Physical Scientist

Summary

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Oil Spill Preparedness Division (OSPD), Gulf of America Section. The incumbent will serve as a Preparedness Analyst, physically located in Jefferson, LA.

Duties

• At the full performance level (GS-13), the major duties of this position will include but are not limited to the following: Provides guidance, expert advice, training, and instruction to staff of the Branch on technical review and evaluation of oil spill response plans (OSRPs), plan holder training and exercises, unannounced exercises, oil spill response equipment and associated maintenance, training and use records; and ensures all activities are in accordance with national policy. Conducts technical review and evaluation of OSRPs, conducts and evaluates exercises; inspects and evaluates oil spill response equipment and associated maintenance, training and use records; and engages in other oil spill program activities. Administers enforcement processes or refers cases for civil penalty review as appropriate. Leads, assists, or instructs others in the development and execution of government initiated unannounced oil spill exercises; may conduct exercises and/or serve as an evaluator. Prepares and reviews a broad range of complex correspondence to answer or solicit information from lessees, operators, oil spill removal organizations, Federal and state agencies, and the general public. Serves as the lead BSEE representative on Regional Response Teams (RRT), Area Committees, and incident specific RRT calls, providing support, advice and expertise to the National Response System on matters pertinent to oil spill planning, preparedness, and response. Attends meetings and conferences with BSEE personnel; Federal, state, and industry representatives; and the general public concerning the implementation of relevant regulations, policies, and requirements of the OSRP review and approval process. During actual spills, the incumbent deploys to incident command posts and serves in designated positions within the Incident Command Structure. Assesses engineering, technical and scientific needs during a spill response and helps coordinate agency support to the Incident Command. In addition to routine in-office work, which is primarily sedentary, this position requires 30-40 days of field work performed each year. Field work involves conducting equipment inspections, unannounced exercises, auditing operator-led training and exercises, sometimes offshore on vessels, and requires regular and recurring physical exertion related to frequent inspections and surveys. This physical exertion includes considerable standing, walking, climbing, bending, crouching, stretching, reaching or similar movements. All field activities require some degree of agility and dexterity, for example traversing uneven surfaces, climbing stairs and ladders, being on offshore vessels while underway. Offshore deployments may involve extended travel on vessels over water, vessel-to-vessel transfers, and the infrequent need to climb into/out of emergency evacuation devices. Spill response equipment inspections in warehouse environments may involve overhead operations, movement of heavy machinery, and other activities that require the incumbent to look in all directions and be continuously and clearly aware of surroundings. Field work may be performed in adverse conditions such as weather, temperature extremes (above 90° F Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) or below 0° F), high noise levels, areas with marine and other wildlife and higher accident potential when offshore or in outdoor equipment yards and warehouse environments. The use of protective equipment (hardhats, safety glasses, safety- toe shoes, hearing protection, selected uniforms) is required. The ability to travel by auto, plane, helicopter, or boat is required. Salary Information: GS-11: $74,678 - $97,087 GS-12: $89,508 - $116,362 GS-13: $106,437 - $138,370 *First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level. This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 08/14/2026 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Education Requirement and Minimum Qualification: QUALIFICATIONS FOR GS-1301, PHYSICAL SCIENTIST: 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 above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience, or additional education. In addition to meeting the educational requirements above, your resume must clearly reflect ALL of the experience (or education for the GS-11) listed below. You must be clear and concise in describing your experience - HR will not make assumptions. GS-11: To qualify for the GS-11, your resume must reflect one year of professional experience equivalent to the GS-09 level performing all of the following duties: 1. Independently collecting, analyzing, and reporting on scientific or technical data; 2. Adhering to oil spill response (or other incident management) operations, policies, laws, regulations and statutes relative to contingency planning; AND 3. Participating in various National Preparedness System training or activities, such as organized exercises/drills, capabilities training, or response equipment inspections required by regulation, law, or policy. OR Have 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OR A combination of successfully completed graduate education (only successfully completed education beyond the second year (or 36 semester hours) is creditable towards meeting this requirement) and specialized experience equivalent to the GS- 9 level that is related to the position and total 100% of the requirement for this grade level. NOTE: Transcripts are required to verify Educational Requirements. GS-12: To qualify for the GS-12, your resume must reflect one year of professional experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service: 1. Utilizing oil spill (or other incident management) planning, preparedness, response concepts and strategies, including assessment of the behavior and environmental effects of contaminants; 2. Drafting or conducting technical reviews and evaluations of spill response (or other incident management) contingency plans for compliance with applicable Federal, state, and/or local laws, regulations, and policy requirements; 3. Conducting field inspections of oil-filled operational equipment or spill containment, control, and cleanup equipment; AND 4. Conducting or evaluating National Preparedness System exercises or training in alignment with applicable Federal, state, and/or local laws or regulations. GS-13: To qualify for the GS-13, your resume must reflect at least one full year of professional experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level: 1. Managing regulatory oversight and compliance of spill response (or other incident management) requirements, including issuance of corrective action and improvement plans; 2. Designing, conducting, and evaluating National Preparedness System exercises in alignment with the Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP), National Preparedness for Response and Exercise Preparedness (PREP) Guidelines, or similar program; 3. Operating within an Incident Command Structure during incident responses or response exercises; Engaging with regulated community, industry representatives, general public and Federal, state, and local partners during conferences and meetings; AND 4. Providing technical advisement on the development and revision of spill response (or other incident management) regulations, policy, or strategies, including considerations for unique regional scenarios. Applicants must meet all of the experience required above to be qualified.

Education

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts. 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov). VOLUNTEER 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.

Requirements

Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. You may be required to travel overnight away from home 30-45 days per year on average. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.

Evaluations

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. For this announcement, all applicants will be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational and specialized experience requirements. Applicants will not be rated or ranked. All applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official. All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated by a resume. If, upon review, it is determined that your resume and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be removed from consideration. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competencies in the following areas: Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attention to detail. Compliance - Can design, conduct, manage, and evaluate an exercise to assess an organization's ability to respond to an oil spill incident and provide appropriate lessons learned and recommended corrective actions. Assesses, evaluates, and monitors regulated entities' required documents and activities compliance with federal and state laws, and applicable regulations, policies, and guidance. Organizational Awareness/Partnering - Knowledgeable of the appropriate organizations' missions and functions, and how their social, political, and technological systems work and is able operates effectively within and develop networks, build alliances, and collaborate across organizations and boundaries; this includes the programs, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the organizations. Project Management - Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance. Technical Competence - Knowledge and the ability to use and adapt in various contexts that knowledge of the tenets of oil spill preparedness and response, including governing authorities, the National Response System, science, tactics, and technologies. Communication - Articulate thoughts and express ideas effectively using oral, written, visual, and nonverbal skills, as well as listening skills, to gain understanding. The ability to deliver information in person, in writing, and in a digital world in a manner that considers the intended audience and nature of the information.

How to apply

Review the appointment eligibility criteria in the application preview linked below. The eligibility section of the application allows you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement. You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to and submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section or the application text. You may qualify for more than one eligibility, so please choose carefully. If you respond that you do not meet any of the eligibility criteria, you will not be considered for this position under this announcement. To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents section. Click 'Apply' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the questions presented in the application and upload required documents. To preview the questions presented in the application, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13004347. Please ensure you check the acknowledgement checkbox then click the Submit Application button to submit your application. Applications must be received by 08/14/2026, 11:59pm ET to receive consideration. Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, in Applications tab, click the position title you applied to for the status. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office.

What to expect next

Once you submit all the required documents and the online application in USAJOBS, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the evaluation process is complete, you will be notified of your status and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted by the hiring official. You will be notified if this job is filled or canceled. Timelines for this process vary widely. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account as we will not be responding to inquiries about the status of applications as long as the system has been updated.

Required documents

You must submit a complete application package. We will not make assumptions about your experience and/or education. Required Documents: RESUME: You must submit a resume that demonstrates how skills and experiences through job duties meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the job announcement to be considered for the job. Your resume must clearly reflect your responses to the assessment questions. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. TRANSCRIPTS: Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. A copy of your official transcripts may be required if you are selected. CAREER TRANSITION PROGRAMS: Permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. You must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including selective factors, education and experience requirements) and score at least 85.0 on the assessment questionnaire as established, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Other information

Relocation expenses are not authorized. Probation Period: The probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: - your performance and conduct; - the needs and interests of the agency; - whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and - whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your [probationary period -OR- trial period] your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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. DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/ This position is designated as a MODERATE RISK Public Trust position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated Public Trust Suitability Background Investigation (T2S or T2RS or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment. Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov This is NOT a bargaining unit position.