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Research Biologist

U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)

U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)

Software Engineering
Vicksburg, MS, USA
Posted 6+ months ago

Summary

About the Position: Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Environmental Laboratory (EL) in Vicksburg, MS

The US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is one of the most diverse engineering and scientific research organizations in the world. Website: http://www.erdc.usace.army.mil/

Visit Vicksburg and discover one of the best kept secrets in the South where the community is committed to excellence. Vicksburg Chamber of Commerce website: http://www.vicksburgchamber.org

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Overview

  • Accepting applications
  • Open & closing dates

    08/15/2024 to 08/26/2024

  • Salary

    $39,576 - $158,860 per year

  • Pay scale & grade

    DB 2 - 4

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    Location

    1 vacancy in the following location:

  • Remote job

    No

  • Telework eligible

    Yes—as determined by the agency policy.

  • Travel Required

    25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.

  • Relocation expenses reimbursed

    No

  • Appointment type

    Permanent

  • Work schedule

    Full-time

  • Service

    Competitive

  • Promotion potential

    4

  • Job family (Series)
  • Supervisory status

    No

  • Security clearance

    Not Required

  • Drug test

    No

  • Position sensitivity and risk

    Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

  • Trust determination process
  • Financial disclosure

    No

  • Bargaining unit status

    No


  • Announcement number

    RGCE2484986396

  • Control number

    804710700

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Duties

  • Organize and complete ecological, biological or forestry studies in coastal ecosystems, wetland ecosystems, terrestrial ecosystems and in the laboratory.
  • Research projects may include studies detailing the benefits of ecosystem restoration, assessments of ecosystem functions and impacts of invasive species on ecosystems.
  • Perform ecological site assessments including inventories of flora or fauna, and assessments of wetland vegetation, hydrology, and soils.
  • Laboratory activities utilizing mesocosms and analytical equipment to investigate ecosystem processes in a controlled setting, and sample processing and analysis will be accomplished using standard analytical techniques.
  • Manage field and laboratory data using spreadsheets or databases, assist with planning studies and conducting basic analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and maintain equipment used to conduct wetlands research.
  • Assist with the preparation of technical reports and peer reviewed journal articles, based on the results of the ecological studies and will have opportunities to report study results at scientific conferences, workshops and other venues.
  • Responsible for preparing documents either as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and/or Government Purchase Card (GPC) or to assist with the preparation of acquisition documents.
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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • This position requires pre-employment financial disclosure and annually thereafter in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7-R at the full performance level.
  • This position has a Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel requirement of 10% of the time.
  • Appointment to this position is subject to a two- year probationary period.
  • Work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks and discomforts such as: outdoor conditions involving moderate exposure to rain, cold/hot weather, etc. May work on various platforms including piers, towers and boats.
  • A valid US Driver's License is required.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.
    • Current Department of Army Civilian Employees
    • Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army)
    • Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce
    • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
    • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act
    • Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality (NAFI)
    • Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer
    • Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Interchange Agreement Eligible
    • People with Disabilities, Schedule A
    • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible
    • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible
    • Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement
    • Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible
    • Reinstatement
    • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998
In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Education Requirements

For 401 Series: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/general-natural-resources-management-and-biological-sciences-series-0401/

For the DB-2 Level: You must meet the Basic Education Requirement above

For the DB-4 Level: Specialized experience: One year of specialized experience which includes experience organizing, executing, and conducting field and laboratory studies focused on various ecosystems and the biological communities within them and experience collecting data, analyzing data, and writing technical reports and journal articles for studies focused on biology, wetland ecology, forest ecology, and/or soil science.

OR

Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Biology, Ecology, Forestry

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:

  • Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Communications
  • Computer Skills


Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent DB-2 (GS-4) and DB-4 (GS-11).

All qualification requirements, including time after competitive appointment, must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

This position is covered by the Science and Technology Laboratory Personnel Management Demonstration Project at the DB-2 (equivalent to GS-05 to GS-11) target to the DB-04 (equivalent to GS-12 to GS-14) level. If selected at the DB-02 level, you have the potential to be non-competitively promoted to the DB-04 level based on successful performance in the position.

In accordance with the Federal Register Vol.63, No. 57, dated March 25, 1998, and employee of the Laboratory Demonstration project must have a current average performance score of 2.5 or above in order to be selected for promotion.

All applicants currently employed under a Laboratory Demonstration Project must include their most recent performance appraisal score as part of their electronic resume. If you are a Lab demo employee submitting your resume for the first time, or if you have previously submitted your resume without your most recent score, you must submit your resume now with the following statement to be included in the section on your training: Current Performance Rating is 2.5.

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

  • Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
  • You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
  • Two-year trial/probationary period may be required.
  • Direct deposit of pay is required.
  • This position requires you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) or a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter.
  • Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
  • If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
  • This is a(n) 16 Career Field (CF) Engineer and Scientists (Non construction) position.
  • Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and; (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a score of 90 or above. Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.
  • Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.
  • This position is Exempt (DB-4) or Non Exempt (DB-2) from the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  • Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative
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How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and; (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a score of 90 or above. Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.

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Required Documents

The documents you are required to submit vary based on the authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying as a veteran, applying as a current permanent Federal employee, applying as a reinstatement, etc). Please review the following links to see which documents you need to provide to prove your eligibility to apply: Applicant Checklist for Internal/Merit Promotion Announcements.As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.1. Your resume:

  • Your resume may be submitted in any format and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement.
  • If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
  • For qualifications determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week and the dates of employment (i.e., HRS per week and month/year to month/year or month/year to present). If your resume does not contain this information, your application will be marked as incomplete and you will not receive consideration for this position.
  • For additional information see: What to include in your resume.
2. Other supporting documents:
  • Cover Letter, optional
  • Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
  • Proof of Eligibility to Apply: Your application must include the documents which prove you are eligible to apply for the vacancy. The Proof of Eligibility document describes authorities commonly used in merit promotion recruitment and what document(s) are required to prove you meet the requirements of the authority. You must meet the requirements of at least one of the authorities listed in the Who May Apply section above to receive further consideration.
  • Time-in-grade documentation: If you are applying for a higher grade and your SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you meet the one year time-in-grade requirement so you will need to provide an SF-50 which clearly demonstrates you meet the time-in-grade requirements (examples of appropriate SF-50s include Promotions, Within-grade Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s with an effective date more than one year old).
  • This position has an individual occupational requirement and/or allows for substitution of education for experience. If you meet this requirement based on education you MUST submit a copy of your transcript with your application package or you will be rated ineligible. See: Transcripts and Licenses
NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

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How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on August 12, 2024 to receive consideration.

  • To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12498498).
  • Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
  • You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
  • It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
  • Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
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Agency contact information

Army Applicant Help Desk
Address
RG-W03GAA US ARMY ENGR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMT CTR
DO NOT MAIL
Vicksburg, MS 39183
US
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Next steps

If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration.

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