Interdisciplinary - Natural Resources Specialist / Physical Scientist

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 11/12/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted.

An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: Basic Educational Requirement AND Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.

Basic Educational Requirements for 0401 Job Series: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following: A. Degree: Successful completion of a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in one of the following: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. You must submit transcripts. -OR- B.

Combination of education and experience equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Basic Educational Requirements for 1301 Job Series: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following: A.

Degree: Successful completion of a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university that included a major field of study in 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. You must submit transcripts. -OR- B.

Combination of education and experience that included course work equivalent to a major (i.e., 24 semester hours) in physical sciences and/or a related engineering science; plus, appropriate experience or additional education. The quality of the combination must demonstrate that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of this position and is comparable to that normally acquired through the completion of a full four-year course of study with a major as described above.

GS-9 Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) Conducting data collection related to air quality, water quality, climate science, contaminated lands, soundscapes, light pollution, meteorology; 2) Summarizing data to assist in the preparation of reports; 3) Participating in the planning and organization of biological activities; 4) Acquiring and maintaining equipment and supplies necessary to conduct field activities.

You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least a master's or equivalent graduate degree or two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree from an accredited college or university in biological science, physical science, physics, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to this position. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience as listed above.

To combine education and experience, first take your total months of experience and divide by 12. Then divide your semester hours of completed graduate education beyond the first year by 18 (or 27 for quarter hours). 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 hours per week and transcripts.

GS-11 Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) Preparing scientific reports regarding the results of protection, mitigation, restoration, reintroduction, inventory, monitoring, and/or research activities; 2) Preparing natural resources sections of resources management plans; 3) Creating and prioritizing short-term and long-term goals; and 4) Protecting and restoring natural resources ensuring environmental compliance.

You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in biological science, physical science, physics, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to this position. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience as listed above. To combine education and experience, first take your total months of experience and divide by 12.

Then divide your semester hours of completed Ph.D. level education beyond the first two years (36 semester hours). Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week and transcripts.

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.

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Collects various types of environmental data which includes air quality, water quality, climate science, contaminated lands, soundscapes, light pollution meteorology and climatology. Records observations of fluctuations that may affect the interpretation of the data. Accesses and maintains computer records and databases. Inputs and retrieves data, runs program, and organizes automated record keeping systems.

Operates, adjusts, maintains, and inventories surveying and environmental sampling and field equipment. Recognizes gaps or inconsistencies in the information; evaluates and compares previous records to develop the necessary changes to correct problems. Prepares preliminary interpretive reports relating to individual environmental study assignments, including drafts, maps, and other illustrative material requiring judgment and experience.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.