Summary Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Physical Scientist. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment. Duty Location: Sacramento, California Responsibilities Serves as a Physical Scientist for the Division of Envronmental Affairs. Provides professional, scientific and project planning assistance to the Regional Quality Assurance Officer (QAO) and to Regional and Reclamation Program Managers. Determines the scope of, initiates, and coordinates the progress of QA activities in accordance with EPA and Regional protocol to ensure general and specific data quality objectives are met. Develops and summarizes laboratory proficiency studies including research of appropriate reference materials, testing of the laboratory facilities, and assessing performance results. Acts as a liaison between field and support laboratories to ensure proper sample handling, chain-of-custody documentation, and sample transport. Writes reports pertaining to the evaluation and validity of analytical data and the performance of laboratories. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation. You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents). You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents). You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications). You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education). Who May Apply: 30% or More Disabled Veterans Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Department of the Interior Employees (Competitive) Department of the Interior Employees (Non-Competitive) Federal Employees (Competitive Transfer) Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Transfer) Former Federal Employees (Competitive Reinstatement) Former Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Reinstatement) Individuals with Disabilities (Schedule A) Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) Military Spouses Miscellaneous Appointing Authorities Pathways Program - Conversion Eligible Peace Corps & AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers Public Lands Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority Special Hiring Authorities Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) Veterans Recruitment Authority (VRA) Qualifications Basic Education Requirement: Applicants must first meet the Basic Education Requirement listed below: 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. 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. Specialized Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the Basic Education requirement, applicants must meet the specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume: To qualify at the GS-9, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-7 level in federal service having demonstrated experience performing/familiarity with quality assurance/quality control associated with routine environmental monitoring activities such as field instrument calibration and maintenance or water, soil, air, biota collection; following and reviewing sample labeling/custody/tracking procedures; basic data review, analysis, reporting; preparing data summary reports; quality assurance/quality control activities or oversight; participating in audits; laboratory work like sample receiving, reagent preparation, benchtop analysis, instrumentation; following standard operating procedures (SOPs). OR two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. For this position, this is defined as a degree in physical science, engineering, mathematics or a similarly related major. OR Combination of Education and Experience. To qualify at the GS-11, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-9 level in federal service having demonstrated experience providing quality assurance oversight in support of monitoring plans and models to collect representative samples from environmental systems; evaluating quality assurance/quality control activities associated with environmental studies and providing assessment of potential impacts of chemical constituents on biota, public health, or agriculture; preparing program and project-specific Quality Assurance Project Plans and/or Sampling and Analysis Plans; developing reports, preparing correspondence, and performing data management activities of environmental data; preparing for and leading audits for field sampling activities or analytical laboratory procedures; liaison between outside entities and internal teams. OR three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. For this position, this is defined as a degree in physical science, engineering, mathematics or a similarly related major. OR Combination of Education and 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. Time-In-Grade: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower-grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions and any selective placement factors if applicable, by 12/27/2024. Education This vacancy announcement allows substituting education for experience. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. 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. This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. Non-submission will result in being rated not-qualified for the position. You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer. Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional info, refer to the Office of Personnel Management and U.S. Department of Education. 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 additional info, refer to the U.S. Network for Education Information. Additional Information You may be required to serve an initial probationary period. Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval. If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive. If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a Student Loan Repayment Benefit (SLRB). The decision to offer an SLRB will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: SLRB Program. If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may request consideration for a Superior Qualifications Appointment. For information, visit: OPM Fact Sheet. Related non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630). For additional information, please visit: Creditable Service for Annual Leave DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/ This position is designated as a LOW RISK position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated SF85 Background Investigation (T1 or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment. Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov This is a bargaining unit position represented by the National Federation of Federal Employees, Local 951. Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.