Interdisciplinary Natural Resources Specialist / Physical Scientist Job

Vacancy No. OS-6018-25-RU-058(DH) Department Office of the Secretary of the Interior
Salary $104,604.00 to $181,216.00 Grade 14 to 14
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 12/11/2024 Close Date 12/18/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Denver, COWashington, DCLocation Negotiable After Selection


Summary

DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled through the office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Government-Wide Direct-Hire Authority for this occupation and is open to all U.S. Citizens. Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified Veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens--DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled through the office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Government-Wide Direct-Hire Authority for this occupation and is open to all U.S. Citizens. Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified Veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Duties

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 (NTE) September 30, 2030 with the possibility of extension up to a total of no more than ten (10) years.

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary, Orphaned Wells Program Office, Washington D.C. or Denver, CO

This position is being advertised as both location negotiable after selection and with duty station Washington, DC or Denver, CO 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 selectee lives in the local commute area (LCA) of Washington, D.C. or Denver, CO, selectee may not be remote, but eligible for telework only.

At the full performance level (GS-14) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Support orphaned well program development and implementation activities associated with Section 40601 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law by serving as a technical expert on well plugging, site reclamation and remediation, and environmental compliance activities, techniques, and procedures.
2. Lead and advise a multidisciplinary team to analyze and interpret data, including environmental data, carry out field inspections and desk audits of grant recipients, and evaluate activities, processes, and procedures completed by grant recipients.
3. Serve as a technical consultant in the development and implementation of orphaned well program policies, plans, guidelines, proposals, processes, procedures, and recommendations on issues that cross functional lines.
4. Evaluate and advise on ensuring that wells are plugged and well sites are remediated and reclaimed in accordance with applicable environmental laws and regulations to protect groundwater, other natural resources, public health and safety, endangered species and cultural resources.
5. Provide policy-level support and technical analysis to develop and improve grant guidance, reporting requirements, and terms and conditions for nationwide grant programs and oversight and administration of funding and activities for orphaned wells projects on state, Federal, Tribal and private lands.
6. Serve as a technical expert on multidisciplinary teams to assist in the evaluation and selection of grant recipients and the monitoring of grant recipient activities.

Most of the work is performed in a typical office environment. Travel and field work up to 25% of the time can be expected. Travel will typically be to sites where well plugging, site remediation, and reclamation activities are taking place. The field work may involve occasional exposure to steep, rugged terrain, rough forest roads, with the possibility of extreme weather and temperature conditions which requires normal safety precautions. The work involves vehicle operation and associated discomforts and risks when operating motorized vehicles in isolated areas.

You must possess a valid state driver's license. ** You may be required to operate a government motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid state driver's license. **You are required to submit proof of the driver's license with your initial application.

The OS-OWPO 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: First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level.

GS-14:

Denver, CO: 135,860 to 176,620

Washington, DC: 139,395 to 181,216

Remote Location: 104,604 to 135,987**

**This is the base GS salary rate. If the applicant is selected for a remote location, pay will be set according to the selectee's geographic area.

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

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/grade to which you are applying.

(1) Basic Educational Requirements:

In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, applicants must meet the Education Requirements described below. You MUST provide transcripts in order to verify that the educational requirements have been met.

0401 - Natural Resources Specialist

A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

-OR-

B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in "A" above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

1301 - Physical Scientist

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.

AND

(2) Specialized Experience

To qualify for the GS-14, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 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 perform successfully 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. Interpreting technical, scientific and environmental standards and applying techniques and procedures used to plug orphaned wells, remediate and/or reclaim well sites, reduce orphaned well liabilities, and/or similar environmental compliance activities; and
2. Analyzing and recommending solutions to difficult and complex problems concerning natural resources, physical sciences, environmental, or engineering challenges; and
3. Preparing technical reports/presentations for group discussions and decision; and
4. Serving as a subject matter expert advising management on oil and gas plugging and abandonment operations and/or similar environmental compliance activities. (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.

Notice of Financial Disclosure Report Requirement: The position to which you will be appointed is subject to a financial disclosure reporting requirement and you will be required to complete a new entrant Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of your appointment.
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.

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.

For this announcement, all applicants will be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational and specialized experience requirements. Applicants will not be rated or ranked. All applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official. All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated by a resume. If, upon review, it is determined that your resume and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be removed from consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

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/12638462

Required Documents

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

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://www.usajobs.gov/Help/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.

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) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level 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

Roberto Ulep
Address
Office of the Secretary
45600 Woodland Rd
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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