Pysical Scientist

Summary

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in Copper Center, AK. Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as permanent appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis. You will work for approximately mid-June through late May, and you will be in a non-pay status for the remainder of the year.

Duties

In this position, you will serve as a Physical Scientist and will be responsible for program development and implementation related to geology, soils, hydrology, hydrogeology, air quality, acoustics, paleontology, caves and karst formations, and related fields and activities. At the full performance level (GS-11) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following: Manage Abandoned Mineral Lands program, as well provide subject matter expertise on hydrology, and other landscape level geological processes. Identifies research needs, prepares requests for proposals, and provides oversight for research projects. Incorporates appropriate GIS technology into job to provide comprehensive and scientifically sound answers to inquiries from managers and others. Uses automatic methods of data collection, analysis or illustration. Conducts analysis of complex data. Determines and documents the significance of findings. Represents the superintendent and/or supervisor when working with others on physical science matters. Develops and maintains liaisons and effective working relations with related groups and individuals, agencies, and the public. May carry out program management duties by developing work plans and schedules, scopes of work, cost estimates, and proposals and/or grants to justify funding requests and accomplish goals. Attends management and professional conferences and other events for the purpose of exchanging information and advancing advocacy for park stewardship.

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. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle. Pre-employment and random drug testing are required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received. Requires operation of a small watercraft less than 26 feet in length. You are required to obtain and maintain a Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC). You must be able to lift 50 pounds. You may be required to travel overnight away from home a total of five to six weeks per year. Travel will be for meetings and fieldwork. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. This position requires carrying firearms in the backcountry for protection from dangerous animals. You must meet all Federal, State and local laws for carrying firearms on Federal public lands. You must be free of any domestic violence convictions. Eligible for conversion to competitive service after two years and upon meeting all requirements. Prior to converting to competitive service, incumbent must meet the following education requirement: Education: Successfully completed a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher 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- Combination of Education and Experience: Education equivalent to one of the majors shown 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 a copy of your transcripts and hours worked per week. *Additional Requirements located under qualifications*

Qualifications and evaluation

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents, responses to the questions in the assessment). If your application package does not clearly reflect having lived / worked within the area of consideration, does not clearly reflect special knowledge of the natural and/or cultural resources of the park or preserve, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible' or 'not qualified'. Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. Veterans' preference will be based solely on the claimed preference. Your eligibility will not be changed based on the documentation provided. If you are uncertain which preference to claim, you can learn more by visiting the VetGuide. Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Education

There is no substitution of education for the required special knowledge or expertise concerning the park's or preserve's natural and/or cultural resources and the management thereof as outlined in this announcement. However, prior to conversion to competitive service you will be required to meet the education requirements outlined in the Requirements section.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. There are multiple options for applying to this position, please see application options and instructions below: To apply online: You must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the 10/06/2026 - unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement to receive consideration. You must provide documentation to support your eligibility claim. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13076531 Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status, visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. To apply via mail: Mailed applications must be postmarked by the closing date of the announcement. If your application is postmarked by the closing date, it must be received in a sealed envelope no later than seven calendar days after the closing date. The seven-day waiting period may be extended if weather delays mail delivery. Applications may be mailed to: National Park Service Alaska Regional Office Attn: Human Resources 240 W. 5th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501 Applications must include the vacancy announcement number. If you are applying to multiple vacancy announcements, you must submit a separate application for each vacancy. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.

Required documents

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 10/06/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement: Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates in month-year format, and indicate hours worked per week (or full-time). Your resume must clearly show how long you have held each grade/rank. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Your 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements. If you have federal experience, you should include series, and grade for each position held, and if experience is part of a career ladder position, you must clearly distinguish the job duties and length of time working for each grade level. More information on how to write a Federal Resume: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include Complete all required assessments. To be eligible, your application package must clearly show periods of time having lived or worked in or near the areas of consideration as described in the Qualifications section of this announcement. Veterans Preference Documentation, if applicable. Veterans must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (member 4 copy) or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Parent or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.va.gov/records/ or call 1-800-827-1000. If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active-duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation. Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from all documents. Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

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. This is an excepted service appointment, that confers competitive status after two years and upon meeting all performance and OPM qualification requirements. Physical Demands/Work Environment: 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. 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, fire lines, arctic environments, swamps, deserts, and forests. Flying in fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters is possible. All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions. The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval Alaska currently does not have a state income tax. All travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the sole responsibility of the selectee.