The Pacific West Region is recruiting for summer seasonal Physical Science Technician, GS-1311-5/6/7 positions intended to assist permanent staff with Physical Science Technician field work. Open to the first 350 applicants or until 12/07/2023 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

Duties

The duty stations for the parks are: Longmire, WA - Mount Rainier National Park at GS-05/07 levels, Tulelake, CA - Lava Beds National Monument at GS-05/07 levels, Sedro Woolley or Marblemount, WA - North Cascades National Park at GS-06/07 levels, El Portal, CA - Yosemite National Park at GS-05/06/07 levels, Sequoia National Park, CA - Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks at GS-05/06 levels. Devil's Postpile National Monument, Mammoth Lakes, CA at GS-07 level. The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for the following parks includes: North Cascades National Park - March Lava Beds National Monument, Yosemite and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - April Mount Rainier National Park - May Devil's Postpile National Monument - June However, it can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Major Duties: At the GS-05, duties may include: Collects and organizes field data. Performs routine and recurring testing of collected samples. Performs data entry and compiles reports. Monitors conditions in assigned program areas. Provides logistical support and area orientation for contract or cooperating scientists. Operates and maintains sampling, monitoring and laboratory equipment and instruments. Participates in the operation and maintenance of the park's comprehensive air quality monitoring network: Participates in the operation and maintenance of the park's water quality monitoring network. Processes GIS data (e.g., data collected via GPS and converted into GIS data layer) and prepares maps. In addition to the above, GS-06 duties may include: Takes necessary precautions to prevent loss or contamination of air and water samples. Provides recommendations for establishing and improving air and water quality monitoring networks, sampling methodology and analytical procedures. Assists researchers with the implementation of their projects, including environmental compliance and logistical support. Conducts initial assessments to evaluate potential environmental contamination levels. Assists with the park's integrated pest management program by conducting chemical evaluations, recommending corrective actions and completing pesticide use documents. In addition to the above, GS-07 duties may include: Uses scientific knowledge to determine best sites for data collection. Plans work for field crews, exercising judgment to collect the best data possible without compromising safety. Ensures data is collected according to established protocols, providing guidance and training as necessary. Summarizes and interprets data in reports for use by park managers and staff. Duties at all grade levels: The incumbent(s) will organize, coordinate, and implement the field work (i.e., data collection) component of the air resources, water resources, environmental contamination, integrated pest management programs and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) programs. Physical Demands: The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking, and bending often required. Heavy items (e.g., equipment and packs up to 50 pounds) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis. Working Conditions: The work is performed in an office, laboratory, and in the field. Field work includes exposure to extreme weather and terrain conditions, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals. Laboratory work may involve exposure to hazardous chemicals. Air Quality: Poor air quality afflicts Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, especially during summer months - generally May to October. High ozone levels may be the most harmful pollutant here. In summer months, concentrations often exceed the federal ozone health standards. For more information: http://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/airqualityinfo.htm.

Requirements

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by 11:59 (EST) when the applicant cut-off is reach (which may be sooner than 12/07/2023). Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience. To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one year of full-time specialized experience comparable to at least the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include work in the fields of astronomy, physics, geophysics, chemistry, hydrology, health physics, engineering, electronics, geology, oceanography, and metallurgy. Specialized experience may also include: collecting air, water and/or soil samples; preparing samples for processing; monitoring procedures which must conform to timely and established protocols; entering scientific data common to the laboratory environment into a database, or perform similar work in support of laboratory record keeping and document control; writing portions of scientific or technical papers and reports that document research projects; and, operate and maintain equipment such as digital camera, GPS, water quality sensors, particulate sampler, and haze recorder. Resume must include hours/week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major study (or at least 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours) in any combination in astronomy, physics, chemistry, hydrology, engineering, electronics, geology, oceanography, or other appropriate field of physical science. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester/45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in an accredited college or university. You must include a copy of your transcripts at the time of application. -OR- Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours (or equivalent) earned towards a bachelor's degree, in excess of 60 semester hours, and divide by 60 semester hours (or equivalent). Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include months/years and hours per week worked and a copy of your transcripts at the time of application. To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: planning logistics for field sampling and handling of air, water, and/or soil samples; preparing analytical samples; conducting analytical test and measurement procedures to determine the physical and chemical properties of gases, liquids, and/or soils; understanding air flow patterns and atmospheric processes which affect the distribution of various air pollutants; maintaining accurate records of analysis to support validity of findings for reports and summaries; maintaining laboratory records of sample logs, instrument calibrations, acquisition of standards, laboratory safety requirements, chemical inventories, and other appropriate laboratory functions; and, summarizing data and writing reports that present clear and concise explanations of the scientific experimental results. You must include months/years and hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one full year (18 semester or 27 quarter hours) of directly related graduate education with a major study in physics, chemistry, hydrology, geophysics, geology, oceanography, metallurgy, or other appropriate field of physical science. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school you attended has determined to represent one year of study. If this information cannot be obtained from your school, we will consider 18 semester/26 quarter hours to be equal to one year of full-time study. You must include a copy of your transcripts at the time of application. -OR- Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, first take the total qualifying graduate education and convert it to a percentage of the total educational requirement. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include months/years and hours per week worked and a copy of your transcripts at the time of application. To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Examples of specialized experience include: 1) collect environmental monitoring data (e.g., water quality and quantity, weather statistics, air quality, cave ecosystem metrics, etc.); 2) set up remote environmental monitoring equipment (e.g., weather stations, acoustic monitors, water quality sondes, etc.); and 3) draft reports for physical science research or natural resource-based studies. You must include months/years and hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one full year (18 semester or 27 quarter hours) of directly related graduate education with a major study in physics, chemistry, hydrology, geophysics, geology, oceanography, metallurgy, or other appropriate field of physical science. You must include a copy of your transcripts at the time of application. -OR- Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours (or equivalent) earned towards a graduate degree and divide by 18 semester hours (or equivalent). Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include months/years and hours per week worked and a copy of your transcripts at the time of application. ICTAP/CTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special prior­ity selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your 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.

Contacts

• Address PWR Seasonal Recruitment 333 Bush Street Suite 500 San Francisco, CA 94104 US
• Name: Patricia Gerhardt
• Email: [email protected]