National Park Service Logo
Position Title
Physical Science Technician
Agency
National Park Service
Announcement Number
PW-1547-MOJN-24-12478039-DE Opens in new window
Open Period
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 to Wednesday, July 31, 2024
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2. Are you a United States Citizen?

For more information, review Employment of U.S Citizens.
(limit characters)
3. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position?   If yes, confirm:
  • you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
 
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center. 
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
(limit characters)
4. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position?  If yes, confirm:
  • you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
 
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.  
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
(limit characters)
5. Reasonable Accommodations for taking the online assessments are provided on a case-by-case basis only to qualified individuals with a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

Do you have a disability (physical or mental) that you believe will interfere with completing the online assessments and require a Reasonable Accommodation?

(limit characters)
Preferences
1. As part of the official duties of this position, the incumbent is required to operate a Government vehicle. As such, applicants are required to have a valid State-issued Driver's License prior to the closing date of the job announcement.

Please note: you will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.

Please chose the best response option regarding your license status.
(limit characters)
A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating. (limit characters)
2. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (MUST include beginning and ending month/year e.g., 5/2019-10/2019 or 5/10/2019-10/20/2019), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the exact hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience. (limit characters)
3. To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your 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.
(limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in the Physical Science Technician position with the National Park Service. (limit characters)
Your responses to this questionnaire in conjunction with other portions of your complete application will be evaluated to determine your qualification for this position. THE RESUME OR APPLICATION MATERIALS YOU SUBMIT FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST SUPPORT ALL RESPONSES. IF NOT, YOUR SCORE WILL BE LOWERED AND/OR YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Please carefully follow all instructions before submitting your responses. If you change a response, be certain to unclick the incorrect response before you submit the application. Once you have submitted your application, items that are left blank will not receive credit. This is a federal job application system. Providing false information or failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely may be grounds for not hiring, disbarment from federal employment, or dismissal after you begin work. (limit characters)
1. From the responses below, select the one response that best describes how you meet the minimum qualification requirements for a Physical Science Technician, GS-1311-07 position. Read all responses before making your selection. If you leave this question blank, you will be rated ineligible.
(limit characters)
For each of the following tasks, choose the statement from the list below that best describe your experience and/or training. Do not overstate or understate your level of experience and demonstrated capability. You should be aware that your ratings are subject to evaluation and verification based on the resume, narratives, and other relevant documents you submit. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your stated level of experience and demonstrated capability. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting you or for dismissing you from the position following acceptance. (limit characters)
Physical Strength and Agility: Ability to bend, lift, climb, stand, and walk for long periods of time; ability to perform moderately heavy laboring work. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
2. Work outdoors in potentially hot, cold, wet, or windy weather or other uncomfortable conditions.
(limit characters)
3. Hike off-trail on steep, uneven, or rocky terrain and in dense vegetation.
(limit characters)
4. Camp in primitive backcountry settings for multiple days in a row, including occasional overnight backpacking trips, while practicing "leave no trace" camping principles.
(limit characters)
5. Enter small bodies of water up to 15 feet deep using waders, inflatable tubes or kayaks, or other similar equipment.
(limit characters)
6. Anticipate and adapt to dynamic field conditions and challenges, exercising sound decision-making, situational awareness, and preparation.
(limit characters)
Field Data Collection: Ability to collect, record, and ensure accuracy of field data (for example, stream and river discharge measurements). (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
7. Collect hydrologic data at springs, streams, lakes, or wells using standard field methods and tools (e.g., staff gages, pressure transducers, flow meters).
(limit characters)
8. Collect water quality or chemistry data at springs, streams, lakes, or wells using standard field methods and tools (e.g., multi-probes, sondes, field filtration).
(limit characters)
9. Conduct aquatic invertebrate sampling and sorting in aquatic ecosystems using standard field methods and tools.
(limit characters)
10. Identify native riparian and invasive plants in the Mojave and Great Basin region to prescribed taxonomy or hierarchy.
(limit characters)
11. Troubleshoot malfunctioning data collection instruments and software.
(limit characters)
12. Research and make recommendations for improvements, repairs, or replacements to malfunctioning or outdated data collection instruments and software.
(limit characters)
Information Management: Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
13. Independently complete thorough and accurate work on time and at the level of quality required, exercising sound decision-making and attention to detail. (limit characters)
14. Use electronic mapping tools to create and update site condition information and hiking routes and driving directions to field sites. (limit characters)
15. Enter and upload scientific data into electronic field forms and applications following prescribed data quality standards. (limit characters)
16. Review and ensure quality control of scientific data in software and databases following prescribed data quality standards. This includes exercising judgment to apply corrections, grades, and qualifiers to data. This also includes identifying and flagging scientific data that do not meet prescribed data quality standards. (limit characters)
17. Manage continuous data files from long-term deployed data collection instruments. (limit characters)
18. Make recommendations to improve data quality, data collection, or data workflows. (limit characters)
Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
19. Organize and coordinate the logistics, scheduling, and planning for field work and travel, such as researching itineraries, routes, forecasted weather conditions, and other safety considerations.
(limit characters)
20. Locate and navigate to remote backcountry field sites on roads and on foot using smartphone applications, GPS devices, or topographic maps and compasses.
(limit characters)
21. Drive 4WD vehicles on poorly maintained dirt roads. Exercise judgment in navigating obstacles, depending on road and weather conditions and other safety considerations.
(limit characters)
22. Maintain work vehicles, field camping gear, water quality instruments, and sampling equipment. This includes regular maintenance, calibration, repair, cleaning, and decontamination.
(limit characters)
23. Ensure that field crews follow organizational safety procedures and assist in the improvement of organizational safety plans and emergency prevention and response.
(limit characters)
24. Identify problem solving strategies consistent with organizational goals, using logic to develop and implement innovative tools and techniques to resolve complex problems and issues.
(limit characters)
Teamwork: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
25. Lead a team or field crew in order to achieve organizational objectives.
(limit characters)
26. Communicate effectively with coworkers, supervisors, volunteers, and the public, such as discussing issues, sharing information, soliciting ideas, and using participative decision-making processes.
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27. Show respect for the values and ideas of others, even when not agreeing with them. Demonstrate tact and courtesy when interacting with others.
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28. Act in a just, fair, and ethical manner. Encourage ethical behavior among others.
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29. Prepare technical reports, email correspondences, and other written documents in a clear and understandable manner using correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
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30. Give presentations and other oral communication on scientific information and field efforts to technical and non-technical audiences. This includes formal presentations at professional conferences or informal communication at public outreach events.
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