Physical Scientist

Job Title

Job Title

Job Description

At the full performance level (GS-13), some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Provides guidance, expert advice, training, and instruction to staff of the Branch on technical review and evaluation of oil spill response plans (OSRPs), plan holder training and exercises, unannounced exercises, oil spill response equipment and associated maintenance, training and use records; and ensures all activities are in accordance with national policy.
• Conducts technical review and evaluation of OSRPs, conducts and evaluates unannounced exercises; inspects and evaluates oil spill response equipment and associated maintenance, training and use records; and engages in other oil spill program activities. Administers enforcement processes or refers cases for civil penalty review as appropriate.
• Leads, assists, or instructs others in the development and execution of government initiated unannounced oil spill exercises; may conduct exercises and/or serve as an evaluator.
• Prepares and reviews a broad range of complex correspondence to answer or solicit information from lessees, operators, oil spill removal organizations, Federal and state agencies, and the general public
• Serves as the lead BSEE representative on Regional Response Teams (RRT), Area Committees, and incident specific RRT calls, providing support, advice and expertise to the National Response System on matters pertinent to oil spill planning, preparedness, and response.
• Attends meetings and conferences with BSEE personnel; Federal, state, and industry representatives; and the general public concerning the implementation of relevant regulations, policies, and requirements of the OSRP review and approval process.
• During actual spills the employee deploys to incident command posts and serves in designated positions within the Incident Command Structure. Assesses engineering, technical and scientific needs during a spill response and helps coordinate agency support to the Incident Command.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

In-office work is primarily sedentary. Field work involves conducting equipment inspections, unannounced exercises, auditing operator-led training and exercises, sometimes offshore on vessels. This position requires regular and recurring physical exertion related to frequent inspections and surveys. This physical exertion includes considerable standing, walking, climbing, bending, crouching, stretching, reaching or similar movements. All field activities require some degree of agility and dexterity, for example traversing uneven surfaces, climbing stairs and ladders, being on offshore vessels while underway. Offshore deployments may involve extended travel on vessels over water, vessel-to-vessel transfers, and the infrequent need to climb into/out of emergency evacuation devices. Spill response equipment inspections in warehouse environments may involve overhead operations, movement of heavy machinery, and other activities that require the incumbent to look in all directions and be continuously and clearly aware of surroundings. The hire may also be required to deploy to command posts during oil spill incidents. Incident deployments are typically located in office environments at incident command posts and may require working more than 12 hours a day. Successful completion of role-based training such as water survival and hands-on oil spill response field operations on a regular and recurring basis as described in Bureau policy.

Work is primarily performed in an office setting, offices of offshore operators, meetings, and conferences, with occasional trips to offshore locations, equipment storage yards, and incident command posts. Travel by auto, plane, helicopter, or boat is required. Offshore travel is primarily conducted by contractor-owned response vessels. The in-office work environment involves normal everyday risks or discomforts typical of an office setting. Deployments to Incident Command Posts are typically in office settings and may require travel away from the duty station for long periods more than a week. Fieldwork, as described above in the Physical Demands, exposes the incumbent to adverse conditions such as weather, temperature extremes (above 90° F Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) or below 0° F), and higher accident potential when offshore or in outdoor equipment yards and warehouse environments. The incumbent will typically spend 30-40 days per year conducting field work. Some work conditions may expose the incumbent to high noise levels, areas with marine and other wildlife. The employee wears hardhats, safety glasses, safetytoe shoes, hearing protection, selected uniforms for the environment and takes other various safety precautions.