Supervisory Physical Scientist

Summary

You will serve as a Supervisory Physical Scientist with Geological Survey. This position serves as the Division Director for the Integrated Information Dissemination Division, providing leadership, technical oversight, and administrative supervision of multidisciplinary programs involving web communications, data science, and decision support systems supporting the Water Mission Area. Pay will vary based on duty location for which you're selected.

Duties

This is a Merit Promotion announcement for current career and career conditional US Geological Survey Bureau employees and Career Transition eligibles (CTAP). Refer to the Required Documents section for more information. Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Provide technical and administrative supervision to multidisciplinary staff of professional, scientific, technical, and administrative personnel, including subordinate supervisors; plans and assigns work, evaluates performance and manages workforce development and personnel actions. Direct and oversee scientific and technical programs involving water-related data, information management, research, and advance analytical methods to support organizational priorities and mission objectives. Develops and implements strategic plans, policies, and operational procedures to improve scientific information systems, data dissemination, and analytical capabilities in support of the Water Mission Area (WMA) and Bureau objectives. Provide senior level scientific expertise and technical guidance in evaluating emerging technologies, advanced analytical tools, and scientific methologies to enhance data accessibility, information quality and organizational decision making. Establish and oversee data governance standards and information management practices to ensure scientific data integrity, quality, interoperability, accessibility and compliance with Federal regulations and security requirements. Directs program planning, budget formulation, and resource allocation to ensure effective management of scientific programs, personnel, information systems, and operational requirements in accordance with organizational priorities. Serve as senior scientific advisor and organizational representative, collaborating with Federal, State, Tribal, local and external partners to coordinate scientific initiatives, communicate technical findings, and advance information dissemination and research capabilities.

Qualifications

Qualifications: All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 11/04/2026-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 Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following: A. 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. You must submit transcripts. -OR- B. Combination of education and experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. -AND- To qualify for this position at the GS-15 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: (1) directing complex, multidisciplinary scientific or technical projects or initiatives; (2) analyzing scientific findings technical procedures or information management systems to identify deficiencies and recommend improvements; and; (3) establishing and executing program priorities, operating plans, or resource-allocation strategies to achieve organizational performance. You must include hours per week worked. 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.

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience. This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support education requirement. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you 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 more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 1-5 nights per month. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest. This 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 or trial 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 probation period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. This is a supervisory position that may require completion of a supervisory probationary period.