Duties
As a Scientist (Program Examiner) - Interdisciplinary, GS-1310/1313/1320/1321/1330/1515/1520/1529-13/14/15, your typical work assignments may include the following:
- Conducts research, analysis, and evaluation of complex scientific, technical, and programmatic data and information in relevant scientific fields, applying advanced knowledge of science principles, theories, and methodologies.
- Evaluates scientific and technical studies, reports, protocols, methodologies, and experimental results, attend scientific and technical conferences, and engage on technical matters with scientists and engineers at federal agencies, national laboratories, and universities.
- Provides expert advice on research program budgetary matters to senior White House and OMB leadership, senior managers, and stakeholders, including identifying potential cost-saving opportunities and resource allocation strategies.
- Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams, stakeholders, and subject matter experts to facilitate the exchange of scientific and budgetary information, fostering a culture of effective communication and knowledge sharing.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Must be a U.S. citizen or national
- Selective Service registration is required if you are a male born after December 31, 1959.
- Subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
- Must participate in the direct deposit pay program.
- New employees to the Executive Office of the President 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/.
- May be required to successfully complete a one year probationary period.
- You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
- Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
- RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID
- This is a Drug Testing Designated Position (DTDP) and is covered by the Executive Office of the President Drug-Free Workplace Program.
- More than one selection may be made from this announcement.
Qualifications
All applicants must meet the qualification requirements outlined below to be considered minimally qualified for this position. The qualification requirements are in accordance with the OPM Qualification Standards.
ALL QUALIFICATIONS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS: See below and continued in the Education Section
-AND-
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
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. The specialized experience must demonstrate one year of full-time work experience, or the equivalent if part-time (for example, an employee working 20 hours per week for a 12-month period should be credited with 6 months of experience.) Experience may have been obtained in either the federal service or its equivalent with state or local government, the private sector, or nongovernmental organizations.
GS-13 level: To qualify for the GS-13 grade level, applicants must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade of a GS-12 or equivalent band level of responsibility in Federal Service which includes:1) Developing studies to address scientific challenges;2) Evaluating budgetary requirements for programs and projects; AND3) Collaborating with stakeholders and/or subject matter experts to facilitate the exchange of scientific and budgetary information.
GS-14 level: To qualify for the GS-14 grade level, applicants must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade of a GS-13 or equivalent band level of responsibility in Federal Service which includes:1) Developing studies to address scientific challenges to provide recommendations to enhance the programs;2) Evaluating budgetary requirements for programs and projects to ensure alignment with strategic objectives, compliance with relevant federal regulations, and/or efficient utilization of resources; AND3) Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, stakeholders, and/or subject matter experts to facilitate the exchange of scientific and budgetary information.
GS-15 level: To qualify for the GS-15 grade level, applicants must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade of a GS-14 or equivalent band level of responsibility in Federal Service which includes:1) Implementing studies to address scientific challenges to provide recommendations to enhance the programs;2) Evaluating budgetary requirements for programs and projects and assess related expenditures to ensure alignment with strategic objectives, compliance with relevant federal regulations, and efficient utilization of resources;3) Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, stakeholders, and subject matter experts to facilitate the exchange of scientific and budgetary information; AND4) Developing guidance on proposed research, programs, and science policies.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service program (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.
All applicants must meet one of the following individual occupational requirements (IOR) requirements outlined below and continued in the education section to be considered minimally qualified for this position. UNOFFICIAL TRANCRIPTS REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION.
Education
Physics series 1310:
A: Degree: physics; or related degree that included at least 24 semester hours in physics.
or
B: Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in physics totaling at least 24 semester hours, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
In either A or B above, the courses must have included a fundamental course in general physics and, in addition, courses in any two of the following: electricity and magnetism, heat, light, mechanics, modern physics, and sound.
Geophysics Series 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 -- courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Chemistry series 1320:
A: Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics.
OR
B: Combination of education and experience -- course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Metallurgy Series 1321:
Degree: metallurgy or metallurgical engineering that included at least 20 semester hours in metallurgical subjects.
or
Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Astronomy and Space Science Series 1330:
A: Degree: in one or a combination of astronomy, physics, mathematics, space science, or electronics. The course work must have included differential and integral calculus and 12 semester hours in astronomy and/or physics.
or
B: Combination of education and experience -- at least 30 semester hours of courses equivalent to a major in any combination of astronomy, space science, physics, mathematics, and electronics, with required course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Operations Research Series 1515: A degree in operations research; or at least 24 semester hours in a combination of operations research, mathematics, probability, statistics, mathematical logic, science, or subject-matter courses requiring substantial competence in college-level mathematics or statistics. At least 3 of the 24 semester hours must have been in calculus.
Mathematics Series 1520:
A: Degree with a major study in mathematics; or the equivalent of a major that included at least 24 semester hours in mathematics. The total course work must have included differential and integral calculus and, in addition, four advanced mathematics courses requiring calculus or equivalent mathematics courses as a prerequisite.
OR
B: Combination of education with courses equivalent to a major in mathematics (including at least 24 semester hours in mathematics), as shown, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The total course work must have included differential and integral calculus and, in addition, four advanced mathematics courses requiring calculus or equivalent mathematics courses as a prerequisite.
Mathematical Statistical Series 1529:
A: Degree that included 24 semester hours of mathematics and statistics, of which at least 12 semester hours were in mathematics and 6 semester hours were in statistics.
OR
B: Combination of education and experience -- at least 24 semester hours of mathematics and statistics, including at least 12 hours in mathematics and 6 hours in statistics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Additional information
This is a Direct Hire Public Notice. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.
Category Rating, Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to this Public Notice.
**Notice, more than one selection can be made within 90 days of the issuance of the certificate, if more vacancies occur.
Vacancies will be filled through OPM's Direct Hire Authority. Veterans' preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to positions filled under this announcement. All applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements will be forwarded to the selecting official for consideration. Applications received as a result of job fairs, recruitment events, and emergency hiring mechanisms in support of this hiring initiative will also be accepted during the duration of the direct-hire authority. For more information on OPM's authorization of Direct Hire Authority, please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs & Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply 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 CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp. For more information about ICTAP eligibility please review the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/ictap/
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm
Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Main_Page
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternative Application.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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 vacancy has closed, your resume and accompanying documents will be assessed to verify your qualifications as outlined in the job announcement. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your application will be evaluated against your responses on the assessment questionnaire to gauge your experience level. Should your self-assessment exceed what is substantiated by your resume, you may be disqualified from consideration. Candidates who rank among the most qualified will be forwarded to the selecting official for potential employment.
It is essential that your resume contains comprehensive details relevant to the responsibilities and specialized experience required for the position. Directly copying from the vacancy announcement without providing additional context to illustrate your experience may lead to an ineligible rating, hindering your chances for further consideration. Your resume should clearly demonstrate your experience, education, knowledge, skills, and abilities pertinent to the role. As the primary tool for evaluating your qualifications, we urge you to be precise and thorough in detailing your experience.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
- Research
- Reasoning
- Strategic Thinking
- Communication
Assessment Process:
Structured Resume Review. Subject matter experts (SMEs) will evaluate your resume to assess your technical qualifications for the position, focusing specifically on the required specialized experience. They will only consider the first two pages of your resume, beginning with your work experience, and will not review any additional materials such as cover letters or links included in your resume. Candidates who successfully pass this structured resume review will advance to the next stage of the assessment process.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Resume: For qualification determinations, your resume must contain hours worked per week and dates of employment (i.e., month/year to month/year or month/year to present). If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as insufficient and you will not receive consideration for this position. If you are a current Federal employee or previous Federal employee, provide your pay plan, series and grade, i.e. GS-0301-09. Your resume must include detailed information as it relates to the responsibilities and specialized experience for this position. Evidence of copying and pasting directly from the vacancy announcement without clearly documenting supplemental information to describe your experience will result in an ineligible rating. This will prevent you from receiving further consideration. Note: If you upload more than one resume, the last resume received will be the one utilized for consideration. Please limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
If you choose to use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose, then you must ensure it contains all of the required information and you organize it so we can associate the following information for each experience/position:
- Job title
- Name of employer
- Beginning and ending dates of employment (month/day/year format)
- Hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. We will prorate part-time employment in crediting experience.
- Detailed description of job duties for each job held, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable)
- Your resume must show the series and grade or equivalent for all federal positions you have held (if a federal position).
2. A complete
Assessment Questionnaire
3. Other
supporting documents to be submitted with application:
- DD214: Veterans' Preference Documentation, if applicable, a DD-214 Member 4 copy, which shows type of discharge. If still active, provide an official Statement of Service. Any other documentation such as VA letter documenting disability, SF-15, and any other required supporting documentation based your veterans' preference claim.
- TRANSCRIPTS: Positions which are scientific or technical in nature often have very specific educational requirements. You must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities, see the Foreign Education section below for additional requirements. Pay careful attention to the Qualifications and Education sections to identify vacancies where a transcript is required. Even if you hold a similar position or are a current employee, you are not exempt from transcript requirements.
Electronic Transcript Caution: If you have obtained your transcripts electronically, the file might contain security measures that could prevent our application system from reading the file. Therefore, you should consider asking the institution to provide the file in a non-secured electronic format. Alternatively, you could scan or take a photo of the printed copy of the transcript. If your uploaded transcript cannot be read by our system, you may receive consideration and credit for the information we can access.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html