Supervisory Physical Scientist

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); Madison (WI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

USGS in Madison, Wisconsin is seeking a Supervisory Physical Scientist to serve as Division Director for the Integrated Information Dissemination Division, providing leadership, supervision, and oversight of multidisciplinary programs in web communications, data science, and decision support systems supporting the Water Mission Area.

The role involves directing programs, setting strategy, governing data, and advising on emerging technologies to improve data accessibility and information quality

Qualifications

• Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics including 24 semester hours in physical science or related engineering science; transcripts required.
• Combination of education and experience: 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering plus experience.
• To qualify for GS-15: at least 1 year of specialized experience at GS-14, directing multidisciplinary projects, analyzing findings and information management systems, and prioritizing programs.
• Volunteer Experience: includes paid and unpaid experiences, including National Service programs, etc.
• Foreign Education: credit for education outside the U.S. must be evaluated for equivalence.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and administrative supervision to multidisciplinary staff, plans and assigns work, evaluates performance, and manages workforce development.
• Direct and oversee scientific and technical programs involving water-related data, information management, research, and analytical methods.
• Develops and implements strategic plans, policies, and procedures to improve information systems and data dissemination in support of the Water Mission Area.
• Provide senior level scientific expertise and guidance in evaluating emerging technologies and analytical tools to enhance data accessibility and decision making.
• Establish and oversee data governance standards ensuring data integrity, quality, interoperability and compliance.
• Direct program planning, budget formulation, and resource allocation to manage scientific programs and information systems.
• Serve as senior scientific advisor and representative, coordinating with federal, state, tribal, local and external partners.

Skills

Staff supervision

Strategic planning

Data governance

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in physical science or engineering

Tools

Data management systems

Analytical tools

Job description

Summary

You will serve as a Supervisory Physical Scientist with Geological Survey. This position serves as the Division Director for the Integrated Information Dissemination Division, providing leadership, technical oversight, and administrative supervision of multidisciplinary programs involving web communications, data science, and decision support systems supporting the Water Mission Area.

Summary

You will serve as a Supervisory Physical Scientist with Geological Survey. This position serves as the Division Director for the Integrated Information Dissemination Division, providing leadership, technical oversight, and administrative supervision of multidisciplinary programs involving web communications, data science, and decision support systems supporting the Water Mission Area. Pay will vary based on duty location for which you're selected. This job is open to Help Internal to an agency Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement. Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants. Clarification from the agency This is a Merit Promotion announcement for current and former career and career conditional Federal employees, Career Transition eligibles (CTAP & ICTAP) and those who are eligible under the hiring paths listed above. Refer to Required Documents section for more information. Duties Help This is a Merit Promotion announcement for current career and career conditional US Geological Survey Bureau employees and Career Transition eligibles (CTAP). Refer to the Required Documents section for more information. Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Provide technical and administrative supervision to multidisciplinary staff of professional, scientific, technical, and administrative personnel, including subordinate supervisors; plans and assigns work, evaluates performance and manages workforce development and personnel actions.
• Direct and oversee scientific and technical programs involving water-related data, information management, research, and advance analytical methods to support organizational priorities and mission objectives.
• Develops and implements strategic plans, policies, and operational procedures to improve scientific information systems, data dissemination, and analytical capabilities in support of the Water Mission Area (WMA) and Bureau objectives.
• Provide senior level scientific expertise and technical guidance in evaluating emerging technologies, advanced analytical tools, and scientific methologies to enhance data accessibility, information quality and organizational decision making.
• Establish and oversee data governance standards and information management practices to ensure scientific data integrity, quality, interoperability, accessibility and compliance with Federal regulations and security requirements.
• Directs program planning, budget formulation, and resource allocation to ensure effective management of scientific programs, personnel, information systems, and operational requirements in accordance with organizational priorities.
• Serve as senior scientific advisor and organizational representative, collaborating with Federal, State, Tribal, local and external partners to coordinate scientific initiatives, communicate technical findings, and advance information dissemination and research capabilities.
  

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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 1-5 nights per month.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.
  

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 11/04/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following:

• 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-

• 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.
  

-AND-

To qualify for this position at the GS-15 grade level:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: To qualify, 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: (1) directing complex, multidisciplinary scientific or technical projects or initiatives; (2) analyzing scientific findings technical procedures or information management systems to identify deficiencies and recommend improvements; and; (3) establishing and executing program priorities, operating plans, or resource-allocation strategies to achieve organizational performance. 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.
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 more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.
All 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, DOI Ethics Prohibitions | U.S. Department of the Interior.
Physical Demands/Work Environment: Some field work may be necessary to visit sites where hydrologic observations are performed. Proper personal protective equipment, such as personal flotation devices is required when working on watercraft or wading in surface waters.
The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
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.
Help
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 information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessment(s) required for this position. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

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.

You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Creativity and Innovation
• Data Management
• Human Capital Management
• Vision
  

To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessment(s), including a structured interview.These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.

All qualified non-competitive applicants and the best-qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration or your score may be lowered. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in your application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

Required Documents

• Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates in month-year format (include month/day/year format if needed for 52 weeks of experience), 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 specialized 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 Assessment(s).
• Performance Appraisals and Awards: You must submit your most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record and signed by a supervisor dated within the past 18 months. If unavailable, a written explanation is required (including if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level). Performance awards dated within the past 5 years may also be submitted for due weight consideration.
• All College Transcript(s), if qualifying based on education.
• Eligibility Documentation:
  • Current and former Federal employees must submit latest SF-50 (i.e. Promotion, Separation, Within Grade Increase (WGI)) showing tenure 1 or 2 in block 24, grade, and if applicable, an additional SF-50 showing the highest grade or promotion potential held. Time in grade will be determined by reviewing your resume and required SF-50s. If your SF-50 showing highest permanent grade held has an effective date within the past year, your resume must clearly show that you held that grade for one year. Do not submit award SF-50s.
  • Veterans Preference Documentation: Veterans eligible under VRA (GS-11 & below only), VEOA, 30% or more Disabled, or Disabled Veterans Enrolled in a VA Training Program must submit the most recent Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions (e.g. DD-214) as listed on the SF15. If you are a Parent or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all documentation as listed on the SF15. You may request a copy of the VA letter from https://www.va.gov/records. 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.
  • Interagency Career Transition (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): You MUST submit proof of eligibility including 1) copy of the agency notice, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc.; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be well qualified. For more information visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).

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. Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Agency contact information

DOI Staffing Team 5 (USGS)
Email [e-mail] Address INGEG INFO DISSE DIV
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Mail Stop 600
Reston, VA 20192
US

Next steps

Please refer to your USAJOBS account for application status; the Human Resources Office cannot respond to individual status inquiries.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
You can find your path with the Department of Interior at https://careers.doi.gov/.

Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.