Policy Analyst

This position is also announced under vacancy number NESDIS-26--DE which is open to all US Citizens or Nationals. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

As a Policy Analyst you will perform the following duties:

• Work on the Commercial Data Program and serve as a senior subject matter expert on legislative regulatory and policy issues relevant to environmental satellites data and information services.
• Develop and evaluate strategies for short and long-term planning of agency environmental satellite data and information services policy formulation and evaluation in association with organizational decision makers.
• Serve as a senior National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) representative in stakeholder meetings and interagency policy forums and coordinate with other federal and state agencies to advance NOAAs objectives.

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-4 is equivalent to the GS-13/14.

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 ()
• 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.
• Payment of ecruitment incentives may be authorized.
• This position requires Moderate Risk Security Clearance.
• Background investigation will be required. Continued employment is subject to applicants 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 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.

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 Managements website located at: 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-4 or GS-13 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Analyzing strategies for short or long-term planning of a programs procedures and policies;
• Analyzing program policies and making recommendations to improve programmatic issues for a scientific or satellite data products and services program; and
• Contributing to internal or external policy forums workshops or meetings in areas such as agenda development meeting planning and logistics or drafting briefing documents and white papers.