Physical Science Technician
What you'd do
This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), with one vacancy in Woods Hole, MA or Narragansett, RI. This position is also announced under vacancy number NMFS-26-12996164-ST, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.
Major duties
As a Physical Science Technician, you will perform the following duties: Collect hydrographic, chemical, and biological data. Conduct complex tests to analyze data collected and evaluate the quality of the data. Record data, review results for consistency, and prepare written reports on technical approach and findings. Select analytical equipment, define sampling protocols, and review standardized procedures, technical requirements, and regulations to ensure compliance with community standards and established practices. Alter and develop procedures, and design highly technical approaches to solve complex issues to meet project needs. NOTE: These duties are described at the full performance level of the ZT-3; the ZT-2 is developmental leading to such performance. POSITION REQUIREMENTS: This position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle.
What you need to qualify
Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ EDUCATION: There is no positive education requirement for this position. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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. To qualify at the ZT-2 or GS-05 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZT-1 or GS-04 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Assisting in collecting, processing or compiling hydrographic (pertaining to physical properties of seawater), chemical, or biological data; and Assisting in performing maintenance or diagnosing malfunctions of analytical equipment. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (a) with major study in an appropriate field of physical science, or (b) that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as physical science, engineering, or any branch of mathematics, except financial and commercial mathematics. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and specialized experience as described above. Note: Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. To qualify at the ZT-3 or GS-09 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZT-2 or GS-08 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Collecting and processing hydrographic data (measurements pertaining to the physical properties of seawater, including but not limited to temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen); Preparing and deploying analytical equipment, monitoring equipment performance and performing maintenance on analytical equipment; and Recording and summarizing analytical data. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Master's or equivalent graduate degree in an appropriate field of physical science, engineering, or any branch of mathematics (except financial and commercial mathematics) or 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience may be used to meet the total experience requirements. Note: Only graduate-level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower band level may be combined with experience.
Before you apply
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