PHYSICAL SCIENTIST Job in Fort Belvoir, VA

Vacancy No. DTRA-25-12673324-DH Department Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Salary $142,488.00 to $195,200.00 Grade 14 to 15
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 1/24/2025 Close Date 2/17/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Fort Belvoir, VA


Summary

This position is part of the Research and Development Directorate, Defense Threat Reduction Agency. The incumbent will be responsible for serving as a project manager who establishes and implements top level strategy, objectives, and performance measures for assigned projects, prioritizes work, and determines funding needs and allocation to include the requirement to manage spend plan activities, coordinate A&AS support, coordinate with DoD requirements managers, and review contract actions.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

US citizen

Duties

As a PHYSICAL SCIENTIST at the GS-1301-14/15 some of your typical work assignments may include:

  • Work includes maintaining quality control of all contract actions under the incumbent's purview, thus ensuring documents meet federal and DTRA requirements. Is responsible for the sustained progress of the projects in accordance with scope, cost, and scheduled baseline. Represents the DTRA Nuclear Arms Control Technology program in dealings with senior management in various agency components, other government departments, and foreign representatives to establish goals, and/or to resolve conflicts. Exercises the full authority as well as the responsibility for identifying technical problems, conducting the initial exploratory investigation to determine feasible solutions, and preparation of necessary staff actions required to solve the technical and management problems.
  • Based on direction from the Director, DTRA, the Director R&D Directorate, Director, Nuclear Technologies Department, and, Chief, Nuclear Assessments Division incumbent is responsible for developing international collaboration/demonstrations/exercises, and technology transitions for nuclear arms control technologies and related technologies. Hosts, assists, and participates in interagency and international workshops, leading technical discussions on solving major nuclear post-detonation forensic issues and coordinates joint projects with other DoD, Government agencies, and international partners.
  • Serves as Nuclear Assessments Division technical expert and directs, develops, implements, and disseminates scientific guidance and recommendations in support of nuclear arms control, and related disciplines of nuclear weapon detonation physics effects on all environments, field and laboratory diagnostic systems, and testing/evaluation methodologies and technologies. Develops and matures complex research ideas, long-range (5-10 year) plans, and strategies within these focus areas through the examination of solutions that cover a varying range of concepts designed to bring together scientific principles from multiple disciplines.
  • Team Lead for civilian and equivalent military personnel performing project management work in direct support to the Nuclear Assessments Division Chief and Nuclear Technologies Department Director, and Research and Development Directorate Director Agency Director. Ensures all team members are aware of, and participate in planning for the achievement of team goals and objectives.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizenship
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation. Must be able to obtain and maintain Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service
  • Must consent to and pass pre-employment drug testing and be subject to periodic random drug testing thereafter
  • Overtime: Occasionally
  • Must be willing to comply with each Combatant Command (COCOM) travel medical requirement to include vaccinations.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid passport.
  • Occasionally visits a station site (some are remote) or laboratory to observe operations, experiments or exercises and there may be occasional exposure to harsh weather conditions.
  • Work Schedule: Full-time
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Tour of Duty: Flexible
  • Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): GS 15 Exempt/GS 14 Non-Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Not Required
  • Telework Eligibility: This position is telework eligible
  • This is an Acquisition Workforce position in the Engineering and Technical Management functional area. The incumbent will be required to become certified in the Practitioner tier within 5 years.
  • The incumbent is required to acquire a minimum of 40 continuous learning points (CLPs) every fiscal year as a goal and 80 CLPs being mandatory within 2 years.
  • Work is performed primarily in an office setting with good lighting, adequate ventilation and low ambient noise levels. Some duties will be performed in conferences and meetings held locally, nationally or internationally.

Qualifications

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:

- Extensive experience in analysis of trends, gaps, systems as well as strategy and long-range plan development and implementation.
- Extensive experience (> 5 years) in briefing and providing recommendations to senior leaders, and in initiating, leading, and representing your organization at international, interagency, or DoD fora.
- Knowledge and extensive experience (> 5 years) in the initiation, planning, technical direction and management, and fiscal control of procurement, operations and maintenance, or research and development efforts comprised of multiple complex projects executed by multiple performers.
- Extensive experience (> 5 years) in providing direction and managing contractors' performance in accordance with contractual quality assurance and funding expenditure requirements.
- Extensive experience (> 5 years) in forming and leading teams of technical or operational personnel, or experience in nuclear/chemical explosion or earthquake monitoring and detection technologies, modeling and simulation, experimentation, or artificial intelligence / machine language.

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:

- Experience (< 5 years) in briefing and providing recommendations to senior leaders, and in participating in international, interagency, or DoD fora.
- Expert knowledge and extensive experience (> 5 years) in project planning, acquisition, and project management of a procurement, operations and maintenance, or, research and development portfolio comprised of several projects executed by several performers.
- Experience in providing direction and managing contractors' performance in accordance with contractual quality assurance and funding expenditure requirements.
- Experience in leading teams of technical or operational personnel, or experience in nuclear/chemical explosion or earthquake monitoring and detection technologies, modeling and simulation, experimentation, or artificial intelligence / machine language.

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:

Basic Requirements: 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.

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: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

Other Notes:

ACQUISITION POSITION: This is an Acquisition Workforce position in the Engineering & Technical Management functional area. The incumbent will be required to become certified in the Practitioner tier within 5 years. The incumbent is required to acquire a minimum of 40 continuous learning points (CLPs) every fiscal year as a goal and 80 CLPs being mandatory within 2 years.

PCS AUTHORIZED: Payment for travel and transportation expenses may be authorized. This includes government paid travel transportation, shipment and temporary storage of household goods, and possibly other entitlements based upon the JTR and agency policy. You may be required to sign a transportation agreement. Most civilian permanent change of station travel entitlements are taxable. For additional information on the tax impact, please visit: https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction.html


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: https://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 Who Needs to Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov))

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.

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.

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

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.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program(ICTAP): 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 AND 2) be rated well-qualified for the position AND 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. Well-qualified means you possess the type and quality of experience that exceeds the position's minimum qualifications. See the Required Documents section of this announcement for more information.

Appointment of Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612) (NonComp Mil Sp): To receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the " Appointment of Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612) (NonComp Mil Sp)" eligibility. If you are claiming Military Spouse eligibility and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager. Information and required documentation for claiming Military Spouse eligibility may be found at the General Applicant Information and Definitions link below.

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. 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.
ICTAP eligibility.Submit (1) a copy of your agency specific ICTAP eligibility notice or a copy of your separation personnel action form and (2) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal and (3) a copy of your most recent SF 50 or agency notification of personnel action showing your current position, grade level, and duty location. Separation personnel actions do not include a certificate/notice of expected separation.

Military Spouse Preference(Non Comp) Submit (1) Marriage certificate and (2) a copy of your spouse's active Military Orders and (3) DD-214 - Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (if Applicable) and (4) DD1300 - Report of Casualty (If applicable).

Future military retirees and/or Future military separatees: must include a copy of their terminal leave request, if applicable, AND a copy of retirement DD214 [if available]. If DD214 not available, submit a certification document* or a copy of your retirement letter.
*A written document from the armed forces certifying the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certificate is signed. The certification must be on letterhead signed by the adjutant, personnel officer, unit commander or higher headquarters and include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge, character of service, and, if applicable, the date your terminal leave begins. This document is sometimes called a Statement of Service.
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

Military Spouse PPP Self-certification Checklist

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

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration.

To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.

You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.

You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.To preview the questionnaire, please go to https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12673324.

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy And gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

- OPM Equal Employment

- Office of Equal Opportunity

Reasonable Accommodation Policy
Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a Case-by-Case basis.

A reasonable accommodation is any change in the workplace or the way things are customarily done that provides an equal employment opportunity to an individual with a disability. Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) must provide reasonable accommodations:

- When an applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to compete for a job.
- When an employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job or to gain access to the workplace, And
- When an employee with a disability needs an accommodation to enjoy equal access to benefits and privileges of employment (e.g., details, trainings, office-sponsored events).

- Disability Employment - Reasonable Accommodations

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Agency contact information

DTRA Servicing Team
Phone
614-692-0259
Fax
(215) 516-6068
Email
DHRC-DDTRAHR@dla.mil
Address
Defense Threat Reduction Agency
8725 JOHN J KINGMAN ROAD
MSC 6201
FT BELVOIR, VA 22060-6201
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

A list of qualified applicants will be created and sent to the selecting official. All applicants reviewed and/or referred will receive a notification letter.

The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews, and once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of the decision.

REGARDING INTERVIEWS: Interviews may be required for this position. Accommodations may be made to conduct telephonic interviews to preclude travel hardships for applicants.

NOTE: Declining to be interviewed or failure to report for a scheduled interview will be considered as a declination for further consideration for employment against this vacancy.

This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.


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


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