Overview

  • Accepting applications

Duties

Summary

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on his or her expertise as a Interdisciplinary (Science Advisor). Make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Location – Klamath Falls, Oregon

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Responsibilities

The primary duties of this position are:
– Serves as a technical expert on structured decision-making (SDM) models and other collaborative science approaches to Klamath Basin Area Office (KBAO) operations.
– Advises the Deputy Manager for Operations and Resources on Klamath Project operations by recommending factual, science-based, and interdisciplinary solutions to fisheries, environmental, and water operations problems.
– Represents the Area Office on scientific committees and collaborates extensively with stakeholders on science proposals and initiatives addressing the Klamath Project.
– Collaborates with other scientific experts both within and outside Reclamation to develop and maintain models used in the structured decision-making (SDM) process, such as surface water models; instream habitat models; salmon disease models; Upper Klamath Lake water quality models; and fisheries lifecycle models.
– Investigates opportunities for new or advanced modeling platforms to better inform or evaluate management decisions related to project operations and associated fisheries and habitat issues.
– Provides guidance in performing physical habitat analyses (reservoir and river processes) and other analytical modeling to assess habitat quality, suitability, and impacts to fish species that advance Klamath. – Project operations and restore endangered species and aquatic habitats.
– Conducts multi-agency interdisciplinary coordination to integrate large and complex water and environmental projects.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

To be eligible, an applicant must meet the following:
You must be a U.S. Citizenship 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).
You must maintain a valid State Driver’s License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver’s License at all times will result in removal from the position.
You must obtain and maintain Certification is required to serve as a Contracting Officer’s Representative as articulated in the DOI Acquisition, Assistance, and Asset Policy (DOI-AAAP) 0051, Federal Acquisition Certification and Programs Policy.

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements, and any selective factors, by the closing date of the announcement 06/07/2021.

TIME IN GRADE: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower-grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Applicants eligible under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) are not required to meet time-in-grade restrictions in order to be considered.

Applicants may be required to serve an initial probationary period.

The selectee must maintain a valid State Driver’s License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver’s License at all times will result in removal from the position.

Qualifications

Basic Education Requirements:

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT FOR 0401, BIOLOGIST: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Biologist, all grade levels.

A. Degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

B. Combination of education and experience–courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above (24 semester hours or the equivalent in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position), plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in “A” above.

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT FOR 1301, PHYSICAL SCIENTIST: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Physical Scientist, all grade levels

A. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours or the equivalent in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

B. A combination of education and experience–education equivalent to one of the majors shown in “A” above (24 semester hours or the equivalent in physical science, engineering, or mathematics) that included at least 24 semester hours or the equivalent in physical science and/ or related engineering science as described above, plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in “A” above.

For GS-13:

In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet the following to qualify for the GS-13 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-12 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 planning, executing and reporting on original physical science or biological studies or ongoing studies requiring a fresh approach to resolve new problems. Experience in influencing local policy development, program direction, and subsequent operations. Work produced contributes to enhancing the reliability, consistency, and efficiency of services throughout the Klamath Basin and the Area Office’s scientific efforts related to operations, lake and river management, endangered species and aquatic habitats, and associated scientific and collaborative decision-making strategies, tools, and techniques. At this level, physical scientists and biologists have wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment to perform scientific work of marked difficulty and responsibility.

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. Applicants will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

If selected, the selectee will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University’s Registrar’s office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer.

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

This position has a mandatory education requirement. Applicants must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. Non-submission will result in being rated not-qualified for the position.

Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management at https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/ and U.S. Department of Education websites at https://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html websites.

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, applicants must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For further information visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html