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Physical Scientist

Geological Survey

Job Location:

Anchorage, AK - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 75068 - 75068

Posted: 6 October 2026 (2 days ago)

Application Deadline: 4 January 2027

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Summary

You will serve as a Physical Scientist at the National Minerals Information Center providing expert analysis of mineral data to support national supply chain assessments.

Salary

The salary range is between $75068 (GS-11 Step 1) - $172980 (GS-13 Step 10) per annum based on the duty station and the applicable locality pay table. For more information please refer to the OPM Salary Tables at General Schedule. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Duties

This position is located within the Department of the Interior US Geological Survey Northeast Region National Minerals Information Center at various United States Geological Survey locations. Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

Serves as a United States Geological Survey contact for mineral commodity data information and referral source for government business and general public.
Monitors gathers and interprets data on mineral investment production consumption facilities foreign trade and environmental issues related to minerals
Analyzes and validates mineral commodity data gathered by the United States Geological Survey from periodic surveys and prepares periodic reports as appropriate and serves as technical reviewer
Analyzes the supply/demand material balance and recycling situation of mineral commodities considering all appropriate technological economic and environmental issues
Monitors and evaluates available information and data for usefulness reliability and potential impacts on industry or industries associated with various mineral commodities
Prepares periodic reports such as monthly quarterly semiannual and (or) annual report.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
You may be required to travel overnight away from home occasionally for up to 5 nights per week not expected to be more than 3 trips per year; may include travel outside the United States. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. An official passport will be issued as needed.
Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
Males born aftermust be registered for Selective Service.
Direct Deposit participation required.
Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more visit are required to complete training obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1- year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest meet the organization goals and mission of the agency and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the determining if your employment advances the public interest the agency will consider:

your performance and conduct;
the 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 the Federal service.

Under applicable law the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies in writing that the individuals employment should continue and that their appointment should be the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your probationary your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/30/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

To receive credit for experience your resume MUST state either full-time (or 40 hours a week) or part-time with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Basic Educational Requirement AND/OR Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.

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

A. Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelors or higher degree in physical science engineering or mathematics that included 24 semester hours or the equivalent in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics dynamics properties of materials and electronics. You must submit transcripts.

-OR-

B. Combination of education and experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above (24 semester hours or the equivalent in physical science engineering or mathematics) that included at least 24 semester hours or the equivalent in physical science and/or related engineering science as described above plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in A above.

-AND-

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level:

Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Examples of such experience may include independent responsibility for a well-defined study or for a phase of a larger study that required the planning and carrying out of routine physical science work related to mining and mineral processing industry production operations and/or exploration activities; performing nonfuel mineral commodity supply chain analyses; compiling data from statistical surveys of mineral producers evaluating results and preparing tables for publication. This work would have required the individual to select and make minor adaptations to procedures and accepted practices and handle unexpected conditions arising in the normal course of the work. At this level physical scientists have the ability to independently perform moderately difficult and responsible scientific work. You must include hours per week worked.

-OR-

Education: Successful completion of at least Three years of progressively higher level graduate education (54 semester hours 81 quarter hours or the equivalent) leading to a Ph.D. degree in physical science or other directly related field of study or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in physical science or other directly related field of study if it provided the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position to be filled. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

Combination of education and experience: a combination of successfully completed graduate level education as described above that is beyond the second year of progressive graduate study and professional experience as described above. To combine education and experience first take the percentage of qualifying education required for the grade level. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week and transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level:

Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Examples of such substantial experience may include independent responsibility for a well-defined study or for a phase of a larger study that required the planning and carrying out of routine physical science work related to mining and mineral processing industry production operations and/or exploration activities; performing nonfuel mineral commodity supply chain analyses; compiling data from statistical surveys of mineral producers evaluating results and preparing tables for publication. This work would have required the individual to select and make minor adaptations to procedures and accepted practices and handle unexpected conditions arising in the normal course of the work. At this level physical scientists have the ability to independently perform moderately difficult and responsible scientific work. You must include hours per week worked.

To qualify for this position at the GS-13 grade level:

Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Examples of such experience may include independent responsibility for creating and managing project team members in completing a well-defined study or for phases of a larger study that required the planning and carrying out of work related to mining and mineral processing industry production operations and/or exploration activities; performing nonfuel mineral commodity supply chain analyses; compiling data from statistical surveys of mineral producers evaluating results and preparing tables for publication. This work would have required the individual to select and develop process improvements and adaptations to procedures and accepted practices and handle unexpected conditions arising in the normal course of the work. At this level individuals have the ability to independently perform and manage project teams to perform difficult scientific work. 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.

Education

This position has a mandatory education requirement.

You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name school name grades credit hours earned major(s) grade point average or class ranking and date the degree was conferred if applicable. A typed list of courses grades semester/quarter hours GPA etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

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. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications U.S. Department of Education. information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position existing work at the higher grade level and recommendation by the positions supervisor.

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 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.

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.

Required Experience:

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