Supervisory Physical Scientist Job in Fort Belvoir, VA

Vacancy No. DTRA-25-12800930-IMP Department Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Salary $167,603.00 to $195,200.00 Grade 15 to 15
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/15/2025 Close Date 9/22/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Fort Belvoir, VA


Summary

This position is part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent competitive service DTRA employees; Displaced employees (Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan - ICTAP eligible); Veterans eligibilities include Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA); Military Spouse Preference (MSP), Retained Grade Preference (RGP), and Military Reserve and National Guard.

Duties

As a Supervisory Physical Scientist at the GS-1301-15 some of your typical work assignments may include:

  • Serves as the Chief, Technical Reachback Division.
  • Supervises a staff of professional civilians and military members, supported by contractors, in providing 24/7 chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives (CBRNE) technical and scientific expertise and analysis.
  • Demonstrates a broad mastery in the technical aspects of delivering WMD analysis in support of all levels of combating the effects of WMD.
  • Provides scientific advice to all echelons in the Agency management, combatant commands and Joint Staff on the technical aspects of CBRNE and potential impacts to operations, to include counter measures, protection and decontamination.
  • Attends meetings and conferences concerning scientific aspects of CBRNE, to include modeling and simulation, phenomenology, system response and protection.
  • Serves as the point of contact for requests and/or guidance regarding WMD analysis and CBRNE modeling and simulation.
  • Develops and manages science and technology (S&T) program budgets.
  • Leads the provision of decision support to warfighters, putting technical analysis directly into operational context through liaison between users and technology developers.
  • Evaluates requirements for additional resources and balances organization needs with overall mission requirements and resource interests.
  • Identifies need for change in organization priorities and takes action to implement such changes.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Work Schedule: Full Time
  • Overtime: Occasionally
  • Tour of Duty: Flexible
  • Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
  • Required to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Form (OGE 450) within 30 days of entering the position, annually and upon termination of employment in accordance with DoD Directive 5500.7-R, Joint Ethics Regulation, August 30, 1993.
  • Telework Eligibility: This position is an in-person position at facilities located at Ft. Belvoir, VA. This position may be eligible for limited, situational telework subject to supervisory approval and not to exceed current Agency guidelines.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI (Top Secret/SCI access) clearance.
  • Must consent to and pass pre-employment drug testing and be subject to periodic random drug testing thereafter.
  • Travel is required up to 25% of the time, CONUS/OCONUS, to include weekend travel, weekend layovers during travel, and long hours while in travel status.
  • The employee 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.

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:
  • Providing chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) subject matter expertise with the use of software to model CBRN hazards.
  • Performing or overseeing analysis to support contingency planning or emergency response or leading scientific research to address gaps in understanding of CBRN threats/effects and the ability to model them.
  • Managing a multi-million-dollar research program, including practical experience with programming, planning, budgeting, executing, and leading interagency coordination of program activities/modeling support.
In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 1301 series.

  1. 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

  2. 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.

  3. *NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.


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.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.


Additional information

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

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/.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements:
Special Hiring Authority for Veterans
Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
Other Special Appointment Authorities - Subpart F

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/register/)

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

For more information, please visit
https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo%2012-1-2020.pdf?ver=ECNbdsHtGilTd3OENN4A0Q%3d%3d


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

Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level).

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.

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, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Occupational Questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

Competencies:

  • Administration and Management
  • Modeling and Simulation
  • Program Planning, Review and Evaluation


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. 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.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) DoD Retained Grade Preference (RGP): In order to receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the "Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference (RGP)" eligibility. If you are claiming RGP and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager as a priority applicant. Information and required documentation for claiming MSP may be found at the General Applicant Information and Definitions link below. To be eligible as a RGP, you must submit the following supporting documents with your application package: a signed Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 (whs.mil)); a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) effecting the placement in retained grade status; or a copy of the notification letter you received regarding the RIF or classification downgrade.

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 on 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 to 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
  • College transcript (s), required if qualifying based on education. 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 list of classes and credits earned.
3. SF50
  • All current and former civilian Federal employees must submit a copy of your MOST RECENT SF50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your tenure, grade and step, salary, and type of position occupied (i.e., Excepted or Competitive); or similar Notification of Personnel Action documentation, i.e., Transcript of Service, Form 1150, etc.
4. 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.
PLEASE REVIEW THE BELOW LINK FOR OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS needed for proof of eligibility:
https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DODCustomersRequiredSupportingDocumentation.pdf
If you are claiming Military Spouse Preference, you must submit supporting documents with your application package. These documents must provide acceptable information to verify: you reside within the commuting area of your sponsor's permanent duty station (PDS); proof of marriage to the active duty sponsor, proof of military member's active duty status, and other documentation required by the vacancy announcement to which you are applying; and must meet all pre-employment criteria and be eligible for immediate noncompetitive appointment to a position in the competitive service. Documentation required: Marriage Certificate or License, Signed Self-Certification Checklist, Veterans' Preference documentation (e.g., DD-214, VA Letter, Statement of Service, if applicable), Transcripts (if applicable). Additional documentation required if previously held a federal position: SF-50s (e.g., LWOP, highest grade held, overseas appointments, etc.), SF-75 Information, and documentation of performance rating of record (dated within the last 12 months)

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/12800930.

Agency contact information

DTRA Servicing Team
Address
Defense Threat Reduction Agency
8725 JOHN J KINGMAN ROAD
MSC 6201
FT BELVOIR, VA 22060-6201
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated. You will receive another notification about the status of your application. 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. All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.

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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