LEAD PHYSICAL SCIENTIST

You will serve as a LEAD PHYSICAL SCIENTIST in the Operations Department (N3) of NAVAL ICE CENTER.

Major duties

• You will oversee the timely delivery of high-quality sea ice analysis and forecast products to a diverse customer base.
• You will serve as the Subject Matter Expert for glacial ice and icebergs, maintaining an in-depth understanding of glacial ice and iceberg formation, movement, deterioration, and their impact on maritime operations and environmental monitoring.
• You will ensure that the organization’s strategic plan, mission, vision and values are communicated to the team and integrated into the team’s strategies, goals, objectives, work plans and products and services.
• You will serve as coach, facilitator and/or negotiator in coordinating team initiatives and in consensus building activities among team members.
• You will resolve simple, informal complaints of employees and refer others, such as formal grievances and appeals, to the supervisor or an appropriate management official.
• You will independently design and execute rigorous evaluations of new sea ice products, focusing on the potential for automation to reduce manual analyst intervention.
• You will research, learn and apply a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods to identify, assess, analyze and improve team effectiveness, efficiency and work products.
• You will prepare reports and maintain records of work accomplishments and administrative information, as required, and coordinate the preparation, presentation and communication of work-related information to the supervisor.
• You will deploy aboard ships or in the field (on land or mobile sea-ice) as an ice forecaster in support of USNIC customers on a rotational basis, operating with a high degree of autonomy and making authoritative recommendations on scene.
• You will develop and deliver specialized training and knowledge-sharing opportunities to fellow ice analysts, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development within the team.
• You will develop and disseminate educational material to explain the meaning of high, medium, and low confidence levels in the context of sea ice concentration, iceberg locations, and sea ice thickness, using complex, real-world examples.

Qualifications

In addition to the Basic Requirements for this position, your resume must also demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience independently analyzes satellite imagery, model data, and in-situ data to provide quality ice analyses, forecasts and technical leadership in resolving analytical challenges. Experience occasionally performing temporary duty onboard ships, aircraft, and conduct field operations to provide authoritative navigation and routing recommendations, probability of hazards, and outlooks pertaining to sea ice. Experience serving as a technical lead in efforts to integrate novel technology, new data sources, and to develop and validate efficient analysis procedures and product development via the USNIC Operational Project Management Program and other partners in both domestic and international sea ice community. Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (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.

Education

Basic Requirements: Applicants must meet the following positive education qualifications requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Standards Manual: Applicants must possess 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 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.