Department of Commerce

Physical Scientist (International Standards Coordinator)

Gaithersburg, Maryland Full time

Physical Scientist (International Standards Coordinator)

Department: Department of Commerce

Location(s): Gaithersburg, Maryland

Salary Range: $121785 - $187093 Per Year

Job Summary: NIST's Standards Coordination Office manages programs and activities to enhance U.S. industry competitiveness on issues related to technical standards and conformity assessment and federal agency coordination in developing and using standards and conformity assessment. This position supports U.S. priorities for standards and conformity assessment related to domestic and international trade by working with representatives of other government agencies, foreign governments, and the private sector.

Major Duties:

  • The International Standards Policy and Coordination Group leverages technology standards to support and advance U.S. policy objectives and in close partnership with other federal agencies and the private sector, coordinates engagement and leadership in standards-related bilateral and multilateral government-to-government dialogues, partnerships, and agreements. In this position, you will: - Apply scientific knowledge, expertise, and experience to provide leadership on technical standards issues - Liaise with U.S. Department of Commerce Bureaus and the Interagency on standards-related engagements - Work with Federal, state, local, and foreign government officials and the private sector on technical standards development - Prepare and synthesize ideas from standards engagements and discussions.

Qualifications: All applicants must submit a resume NOT TO EXCEED two pages on standard-size paper. If the resume exceeds two pages, only the first two pages will be reviewed for qualifications or assessment determinations. Basic Requirements: 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. In addition to the basic requirements above, this position requires one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 (ZP-3 at NIST) level. Specialized experience is defined as direct experience in implementing and coordinating technical standards-related engagements and partnerships with entities such as governments and standards developing organizations within and outside of the United States on standards issues and policies. 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. The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site: Applicant Reconsideration

How to Apply: Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments, and required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. As part of the application process, you will be asked to respond to four narrative questions. While your responses to these questions is not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. Once your application has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation notification by email. The Human Resources Office will evaluate your application to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this: USAJOBS Help Center - How to see your application and job status Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. Need help applying? If you are experiencing any difficulties with the online application process (anything after you have clicked the 'Apply Online' button), please contact the Agency Contact listed on this announcement between regular business hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET). If you receive any kind of error message, please be ready to provide a screenshot or, at a minimum, the error message text and number. We will provide you with a technical support number for further assistance if necessary. If you are having trouble with USAJOBS (searching for jobs, account password/profile issues, or Resume Builder), please visit the USAJOBS USAJOBS Help Center - How to.... We regret that we are unable to support any issues with USAJOBS, as this service is not maintained by the NIST. If you are experiencing a significant hardship that hinders your ability to apply online, please contact the Agency Contact listed on this announcement prior to the vacancy closing date and during regular business hours to discuss your situation.

Application Deadline: 2026-03-19