Student Trainee (Physical Science) at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

About the role

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS), with three vacancies in Seattle, WA; Durham, NH; Norfolk, VA; and Silver Spring, MD. As a Student Trainee (Physical Science), you will be a participant in the Pathways Intern Program and perform work assignments that are clear cut, well-planned, and designed to support the organization mission. You will receive on-the-job and formal training to perform routine assignments under supervisory instructions on objectives, limitations, priorities, and deadlines. Below is a list of duties that will be performed by the incumbent: Perform analysis and quality assurance for hydrographic surveys and bathymetric data. Apply technical procedures to identify data deficiencies and ensure compliance with established specifications. As part of learning geospatial data analysis procedures, assist with testing software and provide suggestions for process improvements. This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band. The ZP-2 is equivalent to the GS-07/09. The Intern (NTE) must:- Be accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree or certificate in a qualifying educational institution on at least half-time basis as determined by the educational institution or be in or a career or technical education programs, (which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, Climate Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps);- Meet the definition of a student throughout the duration of their appointments;- Meet agency-specific requirements as specified in the agency's Participant Agreement with the Intern and;- Meet the qualification standards (e.g., series and grade) for the position. This appointment may be extended as long as the individual continues to meet the eligibility requirements of the Pathways Intern Program and the employing office has a continuing need. This position is being recruited with an opportunity for non-competitive conversion eligibility to a permanent OR term position in the competitive service upon completion of all program requirements. Conversion is not mandatory nor guaranteed (see Additional Information). Eligibility Requirements In order to be eligible for an appointment under the Pathways Internship Program: You must be a student accepted for enrollment or enrolled in a degree or certificate program on a full- or half-time basis as defined by the school (certificate program means post-secondary education, in a qualifying educational institution, equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum), or career or technical education programs, (which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, Climate Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps); AND Enrollment is with a qualifying educational institution such as a high school or state-approved homeschool; or accredited technical or vocational school; a 2- or 4-year college or university; a graduate or professional school (e.g., law school, medical school); or a post-secondary home school curriculum; AND Students currently enrolled must be in good academic standing maintaining a 2.0 grade point average on a cumulative basis; AND The duties of this position should be related to your academic or career goals. You must continue to meet these eligibility requirements throughout the duration of your appointment under the Pathways Internship Program. Students who successfully complete the internship program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent appointment or a term (1-4 years in duration) appointment without further competition. Eligibility requirements for conversion: must be a U.S. Citizen; complete at least 480 hours of work experience acquired through the Internship Program (*In accordance with 5 CFR 362.204, 160 hours may be waived under certain conditions provided the Intern has completed at least 320 work hours under a Pathways Internship Appointment); successfully complete your degree or certificate requirements from a qualifying institution; meet the qualification requirements for the position to which you will be converted; meet agency-specific requirements as outlined in the Participant's Agreement; and must have performed successfully in your position as documented through performance evaluations. If converted to a permanent or term appointment, the anticipated target position is a Physical Scientist 1301. If not qualified for the 1301, the incumbent may be converted to any series within the 1300 - Physical Sciences Group to which they qualify for; the target position and FPL may change based on the need of the organization at that time. Interns must meet the qualification requirements for the position to which converted. Individual Occupational Requirements Upon Conversion (General Physical Science Series, 1301): Basic Requirements: 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. Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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. To qualify at the ZP-2 or GS-07 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-1 or GS-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Assisting with collecting and sorting physical science data. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Completion of one full academic year of graduate-level education. OR SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: As demonstrated by a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with one of the following. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your application clearly states how you meet one of the provisions below: A grade point average (GPA) of 2.9 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last 2 full years of undergraduate study; A GPA of 3.5 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for required courses completed in a major field of study, or those courses completed in a major field of study during the last two years of undergraduate study; Class standing of upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision of the college; Membership in a national Scholastic Honor Society certified by the Association of College honor Societies, excluding freshman honor societies. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of graduate-level education and specialized experience. Key Requirements: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Additional Information. Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov) Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Additional Considerations: One year trial period may be required.* Payment of relocation expenses (PCS) is not authorized. This position requires a Low Risk Security Clearance. If selected, you will be required to provide official transcripts and/or letter from the school stating you are enrolled in a degree/certificate/career program on at least a half time basis in good standing and your expected graduation date. Background investigation will be required. Continued employment is subject to applicant's successful completion of security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, for those required to serve a 1-year probationary period, we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: Your performance and conduct; 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 then Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.