Duties

Summary

This position is part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

As a Physical Science Technician at the GS-1311-12 some of your typical work assignments may include:

• In collaboration with the DTRA RSO; provide assigned technical, administrative, and/or functional support to the radiation safety program management.
• Write, review, and revise health physics work procedures to ensure safe and regulatory compliant work processes.
• Analyze data and compare routine readings with historical and pre-determined standards.
• Develop and provide radiation safety training to workers with experience that may vary from novice to expert.
• Perform site assistance visits to evaluate and help improve radiation work practices and procedures.
• Evaluate and advise the radiation safety management on unusual radiological work environments, work processes and other radiological problems.
• Review contractor radiation safety plans to ensure work practices are in accordance with DTRA's NRC license requirements and applicable mandates.
• Review radioactive work packages and shipping documentation to ensure radiological work and shipments are completed in accordance with applicable mandates.
• Audit and evaluate radiological work for procedural compliance and best radiological work practices.
• Assist with site radiation safety program inspections for compliance with established procedures, policies and regulations.
• Support sites with the development and implementation of improved work practices consistent with DTRA's As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) program.
• Provide technical assistance or feedback to other groups working with DTRA, inside and outside of the organization.
• Ensure safe methods and procedures for radiological handling, storing, disposing, and decontaminating are followed by DTRA employees and contractors.
• Review, evaluate, and recommend plans and specifications for new construction, site or building alterations, and/or changes in facilities, equipment, and operations involving hazardous sources of ionizing radiation to ensure radiological sources are stored safely and in accordance with applicable mandates.
• Evaluate radiological exposures for DTRA personnel and contractors based on work performed to evaluate compliance with ALARA work practices.
• Enter personnel and uploads dosimetry results, assigns dosimeters and maintains the occupational radiation exposure record system for DTRA radiation workers.
• Perform dose investigations and estimates for events that result in unexpected ionizing radiation exposures involving DTRA personnel and contractors.
• Perform radiological surveys, leak tests, inventories and other radiological work at DTRA facilities.
• Provide assistance during emergency responses involving radioactive materials and/or other radiation sources.
• Keep abreast of technical developments in the radiation safety field and assists to incorporate applicable advancement into the DTRA program to assure it embodies the latest practices.
• Assist with the development of guidelines for DTRA operations where existing guidelines are inadequate or do not exist.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Travel in the performance of temporary assignments may be required within the CONUS and OCONUS.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service http://www.sss.gov
• Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Work Schedule: Fulltime
• Overtime: Occasionally
• Tour of Duty: Flexible
• Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
• Financial Disclosure: Not Required
• Telework Eligibility: This position is telework eligible
• PCS: Not Authorized
• Overtime/compensatory time may be required to accommodate operational needs of the organization.
• Must consent to and pass pre-employment drug testing and be subject to periodic random drug testing thereafter.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET/SCI security clearance.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid passport

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS-12, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service:

• Writing, reviewing, and revising health physics work procedures to ensure safe and regulatory compliant work processes.
  
• Developing and providing radiation safety training to workers with experience that may vary from novice to expert.
• Evaluating and advising the radiation safety management on unusual radiological work environments, work processes and other radiological problems.
• Performing dose investigations and estimates for events that result in unexpected ionizing radiation exposures
• Performing radiological surveys, leak tests, inventories and other radiological work

Individual Occupational Requirements (1311):
Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above):

Examples of qualifying specialized experience include work in the fields of astronomy, physics, geophysics, chemistry, hydrology, health physics, engineering, electronics, geology, oceanography, and metallurgy.

Experience as a laboratory mechanic or in a trade or craft may be credited as general or specialized experience when the work was performed in close association with physical scientists or other technical personnel and provided intensive knowledge of appropriate scientific principles, methods, techniques, and precedents.

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.

Education

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

Additional information

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: http://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/

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume and supporting documents, to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and evaluate your relevant work experiences as it relates to fundamental competencies, identified below, required for this position.

Competencies:

• Communication
• Performance of radiological work
• Proving radiological training
• Radiological work procedures

Based on the results of this evaluation, you will be placed in one of the following quality categories:

Best Qualified: This highest category will be used for those candidates who possess the type and quality of experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, including any selective placement factors and/or appropriate quality ranking factor(s), as determined by the job analysis.
Highly Qualified: This higher category will be used for those candidates who possess the type and quality of experience that exceed the minimum qualifications of the position, including any selective placement factors and/or appropriate quality ranking factor(s) as determined by the job analysis.
Qualified: This lowest category will be used for those candidates that meet the minimum qualifications of the position, including all selective placement factors and appropriate quality ranking factor(s) and are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the position. Candidates may require extensive training and/or orientation in order to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Category-Rating

Names of the candidates in the Best Qualified category will be sent first to the hiring manager for employment consideration. Applicants in other categories will be referred in accordance with category rating procedures.

Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to veterans preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. If you are entitled to veterans' preference and qualified for the position, your name will be placed above non-preference candidates on a list sent to the hiring manager for employment consideration. Qualified veterans' preference eligible with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category depending on the position and grade level of the job.
For information on entitlement see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx .

Military Spouse Preference: If you are entitled to military spouse preference, in order to receive this preference you must choose the spousal eligibility in your application package referencing MSP Military Spouse Preference. Your preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. If you are claiming military spouse preference and qualified for the position, your name will be placed below preference eligible veteran candidates and above non-preference candidates on a list sent to the hiring manager for employment consideration. To claim Military Spouse Preference (MSP) please complete the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist , save the document and attach it to your application package.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

The documents you are required to submit vary based on the authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying as a veteran, applying as a current permanent Federal employee, applying as a reinstatement, etc).
Your complete application includes your COMPLETE resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

The following documents are REQUIRED:
1. Your resume:

• Your resume may be submitted on any format. It must include your name and contact information and support the specialized experience described in this announcement.
• For qualifications determinations your resume must contain the number of hours worked per week and the dates of employment (i.e., "HRS per week and month/year to month/year" or "HRS per week and month/year to present").
• For additional information see: What to include in your resume

2. Veteran's Documents:

If applying using veteran's preference or under a Veteran's hiring authority you must submit the following documents

• DD214 showing character of service, SF-15 Form and VA letter showing final percentage, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty.

PLEASE REVIEW THE BELOW LINK FOR OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS needed for proof of eligibility:
https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/FourthEstateRequiredSupportingDocumentation%2011-16-2020.pdf?ver=Lgkkn1HW9a8is7V2lyCS2Q%3d%3d

If you are claiming Military Spouse Preference, you must submit supporting documents with your application package. These documents must provide acceptable information to verify: you reside within the commuting area of your sponsor's permanent duty station (PDS); proof of marriage to the active duty sponsor, proof of military member's active duty status, and other documentation required by the vacancy announcement to which you are applying; and must meet all pre-employment criteria and be eligible for immediate noncompetitive appointment to a position in the competitive service. Documentation required: Marriage Certificate or License, Signed Self-Certification Checklist, Veterans' Preference documentation (e.g., DD-214, VA Letter, Statement of Service, if applicable), Transcripts (if applicable). Additional documentation required if previously held a federal position: SF-50s (e.g., LWOP, highest grade held, overseas appointments, etc.), SF-75 Information, and documentation of performance rating of record (dated within the last 12 months)

For More Information: https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo.pdf

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.