Scuba Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary
This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO), NOAA Dive Center (NDC), with 2 vacancies in Seattle, WA.
This position is also announced under vacancy number OMAO-26-13049544-DE, which is open to all US Citizens or Nationals. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.
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Duties
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As a Training Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

• Coordinate, promote, certify personnel, and execute effective training and provide oversight for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Diving Center (NDC) in order to promote safe diving practices per OSHA compliant scientific diving guidelines, minimizing the likelihood of diving accidents. Issue certifications through a nationally recognized SCUBA training agency.
• Support several areas of the NDC program including equipment and facilities maintenance and operations, diving and hyperbaric chamber operational support, supervision and training of divers, and diving unit inspections.
• Develop, schedule, and provide instruction in NOAA diving and dive-related training, including but not limited to, NOAA diver, Divemaster, and Diving Medical Technician. Serve as dive instructor or trainer, dive supervisor, standby diver, and tender as required to support NDC course offerings.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• This position has physical requirements. Able to swim and work in a water column; walk, stand, bend, stoop, lift/carry up to 60 pounds on land and aboard small vessels. Utilizes SCUBA equipment underwater.
• Perform duties indoors in typical office setting, outdoors and in small boats exposed to weather, and in water conditions including cold temperatures, low visibility, and hazardous marine life.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Train and re-certify as required to maintain basic National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) diving and diving related medical proficiency and qualifications.
• Meet physical requirements for NOAA Diving as described in the NOAA Diving Medical Standards and Procedures Manual.
• Successfully complete a NOAA Diving physical exam and receive clearance to dive from the NOAA Diving Medical Officer at entry on duty.
• Must be able to serve aboard a NOAA Ship as divemaster, and chamber operator.
• This position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle. Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license to operate a government vehicle in completion of assigned tasks i.e. site visits, field research, etc. Operate government owned vehicles and small boats in support of NOAA Dive Center mission.
• Travel as needed to support off-site dive instruction and operations.
• This position requires a Non-Critical Sensitive clearance as the incumbent requires access to secure spaces where a SECRET clearance is required.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment
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 ZA-3 is equivalent to the GS-11/12.
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.
• If you are a Federal employee applying for a promotion (under merit promotion procedures) you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Additional Considerations:

• One year probationary period may be required.
• Payment of relocation expenses (PCS) is not authorized.
• This position requires Noncritical Sensitive Security Clearance.
• 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 probationary 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.
Qualifications
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/
EDUCATION: There is no positive education requirement for this position.
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 ZA-3 or GS-11 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-2 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Providing advice and guidance for dive-related trainings or diving operations;
• Providing guidance as a dive instructor or trainer and supporting a variety of dive operations; and
• Participating in scientific diving operations under Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) compliant scientific diving guidelines.

OR
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree with a major study in education or a subject area related to the position to be filled or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related.
OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience may be used to meet the total experience requirements. Note: Only graduate-level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience.
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SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR:
Selective Placement Factor: Essential to performing the duties of this position, the incumbent must hold and maintain an active SCUBA Instructor qualification from a nationally recognized training agency.
If you do not meet the requirements of this Selective Placement Factor, you will be rated ineligible for this announcement. Applicants must provide documentation with their application to support meeting this Selective Placement Factor.
Education
College Transcript:If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., Bio 101, Math 210, etc.), name of accredited institution, course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.
Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.
Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation.
Additional information
During the application process you will have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
ICTAP and CTAP Candidates: Eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition.
ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

1. Copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
2. Copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;
3. Copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

1. Copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
2. Copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location;
3. Copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

Non-Competitive Reinstatement to a Higher Grade/Band than Previously Held MUST submit the following documents:

1. SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action": You must provide the most current Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) that verifies career/career-conditional status, title, series, and highest grade level held on a permanent basis for your previous position, AND the SF-50 that verifies your separation date; AND
2. Performance Appraisal: Most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable.

NOAA participates in e-Verify, an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.
The Federal Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
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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
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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.
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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 i