Physical Scientist

Summary This position is located in Natural Resources Stewardship and Science, in the Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division. This is a term position (more than 1 year) with an initial appointment expecting to last at least 13 months and no more than 3 years, but may be extended up to a total of fours years. Term positions do not convey permanent status in the Federal service. Responsibilities The duties for this position include, but are not limited to: Coordinates scientifically credible protection, mitigation, and restoration projects to minimize impacts of outdoor lighting. Analyzes data and product specifications, writes scientific reports, and makes recommendations to staff. Develops and maintains liaisons and effective working relations with related groups. Represents NPS on regional task groups or similar. Makes presentations in parks, public gatherings, and professional meetings. Conducts outdoor lighting measurements using established procotols. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. 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. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period. You will be required to complete a one-year trial period. You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 3 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. This position may require nighttime work. Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program. Qualifications All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/21/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. 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 (month/year), 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 hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience. All applicants must meet the (1) basic requirement, (2) Selective Placement Factor, and (3) specialized experience in order to receive consideration for this position. 1. BASIC REQUIREMENT: In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirement described below. If you do not, you will not be considered for this position: A. A degree 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- B. A 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. In addition to the Basic Requirement above, you must also meet the minimum qualification requirements described below. To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must also possess all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: 2. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: This position requires applicants to meet the selective factor in order to be considered. Selective placement factors are knowledge, skills, or abilities that are critical to the success of the position and must be possession prior to entering on duty. Applicants must meet the following selective placement factor. Those who do not, will no longer be considered for this position: Formal coursework in lighting such as lighting technology or modern lighting design that demonstrates formal understanding of the concepts, principles, theories and methods in lighting as it relates to the physical sciences. Applicants must also meet the specialized experience below to be considered for this position: 3. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes: Strong technical knowledge of lighting principles and technologies including outdoor lighting, shielding, controls, and LEDs. Ability to interpret and explain technical lighting specifications such as photometric design plans, lighting specifications (lumen output, efficacy, CCT), wired controls and wireless control options such as timers, dimmers, or sensors to non-specialists. Familiarity with lighting standards for outdoor lighting including zoning and appropriate lighting levels for given tasks. Familiarity with night sky protection initiatives such as Dark Sky International Best Practices and Certification processes, Illuminating Engineering Society best practices, or Design Lights Consortium Project LUNA requirements. Demonstrated understanding of the environmental impacts of outdoor lighting such as skyglow on wildlife and ecosystem health and the implementation of best practices for mitigating outdoor lighting effects, and experience guiding lighting choices based on these potential impacts. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree, if related. You must include transcripts. -OR- COMBINATION: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, first take your the amount of completed education (18 semester hours, or 27 quarter hours, equal 1 year of graduate education) and divide by 18 (if semester hours) or 27 (if quarter hours). Then multiply the answer by 100 to calculate the total percentage of education. Then take the number of months of full time experience and divide by 12 months, multiplying that answer by 100 for the percentage. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts. QUALITY RANKING FACTOR: Applicants who currently possess the described skill may be placed ahead of other applicants; however, you will not lose consideration solely based on not having this skill: Basic experience applying outdoor lighting principles and an understanding of the impact of lighting on nighttime resources. Volunteer 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. Education 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. Additional Information A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. Physical Demands: The position may require strenuous physical activity including periods of standing, walking, climbing, and lifting and carrying heavy objects. Some activities will occur in physically dangerous areas or settings. Documentary research and report writing work is sedentary, entails the ability to concentrate and write for long periods of time. Working Conditions: Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in all types of weather. Assignments may be performed in potentially hazardous areas including steep slopes, rocky terrain, volcanoes, caves, firelines, arctic environments, swamps, deserts, and forests. Flying in fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters is possible. Recruitment/Relocation incentives have been considered and may be offered for this position The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.