Summary There are two (2) positions that may be filled from this announcement. Positions may be filled in any of the geographical locations listed. Responsibilities At the Band IIB, the incumbent serves as a Sr. Biological Scientist / Sr. General Engineer / Sr. Physical Scientist providing research and analysis toward technology assessments, technical performance audits, and technology and/or engineering / physical science / biological science related engagements. Duties of Band IIB staff involve, but are not limited to, the following: Plan, manage, and execute technology assessments and technical performance audits, including holding primary responsibility for designing and scoping the engagement, identifying and contacting information sources to obtain needed data, analyzing the data to develop key findings, and preparing a report to relay the results of our work to the Congress. Engagement management tasks include developing plans and schedules, estimating resource requirements, defining milestone deliverables, monitoring progress of activities, and reporting on deliverables. Research the technical details of the issue and understand the significance of the issue to the engagement. Develop criteria for evaluation of the technical area and assess that area using the criteria. Conduct broad and comprehensive evaluations of policies and programs involving science and technology, including mature technologies, ranging from technical systems that are in routine use to scientific research and development programs. Analyze and review technical information and data obtained by GAO engagement teams and develop findings based on that data. Assess technologies by gaining an understanding of specific technologies, consulting experts in those technologies, gathering information about the working details and maturity of the technologies - to include the best practice criteria found in GAO's Technology Readiness Assessment Guide - and assessing the impact of using the technologies to address specific public policy areas. Communicate clearly both orally and in writing with GAO leadership, internal engagement staff, congressional staff, and agency officials at multiple levels of the organization. Participate in the planning, preparation, development, drafting, and review of technical sections of engagement products and supporting engagement documentation. Develop effective collaborative relationships with GAO teams to openly and constructively share information and feedback and to function as an institutional technical resource. Anticipate major obstacles and take action to minimize their effect, allowing for a high-quality and timely product. Effectively prioritize time while working on multiple engagements simultaneously Oversee activities of assigned staff and monitor performance. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must meet both the education and experience requirements for this position by 5/5/2024 (effective date of promotions). Transcripts to verify your education should also be submitted with your application. If selected, you will be required to provide official transcripts verifying your education. Qualifications In addition to the education requirement, you must have one year (52 weeks) of GAO experience equivalent to the next lower band level (PE-IIA, PT-II, PT-III, PA-II, MS-I) independently applying engineering, biological science or physical science practices to ensure project systems meet performance objectives; planning and conducting projects/studies to evaluate and recommend ways to improve the efficiency of operations; ensuring projects/programs are coordinated in an efficient and cost-effective manner; and resolving issues affecting assigned projects by 5/5/2024 (effective date of promotions). Education This position has a positive education requirement. To qualify you must meet the requirements for either occupational series listed below. Transcripts to verify your education should also be submitted with your application. Biological Science Series, 0401: A. Degree: 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. General Engineering Series, 0800 (including 801): A. Degree: Successful completion of a professional engineering degree. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree (or higher) in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. OR Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: 1. Professional registration or licensure - Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For more information about EI and EIT registration requirements, please visit the National Society of Professional Engineers website at: http://www.nspe.org 2. Written Test - Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. The FE examination is not administered by the U. S. Office of Personnel Management. For more information, please visit: http://www.nspe.org/Licensure/HowtoGetLicensed/index.html. 3. Specified academic course - Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A (above). The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A (above) 4. Related curriculum - Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at the least 1 year of a professional engineering acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of extensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all inclusive.) Physical Scientist Series, 1301: 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. 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. Additional Information This position is in the bargaining unit. This is a moderate risk public trust position with possible upgrade to a Secret or Top Secret clearance depending on the type of engagement the employee will be assigned to within the mission teams. Band IIB Specialist promotion opportunities for GAO's mission teams will be available in all applicable geographical locations. For information on the number of promotion opportunities by team, please see the GAO-wide Notice published and distributed (via email). If you are selected for a promotion and have applied for a Flexible Work Agreement (FWA) or Remote Work Agreement (RWA), and are approved for one of these agreements, you will have to re-apply if selected for promotion based on the new position to which you will be promoted. Additionally, you may have a 90-day waiting period if you have requested FWA or RWA to a new geographical location.