Summary Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Interdisciplinary. Make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment. Duty Location: Klamath Falls, Oregon Responsibilities Serves as a technical expert on structured decision-making (SDM) models and other collaborative science approaches to Klamath Basin Area Office (KBAO) operations. Advises the Deputy Manager for Operations and Resources on Klamath Project operations by recommending factual, science-based, and interdisciplinary solutions to fisheries, environmental, and water operations problems. Assimilates scientific findings into policy recommendations for day-to-day Klamath Project operations, constructing SDM models that incorporate known information, knowledge gaps, and uncertainties to best facilitate the efficient and environmentally beneficial operation of the Klamath Project. Represents the Area Office on scientific committees and collaborates extensively with stakeholders on science proposals and initiatives addressing the Klamath Project. -Serves as the Area Office expert on SDM models, collaborating with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and other Federal, State, Tribal, academic, and private stakeholders in the development and testing of SDM models to address complex scientific problems affecting the operations of the Klamath Project. -Collaborates with other scientific experts both within and outside Reclamation to develop and maintain models used in the SDM process, such as surface water models; instream habitat models; salmon disease models; Upper Klamath Lake water quality models; and fisheries lifecycle models. -Identifies performance requirements, detailing the model input data needed, functions to be performed by models, assumptions which can be applied, output format and analysis needs, and specifications for each model's validation. -Provides guidance in performing physical habitat analyses (reservoir and river processes) and other analytical modeling to assess habitat quality, suitability, and impacts to fish species that advance Klamath Project operations and restore endangered species and aquatic habitats. -Coordinates a diverse group of technical experts on development of models used in the SDM process to help identify and inform changes to Area Office operations. -Develops and maintains effective external science, technology, and stakeholder networks within the Region to work in partnership with the Area Office toward meeting lake and river management challenges. -Functions as the Area Office's senior Science Advisor, providing ongoing mission-critical technical and scientific support to Area Office management for the endangered species and aquatic habitats of the Klamath River and Upper Klamath Lake. -Utilizes findings of specialized studies and analytical developments to resolve or improve understanding of complex or controversial problems and develop associated solutions within the Klamath Basin scientific community, particularly with Tribes, key stakeholders, and other agencies. -Serves as a bridge between academic theory, Reclamation's core mission, practicality in terms of available funding, and on-the-ground realities in river and lake management in the Klamath Basin. -Assists the Regional and Area Office in developing synergistic science partnerships with other government agencies (e.g., the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA], USGS, FWS, the State of California, and the State of Oregon) and private sector organizations regarding lake and river management, where federally listed species are present, to facilitate long-term operation of the Klamath Project. -Reviews and prepares briefing papers, correspondence, policy and procedural guidance, and program documents (e.g., monitoring plans, guidance documents, environmental compliance documents, prioritization strategies, progress reports). -Represents the Regional and Area Offices in internal and external meetings and conferences dealing with a wide variety of scientific disciplines related to lake and river management. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. You must be suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation. You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents). You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications). You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education). You must maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times will result in removal from the position. Certification is required to serve as a Contracting Officer's Representative as articulated in the DOI Acquisition, Assistance, and Asset Policy (DOI-AAAP) 0051, Federal Acquisition Certification and Programs Policy. Travel is required approximately 25% of the time. Qualifications To be eligible for consideration, you must first meet the Basic Education Requirement for this position, having the following - Basic requirement for Natural Resource Specialist 0401 Series - A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR B. Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Basic requirement for Natural Resource Specialist 1301 Series - A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (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 B. Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to one of the majors, as 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. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume. To qualify at the GS-13, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-12 level in federal service having demonstrated experience planning, executing and reporting on original physical science or biological studies or ongoing studies requiring a fresh approach to resolve new problems; Experience in fisheries science and hydrology. Experience with interpretations of controversial statutes like Endangered Species Act (ESA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); Experience in managing the budget of a multi-year scientific research project.; and Experience in writing and managing federal grant proposals and funding. 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. You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors if applicable, by 09/30/2024. Education This position does not allow substituting education for experience. This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. Non-submission will result in being rated not-qualified for the position. You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer. Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional info, refer to the Office of Personnel Management and U.S. Department of Education. 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 additional info, refer to the U.S. Network for Education Information. Additional Information You may be required to serve an initial probationary period. Current, permanent Federal employees who are selected from this announcement may be required to serve a probationary period. This is an interdisciplinary position. Position may be filled by: Natural Resources Specialist 0401 or Physical Scientist 1301 Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval. If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information, visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses are authorized with the exception of the Guaranteed Home Sale Provision or first-post-of-duty relocation expenses are authorized, as applicable. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), signed into law December 2017, suspends the moving expense deduction and the exclusion from income of qualified employer reimbursements of moving expenses that was allowed under previous tax laws. Employer reimbursements for moving costs are now generally taxed at the same rate as ordinary income. If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a Student Loan Repayment Benefit (SLRB). The decision to offer an SLRB will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information, visit: SLRB Program. If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may request consideration for a Superior Qualifications Appointment. For information, visit: OPM Fact Sheet. Related non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630). For information, visit: Creditable Service for Annual Leave DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/ This position is designated as a LOW RISK position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated SF85 Background Investigation (T1 or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment. Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov This is a bargaining unit position represented by a Union. Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.