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Land Surveyor

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position may be filled at the GS-05 or GS-07 grade level with promotion potential to the GS-09.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
10/06/2020 to 10/19/2020
Salary
$34,916 to - $43,251 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 7
Locations
FEW vacancies in the following locations:
Bozeman, MT
Butte, MT
Helena, MT
Dickinson, ND
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
9
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
21-NCH-ENG-1373-57-DEMO
Control number
580860200

Duties

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  • Directs field surveying projects of sufficient scope to promote the continued growth and development of the incumbent in cadastral surveying as well as application of State and Federal land laws.
  • Conducts studies of routine cases requiring historical searches of property ownership; previous surveys of the area; and the pattern of political, geographic, and economic influences that surround the property involved.
  • Conducts limited record searches; evaluates the information obtained; and performs the necessary survey work associated with the initial location or re-identification of property lines, section corners, and surveying monuments.
  • Directs assigned survey parties in the execution of limited cadastral, geodetic, and engineering survey projects.
  • Operates theodolites, levels, electronic distance measuring devices, and other equipment used in cadastral, geodetic, and engineering survey work.
  • Audits and verifies survey data. Uses programmable calculators to compute traverse closures and other geometric solutions.
  • Prepares routine legal descriptions, plats, and survey reports.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Basic Requirement for the Land Surveying Series, GS-1373:

A. Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in land surveying; or civil engineering with a surveying option/emphasis. The civil engineering major must have included at least 6 semester hours of surveying, 3 semester hours of land law, and 21 additional semester hours in any combination of the following: surveying, photogrammetry, geodetic surveying, geodesy, route surveying, remote sensing, cartography, survey astronomy, land information systems, computer-aided mapping, aerial photo interpretation, and survey analysis and adjustments.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in land surveying or civil engineering as described above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

OR

C. Current registration as a land surveyor in a State, territory, or the District of Columbia obtained by written examination. Such registration must have been obtained under conditions outlined in the National Council of Engineering Examiners (NCEE) Unified Model Law for Registration of Surveyors. Applicants wishing to be considered under this provision must show evidence of registration based on successful completion of the written examinations. Registrations granted prior to adoption of a registration law with qualification requirements equivalent to the NCEE Model Law by the State, territory, or District of Columbia are not acceptable under this option. To be considered equivalent to the NCEE Model law, registration laws must include the four options listed within the NCEE Unified Model Law in the section specifying "General Requirements for Registration" as a Professional Land Surveyor.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

For the GS-05 level: Meeting the Basic Requirements identified above satisfies requirements for the GS-05 grade level.

For the GS-07 level: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 in the Federal service; OR one full year of graduate level education; OR an appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience; OR Superior Academic Achievement (to determine if you are eligible, go to: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

  • Examples of specialized experience for the GS-07 level could include: Check and compile field survey data; make appropriate mathematical computations for traverse closures. Under supervision of higher-grade employees, conduct routine analysis, and prepare routine legal descriptions, plats, and/or survey reports. Receive training and experience in the practical application of basic land surveying principles, theories, methods, techniques and practices. Work closely with higher grade professionals and technicians to acquire the experience necessary to plan, organize, and execute field surveying projects.
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 positive education requirement, as outlined above under basic qualifications. The term positive education requirement refers to an office of Personnel Management (OPM) determination that the duties of a scientific, technical, or professional position cannot be performed by an individual that does not have the prescribed minimum education. For additional information on the qualification standards for the 1373 series, visit the OPM Qualifications Standard found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/land-surveying-series-1373/

These positions are located in the following locations and are Non Bargaining Unit eligible:

Dickinson, ND. Helena, Butte, and Bozeman, MT.

For additional information, please contact Mark Aughtman at 701-227-7835 or mark.aughtman@usda.gov

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered.

The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.

GOVERNMENT HOUSING: May be available.

DAYCARE AVAILABILITY: Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.

PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.

RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE: Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination will be made at the time of job offer.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications.

You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. You will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Individuals with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10927989

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