INTERDISCIPLINARY Physical Scientist (Recent Graduate)

Summary

The Recent Graduates Program is a dynamic, one-year developmental program that promotes careers in the Federal Government to recent graduates. Participants in the Program receive training and professional development, complete an Individual Development Plan (IDP), and are assigned a mentor. Recent Graduates who successfully complete Program requirements may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a term or permanent position in the civil service.

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Duties

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Please choose your top 2 duty locations that you are willing to report to.

This position offers varying full performance levels (e.g., GS-11, GS-12, or GS-13 equivalent) depending on the specific needs of the selecting Program Office. Further details regarding specific grade levels and responsibilities will be discussed during the interview process.

As a GS-7 Physical Scientist (Recent Graduate) You Will

• Serve as a professional engineer or scientist and performs general engineering or scientific work of limited scope and complexity in support of DOE projects assigned to higher grade engineers.
• Plan work procedures and select standard practices and data to be applied to engineering or scientific assignment and identified problems.
• Assist in coordinating and carrying out limited, well-defined engineering and/or scientific projects.
• Prepare routine, recurring engineering and/or scientific reports for use by higher graded engineers or to convey factual engineering and/or scientific data and information.
  
  

As a GS-9 Physical Scientist (Recent Graduate) You Will

• Research, analyze, interpret, evaluate, and carry out difficult but conventional scientific and/or engineering assignments in support of programs/projects.
• Conduct preliminary scientific and/or engineering analyses to assist higher graded scientists and engineers in accomplishing work on large and complicated projects.
• Review reports, plans, specifications, change orders, modifications, and other documents prepared by others to identify discrepancies or potential issues.
• Prepare, provide, and evaluate conventional plans, designs, design specifications, and related documentation to support higher level scientific and/or engineering efforts.
• Provide input into, and prepares, recurring technical reports to inform stakeholders of status of projects issues that may impact program/project objectives and goals.
  
  

CONVERSION REQUIREMENTS: DOE has the option to non-competitively convert a Recent Graduate to a permanent or term position upon successful completion of program requirements. This is not automatic, nor guaranteed. Conversion is at the discretion of the hiring manager and employing office. To be eligible to be converted to a permanent or term position you must:

• Be a US Citizen or National
• Be recommended for conversion by your manager or supervisor.
• Complete all training and development requirements within the 1-year appointment period.
• Successful completion of 1 year of continuous service.
• Demonstrate successful job performance of at least a "Fully Successful" or equivalent on performance appraisal.
• Meet the Office of Personnel Management's qualification standards for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted (which may include a positive education requirement). 1301 Physical Science
• A Recent Graduate may be converted to the highest General Schedule (GS) grade level qualified for at time of conversion.
  
  

Recent Graduates converted to a term position in the competitive service may subsequently be non-competitively converted to a career or career-conditional appointment without further competition.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PATHWAYS PROGRAM? For additional information regarding the Pathways Program, please refer to the following website: USAJOBS Help Center | Students & recent graduates

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen, National, or Foreign National who meets both Immigration and Annual Appropriations Laws.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• A Pathways Recent Graduate Participant Agreement is required.
• Recent Graduates serve a trial period for the entire duration of their excepted service appointment.
• Applicant must provide proof that they have obtained an associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational, technical degree, or a certificate from a qualifying educational institution with the previous 2 years.; OR
• Applicant must provide proof that they have completed a qualifying career or technical education program within the previous 2 years.
• Veterans precluded by a military service obligation have up to 6 years after completion of degree or certificate to apply.
• Positions may require submittal of a Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE-450, Executive Branch Personnel Confidential Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of entering the position and annually.
• Positions may be a Testing Designated Position (TDP) subject to applicant testing and random drug testing thereafter. Failure to test or a positive result on random drug tests conducted after appointment may result in removal from Federal employment.
• Positions may be included in the DOE's Technical Qualifications Program (TQP). Selectees for included positions are required to complete the TQP requirements within 18 months of entering the program or 12 months if previously qualified.
• This position offers varying full performance levels (e.g., GS-11, GS-12, or GS-13 equivalent) depending on the specific needs of the selecting Program Office.
  
  

Qualifications

You must meet the eligibility and qualifications within 4 months of the closing date of this announcement.

Please choose your top 2 duty locations that you are willing to report to.

To be eligible for the Pathways Recent Graduate program you must be a:

• Recent graduate who has completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, technical degree, or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or completed a qualifying career or technical education program that awards a recognized postsecondary credential (such as a Registered Apprenticeship Program or Job Corps).
• OR-
• Student who within 4 months of the closing date of this announcement will meet the education requirements and will graduate with a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, technical degree, or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or completed a qualifying career or technical education program. A student may not be appointed to a position until they have graduated.
• OR-
• Preference eligible veterans who were prevented from applying during the two-year period due to their military service obligation may begin their two-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. Eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed six years after degree or certificate completion. You MUST submit a copy of the DD214 showing the duration and dates of service that precluded you from applying due to the military service obligation.
  
  

For the GS-07: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience for this position at the GS-7 includes:

• Assisting in project execution using basic engineering/scientific principles.; AND
• Documenting engineering/scientific findings.
  
  

OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-7 BASED ON EDUCATION: 1 year of graduate-level education. Graduate education must provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform in the position. Please see the information under Education.

OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-7 BASED ON SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: A bachelor's degree AND meet one of the following:(1) Class standing You must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision based on completed courses; OR(2) Grade-point average (G.P.A.) You must have 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR(3) Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society (other than freshman honor societies) You are a member of one of the national scholastic honor societies recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achshonor.org/). The Bachelor degree must still show the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform in this position.

OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-7 BASED ON A COMBINATION OF EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: If you have some qualifying education and some qualifying experience, but don't fully meet either requirement on its own, you may be able to combine them. Only graduate education can be used in this calculation. Experience must be reflected in your resume, and transcripts are required.

• Divide your qualifying graduate semester hours by 18. That gives you your education percentage.
• Divide your months of qualifying experience by 12. That gives you your experience percentage.
• Add the two together. If the total is 100% or more, you qualify.
  
  

For the GS-09: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience for this position at the GS-9 includes:

• Conducting scientific/engineering research and analysis to interpret technical data for project support.; AND
• Drafting concise technical reports and scientific/engineering communications for varied audiences.
  
  

OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-9 BASED ON EDUCATION: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. Graduate education must provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform in the position. Please see the information under Education.

OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-9 BASED ON COMBINATION: If you have some qualifying education and some qualifying experience, but don't fully meet either requirement on its own, you may be able to combine them. Only graduate education in excess of one year (18 semester hours or equivalent) can be used in this calculation. Experience must be reflected in your resume, and transcripts are required.

• Divide your qualifying graduate semester hours beyond the first 18 by 18. That gives you your education percentage.
• Divide your months of qualifying experience by 12. That gives you your experience percentage.
• Add the two together. If the total is 100% or more, you qualify.
  
  

(For GS-07) Note about Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): Applicants usually cannot claim credit based on their overall GPA if more than 10 percent of their total credit was based on pass/fail or similar systems, rather than on traditional grading systems. However, if they can document that only their freshman-year courses (25 percent or less of their total credit) were credited on a pass/fail or similar system, they can use their overall GPA to claim SAA. If 10 percent or fewer credits or only freshman-year courses were based on pass/fail or similar systems, such credits can be ignored, and the GPA can be computed from the graded courses. Applicants can, however, still claim credit based on their last 2 years if 10 percent or fewer credits were based on pass/fail or similar systems. Applicants who cannot claim credit under the GPA requirements may claim credit for SAA only on the basis of class standing or honor society membership.

Note about Graduate Education: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet Minimum Qualifications, you must show that the 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. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Education

REMINDER: Submit transcripts for all degrees earned.

You must meet the following Basic Education Requirement listed below in order to qualify for the 1301 series:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a Bachelor's degree or higher 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.; OR
• Combination of education and experience education equivalent to one of the majors shown above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
  
  

You must submit proof of eligibility (e.g., transcripts, certificate of completion) to show that you meet the Pathways Recent Graduate Program requirements. Unofficial transcripts with the degree title, list of courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter or semester hours earned can be used as a substitute for official transcripts at the time of application; if you are selected for a position, official transcripts will be required prior to entering on duty.

What constitutes a valid certificate program: The Pathways Programs regulation (see 5 CFR 362.102) defines certificate program as post-secondary education at either:

• A qualifying educational institution (trade or vocational school, 2-year or 4-year college or university, or graduate or professional school) equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum.; OR
• A qualifying career or technical education program of at least one year that awards a recognized postsecondary credential.
  
  

What types of programs would meet the eligibility criteria for a qualifying career or technical education program?

Three Types Of Programs Meet These Criteria

• Federally administered educational programs that provide rigorous academic content, technical skill proficiency, and a recognized postsecondary credential to prepare the individual for further education and/or a career in a current or emerging profession.;
• Registered Apprenticeship Programs; and
• Federally administered local, state, national, or international volunteer service programs.
  
  

What is a Federally administered career or technical education program?

A Federally administered career or technical education program is subject to programmatic oversight by a federal agency that includes:

• The nature and scope of work to be performed by participants,
• The type(s) and scope of training to be provided to participants,
• The types of skills participants will acquire or develop during the program (e.g., teaching, environmental, business, scientific, public health/health care, languages),
• The level and extent of mentoring participants will receive, and
• The metrics for successful completion of the program.
• Programmatic oversight may be reflected in partnership or cooperative agreements.
  
  

Additional Information

• We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
• This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
• For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.opm.gov/telework/
• EEO Policy: www.energy.gov/justice/eeo-complaint-process
• Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement.
• Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://www.energy.gov/hc/articles/reasonable-accommodation-and-personal-assistance-service-procedure
• Veterans Information: https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans
• Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/
• Incentives may be available.
• Positions may be covered by a bargaining unit. Bargaining unit will vary by departmental element, grade, and/or location.
• Salary will be determined based on the duty location after selection.
• Telework availability will be based upon the mission requirements and supervisory determination.
• Management has the prerogative to select at any grade level.
• The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged noncompliance by completing the Fair Chance Act Intake Form and submitting it to the Administrative Investigations Program at AdministrativeInvestigations@hq.doe.gov.
• Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, non-career SES, or Presidential appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
  
  

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.