Geophysicist Job

Vacancy No. BOEM-MMEE-24-CM-130(DEU) Department Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Salary $74,441.00 to $153,354.00 Grade 12 to 13
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/26/2024 Close Date 11/14/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Location Negotiable After SelectionSterling, VA


Summary

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) manages the exploration and development of the nation's offshore resources. It seeks to appropriately balance economic development, energy independence, and environmental protection through oil and gas leases, renewable energy development and environmental reviews and studies. For information about our bureau go to: http://www.boem.gov/

Duties

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Engineering and Technical Review Branch located in Sterling, VA.

This position is being advertised as both location negotiable after selection and with a duty station(s) of Sterling, VA, with the option of telework. If applying to "negotiable after selection", this means that your duty station will be based off your home address and you will be a full-time remote worker. If applying to a specific duty station, you may be allowed to telework a set number of day(s) per pay period, with supervisory approval.

At the full performance level, GS-13 the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:
1. Review and analyze high-resolution geophysical (HRG) survey and geological data related to the siting of offshore (ocean-based) structures.
2. Evaluate site characterization reports, and any associated studies and survey data submitted with renewable energy project plans to determine if the plan includes appropriate site-specific information on the seafloor and sub-seafloor structure, seismic activity, sediment transport, and any potential hazards with reasonable probability of occurrence in and around the proposed project site.
3. Analyze and interpret shallow hazards to evaluate the impact of seafloor and sub-seafloor conditions on the installation, operation, and structural integrity of a proposed project to support safe and efficient operations of offshore wind turbines and foundations, and associated substations, submarine cables, and mooring facilities.
4. Provide recommendations to initiate technology assessment projects and serve as team lead, subject matter expert and/or contract officer representative on technology studies and research projects; and prepare written and oral presentations for senior DOI, BOEM and OREP management, as well as industry and other program stakeholders.
5. Provide guidance on the development of geophysical survey standards and guidelines and serves as subject matter expert and/or team lead on standard or guideline setting committees for the offshore renewable energy industry.

BOEM has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Salary Information
Sterling, VA:
GS-12: $99,200 - $128,956 per annum.
GS-13: $117,962 - $153,354 per annum.

*Remote Location:
GS-12: $74,441 - $96,770 per annum.
GS-13: $88,520 - $115,079 per annum.
*This is the base GS salary rate. If the applicant is selected for a remote location, pay will be set according to the selectees' geographic area.

First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level.

Note: This is a term appointment. Appointments to this position will not convey permanent status in the Federal service and will be for a period not to exceed 3 years with the possibility of extension up to a total of no more than 4 years.

This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

This vacancy is also announced as BOEM-MMEE-24-CM-131(MP) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Merit Promotion procedures.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  1. You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  2. You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
  3. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
  4. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.
  5. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements:
To qualify for this position you must meet the (1) Basic Educational Requirements AND (2) Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.

In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, applicants must meet the Education Requirements described below:

(1) Basic Educational Requirements (Geophysicist-1313):
A. Degree: that included at least 30 semester hours in mathematics (including calculus) and the physical sciences (geophysics, physics, engineering, geology, astronomy, meteorology, electronics, etc.)

-OR-

B. Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work of this position, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an appropriate field as described in paragraph A from above.

AND

(2) Specialized Experience

GS-12
To qualify for the GS-12, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
1) Reviewing data products from the following types of equipment: echo sounder/multibeam bathymetry, magnetometer, side scan sonar, Shallow & Medium (Seismic) Penetration Sub-bottom Profilers, and consulting with a senior-level geophysicist to determine technical adequacy of HRG data and information used to support analytic recommendations and conclusions in support of the design and evaluation of offshore infrastructure -- cables, support structure, anchor systems, etc.;
2) Working with a multidisciplinary team to review and approve a project/survey plan, provide oversight of its implementation;
3) Documenting technical findings and recommendations both in oral presentation and in writing (reports, briefing papers, correspondence etc.), to organizational and upper-level management, other professional entities (e.g. associations, federal and state agencies, industry), and/or other program stakeholders; AND
4) Working with ArcGIS and geophysical data processing and review tools such as, but not limited to, Schlumberger's Petrel, Kingdom Suite, SonarWiz, and others.
MUST MEET ALL.

GS-13
To qualify for the GS-13, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
1) Independently reviewing data products from the following types of equipment: echo sounder/multibeam bathymetry, magnetometer, side scan sonar, Shallow & Medium (Seismic) Penetration Sub-bottom Profilers, and ability to determine technical adequacy of HRG data and information used to support analytic recommendations and conclusions in support of the design and evaluation of offshore infrastructure -- cables, support structure, anchor systems, etc.;
2) Leading a multidisciplinary team to review and approve a project/survey plan, provide oversight of its implementation, and communicate team decisions to management;
3) Documenting technical findings and recommendations both in oral presentation and in writing (reports, briefing papers, correspondence etc.), to organizational and upper-level management, other professional entities (e.g. associations, federal and state agencies, industry), and/or other program stakeholders; AND
4) Working with ArcGIS and geophysical data processing and review tools such as, but not limited to, Schlumberger's Petrel, Kingdom Suite, SonarWiz, and others.
MUST MEET ALL.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Education: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements.

Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the specific educational requirements as stated above. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Additional information

Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.

The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.

Important Note: All Department of the Interior (DOI) employees are subject to the conflict of interest restrictions imposed upon all employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and may be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report. In addition, DOI employees, GS-15 and above, who work in the Office of the Secretary; along with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) employees (at ALL grade levels), are further restricted concerning their interests in Federal lands and resources administered or controlled by the Department of the Interior. This includes holding stock in energy corporations which lease Federal lands (e.g.: oil, gas, coal, alternative energy resources, etc.). If you have any such investments you should contact the DOI, BOEM or BSEE Ethics Office before accepting employment. DOI employees are held to the highest level of integrity. Employees must be objective and impartial in the performance of their work. All potential issues (e.g.: work-related interactions with friends, family members, or previous employers) must be disclosed at the time of application or during the interview process.

NOTICE: This employer participates in E-Verify and will utilize your Form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.
A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The preliminary background check consists of a search of Office of Personnel Management and Department of Defense background investigation files and an FBI National Criminal History Fingerprint Check; it may take up to 3 weeks to complete. If selected for this position, you will be extended a tentative offer of employment pending a satisfactory background check. Current Federal employees or individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check; these will be handled on a case-by-case basis in coordination with the Bureau security office.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online assessment will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. You are being evaluated under the Category Rating method, which means, if you are determined to be qualified you will be placed in one of three pre-defined categories. These categories are "Platinum", "Gold", and "Silver". However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Candidates placed in the "Platinum" category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.

Your answers to the on-line assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

  • Geophysics: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories related to solid earth structure, global seismic patterns, lithosphere, atmosphere, and the behavior of the earth's gravitational, magnetic, and electrical fields, and other forces affecting the earth and its environment.
  • Technical Competence: Understands and appropriately applies procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise; maintains credibility with others on technical matters.

If you are a status applicant (current career or career-conditional Federal employee or former permanent Federal employee with reinstatement eligibility in the competitive service), or are eligible under a special appointing authority and you are selected under this vacancy, you may be subject to serving a new one-year probationary period.

To preview the assessment questionnaire click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12574642

Required Documents

Your resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement and OPM qualification standards for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. It is strongly recommended that you use the USAJobs Resume Builder as it was designed to ensure that your resume includes the standard information needed. The Resume Builder is available at https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/account/documents/resume/build.

Your application package must include: (1) Resume showing relevant experience as written in your own words; (2) Completed online Assessment Questionnaire; (3) College transcript (if applicable) for verification of qualifying education. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; (4) Certificates, license, etc. (if applicable); (5) Form DD-214 OR VA letter and Standard Form 15 (if applicable).
NOTE: Applicants claiming veterans preference (TP, CP, CPS) must submit a copy of your DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," (Member 4 copy is preferred), showing the dates of active duty, type of discharge, and character of service (must be honorable); OR acceptable proof of verification of your preference (i.e., official document, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying that the veterans total combined serviced-connected disability rating is 10% or more).

You will find additional information on the following topics: (1) e-Verify; (2) Selective Service; (3) CTAP/ICTAP; (4) Education - accreditation; (5) Foreign education; (6) Veterans preference; (7) Special appointing authority documentation; and more can be found on our web site: https://www.bsee.gov/careers/usajobs-assistance OR https://www.boem.gov/about-boem/boem-employment.

If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, you must submit proof by the closing date of the announcement that you meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP or you will not receive priority consideration. The proof includes a copy of the agency notice, your most recent Performance Rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty station. To be considered well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, you must earn a minimum score of 85 or above (prior to the assignment of veteran's preference) on the rating criteria for this position.

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.

How to Apply

Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at www.usajobs.gov. To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents.

To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at www.usajobs.gov and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) that have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, promotion potential and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.

Agency contact information

HR Assistant 9
Address
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
45600 Woodland Road
Sterling, VA 20166
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

You can track the progress of your application package via your USAJobs account. You will receive an acknowledgment from USAJobs that your submission was successful, once we have received your on-line assessment questionnaire, resume and any supporting documentation. You will be notified of the status of your application via your USAJobs account after we conduct a qualification review of your complete application package. You will be contacted if further evaluation or interviews are required. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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