAL SCIENTIST at the GS-1301-13/14 some of your typical work assignments may include:

• This is a senior-expert level position, involving work for which technical problem definitions, methods, and/or data are highly incomplete, controversial, or uncertain.
• Serves as a senior level expert and is recognized as technical authority with responsibility for assignments involving formulating reviews of multi-faceted work; serving as an expert in wargaming exercises, table-top exercises and the application of modeling/simulation tools; authoring research concepts to address capability gaps; evaluating research and development programs; providing expertise in the the development of computational physics-based tools, models, and algorithms that address complex CBRN threats and subsequent consequences of effects to warfighters and civilians.
• Directs and manages extensive and complex research and development activities performed by U.S. government agencies and their laboratories, academia, industry, and other governments, aimed at providing the scientific and technological advancements necessary to provide or improve chemical or biological defense capabilities for the CBDP and the warfighter.
• Identifies and translates customer requirements into technical objectives, evaluates alternatives for achieving objectives, and generates technical and fiscal program plans.
• Plans, coordinates, integrates, implements, and evaluates research and development programs in the broad areas of modeling and simulation, data analysis, and analytics.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Occasional Travel - Periodic CONUS and occasional international travel is required.
• Work Schedule: Full-time
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Overtime: Occasionally
• Tour of Duty: Flexible
• Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
• Financial Disclosure: Required
• Telework Eligibility: This position is telework eligible
• COVID19: Please see, additional information.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.
• Subject to pre-employment drug testing and periodic drug testing thereafter.
• This is an Acquisition Workforce position in the Engineering and Technical Management functional area. The incumbent will be required to become certified in the Practitioner tier within 5 years.
• The incumbent is required to acquire a minimum of 40 continuous learning points (CLPs) every fiscal year as a goal and 80 CLPs being mandatory within 2 years.
• Incumbent must file a Financial Disclosure Statement.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid passport.

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS 14 , if you fulfill the following qualifications:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service as listed below:

• Extensive experience with and expert knowledge of wargaming exercises, table-top exercises and the application of modeling/simulation tools to support such activities.
• Extensive experience in and expert knowledge of utilizing scientific principles applicable to the development of computational physics-based tools, models, and algorithms that address complex CBRN threats and subsequent consequences of effects to warfighters and civilians.
• Extensive experience in creating and assessing complex portfolios of research and development projects; including gap analysis, strategy development and implementation, and project initiation.
• Extensive experience developing financial plans associated with complex multi-project research and development portfolios, and expert knowledge of DoD acquisition policies and procedures.
• Experience managing financial resources for a complex, multi-project research portfolio to achieve obligation and expenditure goals.

You may qualify at the GS 13 , if you fulfill the following qualifications:

B. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12grade level in the Federal service as listed below:

• Experience and general knowledge of wargaming exercises, table-top exercises and the application of modeling/simulation tools to support such activities.
• Experience and general knowledge of utilizing scientific principles applicable to the development of computational physics-based tools, models, and algorithms that address complex CBRN threats and subsequent consequences of effects to warfighters and civilians.
• Experience creating research and development programs/projects.
• Experience developing financial plans associated with multi-project research and development portfolios, and basic knowledge of DoD acquisition policies and procedures.
• Experience managing financial resources for research projects to achieve obligation and expenditure goals.
  

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.

In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 1301, series as listed below:

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 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.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims.

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

COVID19 - To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

DELETE if not used for your agency:
Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily or intermittently telework.

Other Notes:
ACQUISITION POSITION: This is an Acquisition Workforce position in the Engineering & Technical Management functional area. The incumbent will be required to become certified in the Practitioner tier within 5 years. The incumbent is required to acquire a minimum of 40 continuous learning points (CLPs) every fiscal year as a goal and 80 CLPs being mandatory within 2 years.

RE-EMPLOYED ANNUITANT: This position DOES NOT meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf

All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see Who Needs to Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov) )