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Physical Scientist

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Closing date
Apr 20, 2021
Duties

Summary

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

Responsibilities

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-1301-14/15 some of your typical work assignments may include:
  • Provides expert staff advice and consultation to the Chief, Nuclear Survivability Division; Director, Nuclear Technologies Department; Director, DTRA; and senior DTRA managers, as requested, on the effects of nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP).
  • Applies scientific knowledge of EMP propagation and coupling, particularly applied to effects on electronics, to the formulation of broad research and test objectives for EMP phenomenology.
  • Identifies the need for scientific investigations disclosed through interaction with DoD Service staffs and operating agencies, or through individual recognition of quantitative voids in knowledge due to insufficiency of prior Research and Development (R&D) or problem areas revealed in existing research problems.
  • Initiates and directs major procurement actions for implementation of research programs by DTRA and recommends R&D activities appropriate for military service organizations.
  • Ensures that results of research and test activities are appropriately documented and that they are provided to major users. Personally writes a portion of documents in his/her area of expertise.
  • In consultation with the NTS Division Chief and in accordance with established work flow, skill level, and or occupational specialization: identifies, distributes, and balances workload and tasks among employees assigned to support the portfolio.
  • Serves as Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) with responsibility for providing technical direction and managing contractor's performance in accordance with the statement of work.
  • Develops concept for R&D programs including methods for conducting such investigations, special techniques, and innovative approaches and determines whether such concepts can be correlated or combined with other research activities which are in the planning, development, or execution stage.
  • Develops integrated R&D programs to satisfy approved objectives for EMP engineering computer codes.
  • Coordinates research and program planning with appropriate DTRA and DoD activities.
  • Attends DoD, national and international meetings as DTRA representative or as a technical expert in area or expertise.


Travel Required

Occasional travel - Travel: Up to 25% of the time.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Occasional Travel
  • 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
  • PCS: Not Authorized
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET/SCI security clearance.
  • Subject to pre-employment drug testing and periodic random drug testing thereafter.
  • Overtime: The employee has considerable management responsibilities and occasional sort lead-time requirements that can require overtime.


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:
  • Understand principles of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) propagation and coupling
  • Nuclear weapons effects (NWE) to include high altitude EMP and radiation on DoD systems
  • Managing EMP research, knowledge of military standards, EMP protection technology, and test and evaluation (T&E) planning and execution
You may qualify at the GS 15 , if you fulfill the following qualifications:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service as listed below:
  • Understand principles of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) propagation and coupling
  • Nuclear weapons effects (NWE) to include high altitude EMP and radiation on DoD systems
  • Managing EMP research, knowledge of military standards, EMP protection technology, and test and evaluation (T&E) planning and execution

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.

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/general-physical-science-series-1301/

Education

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

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? 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: Foreign Education

Additional information

Other Notes:

This is an Acquisition Workforce position in the Science and Technology career field. The incumbent is required to become certified, Level II in the applicable career field within 24 months, unless a position requirements waiver is approved to extend the 24 months. The incumbent must obtain a minimum of 80 continuous learning points (CLPs) for every 2 year CLP period, with a goal of at least 40 annually.

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/

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx

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.

Traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply to this vacancy. Your application (resume and supporting documentation) will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required as listed on the announcement under qualification requirements.

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.

For information on entitlement see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx

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 in 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" or "HRS per week and month/year to present").
  • For additional information see: What to include in your resume.
2. Transcripts
  • This position has a degree or education requirement so you are required to submit a copy of your transcript
  • College transcript(s), required if qualifying based on education. We accept unofficial transcripts, as long as they contain your name, the name of the school, the date and degree that was awarded, and the lists of classes and credits earned.
3. 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 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.

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