Summary
You will serve as a Supervisory Biologist/Physical Scientist (Bureau Science Quality Officer) for the USGS Office of Science Quality and Integrity with USGS-wide responsibility for science quality. Salary The salary range is between $147,945.00 (GS-15 Step 1) and $197,200.00 (GS-15 step 10) per year based on the duty station and locality. For more information, please refer to the OPM Salary Tables at General Schedule. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.
Duties
The USGS Office of Science Quality and Integrity (OSQI) is seeking a supervisory Bureau Science Quality Officer with USGS-wide responsibility for science quality. This position serves as the bureau's expert across all scientific disciplines and programs, leading efforts to uphold standards for science quality, relevance, objectivity, transparency, reproducibility, and adherence to Fundamental Science Practices. The incumbent enhances science quality through training and workshops, works closely with USGS leadership to resolve science quality issues-including those identified through scientific integrity processes-and manages a science quality group overseeing a broad portfolio of multidisciplinary programs. The position supervises highly recognized scientists and provides critical oversight for bureau-wide science quality activities. While the OSQI home office is in Reston, VA, the duty station is negotiable at any USGS location, with preference for Reston, Lakewood, or Moffett Field.Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Coordinate with DOI bureaus when USGS scientific data and information affect departmental activities. Supervise multiple high-level scientists who lead programmatic areas with USGS-wide purview. Serve as the senior Bureau Science Quality Officer, leading USGS-wide science quality standards and policies. Formulate, implement, and oversee high-level directives that strengthen scientific quality across all mission areas and disciplines. Advise USGS leadership, including the Director, OSQI, Mission Areas, Regions, and the Chief Scientist, on science quality issues and policy development. Lead bureau-wide efforts to improve research quality through training, proactive issue identification, and resolution of science quality concerns. Conduct inquiries into science quality concerns separate from scientific integrity cases; assess impacts, identify root causes, and guide corrective actions through completion. Collaborate across Mission Areas, Centers, Regions, and other offices to ensure effective, transparent issue resolution and recurrence prevention. Plan, design, and execute complex projects that support scientific excellence, transparency, and consistency across USGS information products.
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 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 probationary 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.
Education
This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. 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
How you will be evaluated
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessment(s) required for this position. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Accountability Creative Thinking Leadership Strategic Thinking To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessment(s), including a structured resume review.These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job. All qualified non-competitive applicants and the best-qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration or your score may be lowered. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position. Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.