Interdisciplinary Supervisory Biologist/Physical Scientist

You will serve as a Interdisciplinary Supervisory Biologist/Physical Scientist 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 annum based on the duty station, and locality pay table. 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.

Major 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 data 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

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/16/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. To receive credit for experience, 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. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: Basic Educational Requirement AND/OR Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying. Basic Educational Requirements for 1301: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following: 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.You must submit transcripts. -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. Basic Educational Requirements 0401 series: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following: A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. You must submit transcripts. -OR- B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. -AND- To qualify for this position at the GS-15 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Examples of GS-14 level work may include: 1) Developing and coordinating major interdisciplinary projects that may impact regional scientific objectives; 2) developing or directly influencing the scientific, administrative and technical policies, standards, procedures, and instructions necessary for the effective direction and operation of a multi-discipline scientific program; 3) resolving critical problems resulting from the unprecedented complexities of a multi-discipline scientific study; 4) serving as the principal contact with other Federal agencies, state and local government organizations, and other groups that may affect the success of a major interdisciplinary scientific program. The work involved advising or counseling other recognized senior technical experts. You must include hours per week worked. 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. 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. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification

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 www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment. You are 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 will be required to serve a 1- year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.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. This is a supervisory position that may require completion of a supervisory probationary period. Upon completion of your probationary your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.