Duties

Additional Duty Location Info:Fort Collins, CO

 As a Scientist within the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science organization, and Center Leader for the Northcentral Climate Science Center, some of your specific duties will include:

-Develop and deliver science and management strategies for cultural and natural resources at a regional level.

-Establish resource management partnerships and negotiate research needs and priorities.

-Supervise a staff of up to five research scientists and other support positions.

-Identify national climate change science needs relative the impact on regional natural and physical science resources.

-Chair a regional CSC advisory board to ensure decision making on science priorities at the regional level are implemented.

Qualifications and Evaluations

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:For information on basic qualifications, which includes information on whether you may substitute education for specialized experience, please click on the following:

http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/quals/1301.html.  

For Physical Scientist, GS-1301-14:

In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet the following to qualify for the GS-14 level:

One year of appropriate professional experience that is in or directly related to the duties of the position to be filled is qualifying if it is equivalent to at least the GS-13 level in the Federal service, and if it equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Examples of such experience may include serving as a senior expert involved in physical science work for which technical problem definitions, methods and/or data were highly incomplete, controversial, or uncertain and whose evaluations and recommendations were accepted by others as those of a technical expert in the physical sciences. At this level, physical scientists typically represent an authoritative source of consultation for other scientists and program specialists, are called upon to resolve issues that significantly affect physical science programs, make long range and controversial proposals and defend their findings and recommendations in public or high level forums.

In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet the following to qualify for the GS-15 level:

One year of appropriate professional experience that is in or directly related to the duties of the position to be filled is qualifying if it is equivalent to at least the GS-14 level in the Federal service, and if it equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Examples of such experience could include investigations that involved highly unstructured problems involving both difficult technology and complex human relations or programmatic issues. The results of these investigations had significant effects over a wide region of the United States, or may have included responsibility for new technology especially critical to the organization's programs. This work involved other recognized senior technical experts asking the scientist for advice or counsel due to his/her personal reputation in the field.

For information on basic qualifications, which includes information on whether you may substitute education for specialized experience, please click on the following:

http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/quals/0401.html.  

In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet the following to qualify for the GS-14 level:

One year of appropriate professional experience that is in or directly related to the duties of the position to be filled is qualifying if it is equivalent to at least the GS-13 level in the Federal service, and if it equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Examples of GS-13 level work may include: 1) planning and leading biology projects of substantial depth and/or breadth; 2) analyzing and interpreting biological related project data with novel and obscure problems and publishing or preparing results of findings; 3) developing new or significantly modified biological techniques, methods, or criteria; 4) providing advisory, planning, or reviewing services as a technical specialist on a biological issue. For examples 1-4, the work provided wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment to perform scientific work of marked difficulty and responsibility.

For GS-15:

In addition to the basic education requirements as stated above, applicants must have one year of specialized experience at or equal to the next lower grade level.

Examples of GS-14 level work may include:   Conception, plans, conduct of scientific studies in unexplored areas where no theory to guide experimentation exists; Expert technical consultant in a biologic investigation for a large organization; Development and integration of short- and long-range, technically complex and extensive scientific study programs. http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/quals/0408.html.  

For Ecologist GS-14:

In addition to the basic education requirements as stated above, applicants must have one year of specialized experience at or equal to the next lower grade level.

Examples of GS-13 level work may include: 1) planning and leading ecological projects of substantial depth and/or breadth; 2) analyzing and interpreting biological related project data with novel and obscure problems and publishing or preparing results of findings; 3) developing new or significantly modified biological techniques, methods, or criteria; 4) providing advisory, planning, or reviewing services as a technical specialist on a ecological or biological issue. For examples 1-4, the work provided wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment to perform scientific work of marked difficulty and responsibility.

For GS-15:

In addition to the basic education requirements as stated above, applicants must have one year of specialized experience at or equal to the next lower grade level.

Examples of GS-14 level work may include:   Examples of such experience include: developing and managing major interdisciplinary projects impacting scientific objectives; directly influencing the policy and direction of a multi-discipline scientific program; resolving critical unprecedented problems.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

This position requires specific educational course work to qualify. If you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide all unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) or list of course work, which includes semester hours earned and/or grade received, by the closing date of this announcement or you will be disqualified from further consideration.  This proof may be faxed, document uploaded, or hand delivered to the servicing Human Resources Office (see "Required Documents" and/or "Contact Information").  If you are currently employed by the Federal government in the same occupational series as the advertised position, you are not required to submit transcripts at this time.

Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. 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.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/quals/foreign.html

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?

A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

You will also be required to complete an annual Executive Personnel Financial Disclosure Statement.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Vacancy Related Questions:  As part of the online application process, you will need to respond to a series of questions designed to assess your possession of the following knowledge skills, abilities and/or competencies:

Leadership and supervision; Program management; Customer service; Scientific knowledge and Teamwork.

Basis of rating:Category rating will be used in the ranking and selection process for this position.  The quality categories are Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified.  You will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position.  If you are eligible, your on-line responses to the application questions will determine your placement in the appropriate quality category described above.  Your responses must be substantiated by your resume.  If you do not respond to the application questions you may be rated ineligible.  Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.

NOTE: If it is determined that you have rated yourself higher than is supported in your description of experience and/or education as described in your resume/application, or that your resume or application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible, not qualified, or your score may be lowered.

To preview questions please click here.

Benefits and Other Info

BENEFITS:A recruitment or relocation incentive MAY be authorized in filling this position.

Working for the U.S. Geological Survey offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.  The following Web address is provided for your reference to explore the major benefits offered to most Federal employees. To find out more click here.

OTHER INFORMATION: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.

Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position.

USGS employees are subject to Title 43, USC Section 31(a) and may not: (a) have any personal, private, direct or indirect interest in lands or mineral wealth of lands under survey; (b) have any substantial personal, private, direct or indirect interests in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business with the United States; or (c) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations.

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.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

How To Apply

HOW TO APPLY:Applications (resume and application questions) for this vacancy must be received on-line via USAJOBS BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement.  If you fail to submit a complete online resume, you will not be considered for this position.  Requests for extensions will not be granted.  Most libraries, employment offices, and all USGS personnel offices can provide access to the Internet.  If applying online poses a hardship for you, you must speak to someone in the Servicing

Human Resources Office listed on this announcement PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE for assistance.

Instructions for Applying Online for this Vacancy Announcement:

1)Click the blue Apply Online button.

2)If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process.  If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile.

3)As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application.

4)Check the Certification box and click the Apply for this position now! button located at the bottom of the screen.

5)Address Core profile questions as well as the questionnaire containing questions and/or task statements that address the knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies for this vacancy.

6)Submit required documents using one of the available methods listed below.

7)If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, the Servicing Human Resources Office must receive your DD-214, SF-15 and supporting documents (e.g., official statement from the Department of Veterans' Affairs) by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to do so, you will only be granted 5-point tentative preference if appropriate.  Additional information on veterans' preference can be found in the Vet Guide.

If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, the Servicing Human Resources Office must receive proof by the closing date of this 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. This 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 location. Required documents may be faxed, uploaded, or hand delivered to the servicing Human Resources Office (see "Contact Information"). If you are a CTAP or ICTAP eligible, you will be considered well qualified if you earn a minimum score of 85 (prior to the assignment of veteran's preference points). For more information on CTAP please see: http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/ctap.html and for ICTAP eligibility see http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/ictap.html.

If you are applying for this position based on eligibility under a special appointing authority, the Servicing Human Resources Office must receive proof of eligibility by the closing date of this announcement.  

Required documents may be:

1)faxed to the Agency Contact (see "Contact Information")

2)uploaded directly from your desktop

3)uploaded directly from your USAJOBS stored attachments

4)hand delivered to the servicing Human Resources Office (see 'Contact Information').  

Please note that the U.S. Geological Survey will NOT accept supporting documents through the Auto-Requested Fax method. Instructions will appear automatically through the application process but please do NOT utilize this feature.

For additional information on special appointing authorities, visit:

http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/non_competitive.html

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

Mike Perkins Phone: 303-236-9569 Fax: 303-236-5973 Email: rperkins@usgs.gov

Agency Information: US Geological Survey Denver Federal Center, Bldg. 53 Box 25046, Mail Stop 612 Denver, CO 80225 Fax: 303-236-5973

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:If you are rated as one of the most highly qualified candidates, you will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview.  We expect to make a selection within 30-45 days of the closing date of this announcement. You will be notified via email of the outcome.  You can also go to "My Account" within USAJOBS to review your Application Status.