Duties

Summary

A successful candidate in this position will:

• Serve as a professional Physical Scientist with an in-depth knowledge of a wide range of topics in experimental condensed matter physics and materials science. This includes detailed understanding of quantum materials and quantum information science; unconventional superconductivity; magnetism; low-dimensional electron systems; and topologically protected states and related dynamics.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

As a GS-15 Physical Scientist you will:

• Serve as a program manager for experimental condensed matter physics to support the discovery and understanding of functional materials with novel properties, especially for energy applications.
• Examine and ascertain pioneering research needs and opportunities of this research program against scientific and technological advances and of potential needs of the agency.
• Prepare calls for proposals, organize independent peer reviews, recommend funding allocations, organize Principal Investigator meetings, serve as a liaison on committees, and assess scientific progress of the program.
• Develop connections and interfaces between the projects supported within the program and other research programs; secure essential information in all aspects of a broad range of work that serves the core research programs.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional travel to attend training, meetings, or conferences may be required.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• See "Other Information" section regarding Selective Service requirements.
• A one year probationary period may be required.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Subject to the appropriate background investigation to determine suitability or fitness for federal employment. Continued employment is contingent upon favorable adjudications of periodic reinvestigations, if applicable.
• This position requires a Non-Sensitive Moderate Risk background investigation.
• You are required to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE-450, Executive Branch Personnel Confidential Financial Disclosure Report upon entering the position and annually (5CFR Part 2634, Subpart I USOGE, 6/08). For additional information and to obtain the form, please visit the Office of Government Ethics.
• This position is included in a Bargaining Agreement.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications Requirements 1301:

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.

In addition to the meeting the basic education requirements above, applicants must possess the experience below.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as:

• Serving as a professional physical scientist/physicist with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of a wide range of experimental techniques for functional materials relevant to energy applications.
• Developing and preparing technical and analytical documents to communicate with senior management on the programmatic status and new developments and opportunities in the area of experimental approaches to advance research in materials and condensed matter physics.
• Serving as a technical expert and consultant to other scientists and senior management in areas of assigned responsibility. Consulting and negotiating with leading scientific personnel both nationally and internationally on sensitive issues and complex areas of importance to all involved parties.

Your application and resume should demonstrate that you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your application how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the KSAs identified below. Cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write "see resume" in your application!

Knowledge and understanding of broad experimental research including correlated electron effects and coupling to charge, spin and lattice degrees of freedom; competing or coherent quantum interactions; superconductivity; magnetism; topologically protected states; and measurements under extreme conditions such as ultra-low temperatures and ultra-high pressures and magnetic fields.

Skill and expertise to plan, direct, or execute specialized programs of marked difficulty, responsibility, and national significance, along professional, scientific, technical, administrative, fiscal, or other lines.

Ability to perform, under general administrative direction, with very wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment, work of outstanding difficulty and responsibility along special technical, supervisory, or administrative lines which has demonstrated leadership and exceptional attainments.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

Additional information

The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• New employees to the Department of Energy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify
• Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website.
• If you believe that you are eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), please visit the OPM ICTAP/CTAP website for more information. In order to be considered under the ICTAP program, your application must score within the pre-established "well qualified" category as stated in the Qualifications section.
• More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.
• Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year.
• Many positions require successful completion of a background investigation.
• All males born after December 31st 1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register . If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.

EEO Policy: https://www.eeoc.gov/federal/fed_employees/index.cfm
Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/reasonable-accommodations/
Veterans Information: https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/veterans-preference/

Telework: www.telework.gov

Selective Service Registration: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/fair-and-transparent/selective-service/

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Under this Direct-Hire announcement, all applicants who meet the basic qualification requirements at the grade level they are applying will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration.

Candidates will be referred to the Selecting Official, when requested, throughout the open period of this announcement.

Veteran's Preference, Schedule A, Category Rating, CTAP/ICTAP, and other methods of consideration DO NOT APPLY for this announcement under a Direct-Hire Authority.

You can make updates to your resume and/or documents during the open period of the announcement.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants.
If you are unsure, click the link for each document type to read more.

ALL APPLICANTS: You must submit a about what is expected in your resume." href="https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/How_to_create_your_resume" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire.

• Your resume should list all work experience (paid and unpaid); you must list the full name and address of the each employer.
• For all types of work experience, you should indicate the start and end dates (include month, day, and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that you worked.
• For paid work experience, please indicate your starting salary for each position and the highest salary you earned (if different).
• Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
• For more information about what to include in your resume, please view this USAJOBS Resume Tutorial video on YouTube.

Most DOE offices will allow you to submit a resume in the format of your choice (as an attached document or as a USAJOBS Resume Builder format). However, some offices may require one specific format. You will be notified at the time you click 'Apply Online' which type of resume is acceptable. It is important that you are complete and thorough in your resume. If any of the above information is not included in your resume, we may not be able to fully credit you for your experience.

If specific educational requirements are indicated for this vacancy: experience." href="https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Education" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Documentation verifying your educational claims which can include unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned and final grade. Please see the Education section for more information.

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.