Physical Scientist

Physical Scientist

• Open & closing dates

12/12/2024 to 12/27/2024

• Salary

$66,300 - $86,190 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 9 - 11

• Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Sacramento, CA

Duties

Serves as a Physical Scientist for the Division of Environmental Affairs.

• Provides professional, scientific and project planning assistance to the Regional Quality Assurance Officer (QAO) and to Regional and Reclamation Program Managers.
• Determines the scope of, initiates, and coordinates the progress of QA activities in accordance with EPA and Regional protocol to ensure general and specific data quality objectives are met.
• Develops and summarizes laboratory proficiency studies including research of appropriate reference materials, testing of the laboratory facilities, and assessing performance results.
• Acts as a liaison between field and support laboratories to ensure proper sample handling, chain-of-custody documentation, and sample transport.
• Writes reports pertaining to the evaluation and validity of analytical data and the performance of laboratories.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).
You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents).
You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications).
You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education).

Qualifications

Basic Education Requirement:Applicants must first meet the Basic Education Requirement listed below:
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.

Specialized Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the Basic Education requirement, applicants must meet the specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume:

To qualify at the GS-9, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-7 level in federal service having demonstrated experience performing/familiarity with quality assurance/quality control associated with routine environmental monitoring activities such as field instrument calibration and maintenance or water, soil, air, biota collection; following and reviewing sample labeling/custody/tracking procedures; basic data review, analysis, reporting; preparing data summary reports; quality assurance/quality control activities or oversight; participating in audits; laboratory work like sample receiving, reagent preparation, benchtop analysis, instrumentation; following standard operating procedures (SOPs). OR two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. For this position, this is defined as a degree in physical science, engineering, mathematics or a similarly related major. OR Combination of Education and Experience.

To qualify at the GS-11, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-9 level in federal service having demonstrated experience providing quality assurance oversight in support of monitoring plans and models to collect representative samples from environmental systems; evaluating quality assurance/quality control activities associated with environmental studies and providing assessment of potential impacts of chemical constituents on biota, public health, or agriculture; preparing program and project-specific Quality Assurance Project Plans and/or Sampling and Analysis Plans; developing reports, preparing correspondence, and performing data management activities of environmental data; preparing for and leading audits for field sampling activities or analytical laboratory procedures; liaison between outside entities and internal teams. OR three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. For this position, this is defined as a degree in physical science, engineering, mathematics or a similarly related major. OR Combination of Education and Experience.

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.

You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors if applicable, by 12/27/2024.