Supervisory Physical Scientist

National Park Service

$80K — $95K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics with 24 semester hours in physical science or related fields.
  • Combination of education and experience in physical science or engineering equivalent to the above degree.
  • One year of specialized experience at the GS-11 level involving resource management planning and proposal oversight.
  • Experience in developing scientific monitoring protocols and implementing mitigation restoration projects.
  • Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

  • Manage projects by applying principles and tools for scheduling, coordinating, and evaluating outcomes.
  • Organize work and set priorities while determining resource requirements for various goals.
  • Develop strategic alliances and networks across different stakeholders.
  • Conduct research and evaluation in geosciences focusing on hydrology, geology, and climate sciences.
  • Evaluate the impact of physical resource management practices within the national park.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package available to federal employees.
  • Access to a range of programs designed for family support and career growth.
  • Eligibility for benefits varies based on employment status: full-time, part-time, or intermittent.
Full Job Description
Summary

You will serve as a Supervisory Physical Scientist with the Grand Canyon National Park.

The Supervisory Physical Scientist serves as the senior advisor for geoscience disciplines (predominantly Geology, and Hydrology) within Grand Canyon National Park, supporting mission-related scientific work through the application of broad physical science disciplines.

Duties

Help

Project Management: Applies principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, monitoring, evaluating, and managing projects and resources, including technical performance.

Planning and Evaluating: Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates.

Partnering: Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.

Geosciences Research/Evaluation: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods related to the study and evaluation of multiple interdisciplinary fields of geosciences including hydrology, geology, paleontology, air resources, caves and climate sciences to increase understanding, resource management, and mitigation of impacts to physical resources within a national park.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • 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.
  • Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
  • You may be required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You may be required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.


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 period 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.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 09/13/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.

To qualify for this position, you must possess one of the Basic Experience/Education Requirements for the 1301 series below AND you must possess the Minimum Qualifications (specialized experience) for the GS-12 grade level below.

BASIC EXPERIENCE OR EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (Individual Occupational Requirements) FOR THE PHYSICAL SCIENTIST GS-1301 SERIES:


  1. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher-level 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. You must provide transcripts.
  2. Combination: College-level education equivalent to one of the majors shown in 1 above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. You must provide transcripts.


- AND-

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE GS-12 GRADE LEVEL:

EXPERIENCE
: one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience MUST include the following: (1) developing and preparing major portions of resource management plans; (2) preparation of specific action plans; (3) identifying research needs, preparation of proposals, and oversight of research; (4) design, develop, test, and implement scientific monitoring protocols; AND (5) developing scientifically credible protection, mitigation, and restoration projects.

You must include hours per week worked.

For more information qualifying education or on combining education and experience see OPM Qualification Standards linked below:Individual Occupational Requirements for Physical Scientist Series, 1301Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions

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

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

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Physical Demands: The work regularly combines both office and field assignments. Field work requires physical exertion, such as long periods of standing, or recurring and considerable walking, stooping, bending, crouching, crawling, and climbing such as in regular and periodic construction activities and field inspections. Work may also include frequent lifting of moderately heavy items weighing less than 50 pounds. Field assignments may also drive motor vehicles to work sites, riding in watercraft, or hiking long distances into the Grand Canyon. Most field visits will be in remote areas and include overnight stays in remote locations.

Work Environment: The work is usually performed in an office setting. However, work time may also be spent periodically visiting field sites. Field site visits are typically performed in either an outdoor setting subject to weather changes, diverse terrain, and safety hazards associated with working around complex features and/or construction. Both settings may require the use of personal protective equipment. Safety precautions and protocols are observed at all times, and the scientist

complies with safety instructions and regulations and ensures individuals' safety by promptly reporting unsafe acts, unsafe conditions, and accidents to the supervisor.

Expand Hide additional information

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

More Jobs at National Park Service

More Education, Government & Non-Profit Jobs

  • State Of Delaware
    Director of Accounting
    $130K *
    State Of Delaware
    Dover, DE 19904 (Kent County)
  • Deputy Building Official
    $80K — $150K + gloucester county government offers an excellent benefit package *
    Gloucester County
    Gloucester, VA 23061 (Gloucester County)
  • Deputy Assessor
    $80K — $150K + gloucester county government offers an excellent benefit package *
    Gloucester County
    Gloucester, VA 23061 (Gloucester County)
  • Civil Engineer II
    $80K — $150K + gloucester county government offers an excellent benefit package *
    Gloucester County
    Gloucester, VA 23061 (Gloucester County)
  • Accounting Manager
    $80K — $100K + gloucester county government offers an excellent benefit package *
    Gloucester County
    Gloucester, VA 23061 (Gloucester County)

Find similar Supervisory Physical Scientist jobs: