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Geologist

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in BLM Oregon State Office, Lakeview District Office. The primary purpose of this position is to plan, initiate, direct, and execute mineral program activities.

This position is concurrently open to Merit Promotion eligibles under Announcement Number OR-23-MP-11669805-KF

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
11/02/2022 to 11/16/2022
Salary
$54,727 to - $86,074 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 11
Location
Lakeview, OR
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
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
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
OR-23-DE-11669804-KF
Control number
686163600

Duties

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Major Duties for the GS-09 level will be the same as those listed below with closer supervision.

At the full performance level (GS-11), Major Duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Exercising supervision over mining industry, sales, permits and leases to ensure the orderly development and conservation of mineral materials, locatable and leasable minerals on public lands, and minerals on acquired lands.
  • Processing Notices of Intent and Plans of Operations and determining if mining and environmental laws are followed.
  • Serving as a project lead and/or interdisciplinary team leader in the preparation of all levels of documentation in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); inspecting and documenting compliance with plans, regulations and laws related to locatable minerals operations.
  • Conducting inspection and production verification activities associated with saleable mineral resources and protection of surface resources.
  • Calculating volumes and dimensions for development and/or reclamation of mineral projects; calculating and processing reclamation bond; conducting compliance monitoring for mining activities and undertaking appropriate action (administrative, civil, criminal) when activities are in non-compliance with safety, operating plans, laws, etc.
  • Communicating orally and in writing with internal/external stakeholders on phases of minerals extraction operations to provide appropriate information and interpretations regarding mining laws, federal and state regulations, and BLM policy.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required
  • May be required to complete background investigation.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
  • Must provide resume and supporting documents (See required documents).
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license, nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
  • A valid Driver's License is required.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience. If qualifying based on education, a copy of your unofficial transcripts must be provided with your application.

Basic Requirement, Geology Series, GS-1350:

A. Have a bachelor's or higher degree in geology, plus 20 additional semester hours in any combination of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological science, structural, chemical, civil, mining or petroleum engineering, computer science, planetary geology, comparative planetology, geophysics, meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, physical geography, marine geology, and cartography.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Note: Evaluation of Experience: Acceptable experience may have been gained through geological field or laboratory work that provided a means of obtaining professional knowledge of the theory and application of the principles of geology and closely related sciences, e.g., geophysics, geochemistry, or hydrology. Such work generally must have involved making close observations, taking samples, handling various types of instruments and equipment, assembling geologic data from source materials, and analyzing and reporting findings orally and in writing. Experience that involved only one phase of geology work, e.g., collecting samples, would not be acceptable as providing the required professional knowledge of the theory and principles of geology. In some situations, professional scientific experience in other fields may be accepted in part as professional geological experience. Such experience must have been preceded by appropriate education in geology or by professional geological experience and must have contributed directly and significantly to the professional geological competence. Examples include some positions in geophysics, mining engineering, soils science, physical oceanography, hydrology, climatology, biology, analytic or experimental chemistry, metallurgy, and comparable fields where the normal duties or results of investigations have been extended to the solution of geologic problems. Ordinary functions of positions such as seismic, computer, petroleum or mining engineer, mine superintendent, or metallurgist generally are not considered professional geological experience. To receive credit for geological experience obtained in positions that are not full-time professional geological positions, you are responsible for clearly indicating the actual time or percentage of time devoted to geologic duties within such positions, and for giving adequate descriptions of the geologic functions.

AND

Minimum Qualification Requirement, GS-09: In addition to meeting at least one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must also have specialized experience and/or education to meet one of the minimum qualifications described below for the GS-09 grade level:

Specialized Experience: Have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing at least 4 of the following: (1) Assisting with geologic investigations to provide comments and/or recommendations on issues that affect minerals and mineral development; (2) Applying mineral extraction technologies such as mining methods for surface and underground mineral developments and petroleum and geothermal resources/recovery techniques to conduct work activities; (3) Reviewing and determining compliance with regulations for exploration, development, and production activities for salable and locatable minerals to include the development of Environmental Assessment (EA) documents; (4) Conducting mining, exploration, and reclamation operations related to the Mineral Leasing Act and other pertinent regulations; and (5) Preparing technical reports to explain the geologic and mineralogical character of solid minerals to support recommendations.
OR
Education:
Have successfully completed 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree, in a field that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to conduct the work of this position, such as Geology.
OR
Combination of Education/Experience: Have an equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate level education described above. (To calculate, first take the number of semester hours or equivalent earned towards a graduate degree, in excess of 18 semester hours, and divide by 18 semester hours or equivalent. Then take the number of months of experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify).

Minimum Qualification Requirement, GS-11: In addition to meeting at least one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must also have specialized experience and/or education to meet one of the minimum qualifications described below for the GS-11 grade level:

Specialized Experience: Have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing at least 5 of the following: (1) Independently conducting geologic investigations to provide comments and/or recommendations on issues that affect minerals and mineral development; (2) Applying mineral extraction technologies such as mining methods for surface and underground mineral developments and petroleum and geothermal resources/recovery techniques to conduct work activities; (3) Conducting and/or serving as a team leader for the development of Environmental Assessments (EAs) for a minerals management program; (4) Conducting mining, exploration, and reclamation operations related to the Mineral Leasing Act and other pertinent regulations; (5) Conducting technical examinations, operation reviews, and abandonment inspections in accordance with regulatory guidance; and (6) Writing reports, including validity examinations, patent examinations, surface use determinations and occupancy trespass.
OR
Education: Have successfully completed 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or LL.M., in a field that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to conduct the work of this position, such as Geology.
OR
Combination of Education/Experience: Have an equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate level education described above. (To calculate, first take the number of semester hours or equivalent earned towards a graduate degree, in excess of 36 semester hours, and divide by 18 semester hours or equivalent. Then take the number of months of experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify).

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

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

Qualifications (Continued):

You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

Additional information

  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service). Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
  • If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
  • You will be required to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 5 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
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 position's supervisor.

Physical Demands: The work of this position includes both office and field conditions. Office work involves long periods of intense concentration on technical details. Most field work requires physical stamina and is often under a variety of arduous conditions, including travel by vehicle, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), or foot over rugged, slippery, and/or hazardous terrain, exposure to adverse temperature and weather conditions, as well as physiographic extremes. The individual may be required to perform duties that require recurring bending, crouching, stooping, reaching or lifting. Work may also include lifting of moderately heavy items, such as equipment and samples. You may be subjected to hostile wildlife, confined spaces, and/or chemical and physical hazards.

Working Conditions: The work of this position is physically located in close proximity to a number of other professional employees, when in the office, and must tolerate an average amount of conversation, telephone or other similar office distractions and background noise. Office quarters are located in a modern office building and tend to be "open space" arrangements. Field conditions include the full range of topographic conditions, ranging from rolling plains to steep mountainous terrain. You will, on occasion, be required to enter surface and underground mines and tolerate high/low temperatures, dust and high levels of noise and vibration. Safety clothing such as self-contained breathing apparatus; safety boots, goggles, etc. are required to be worn. During winter months temperatures of 10 degrees Fahrenheit can be expected. During the summer temperatures in excess of+100 degrees Fahrenheit are not uncommon. You will be required to adhere to all safety rules and regulations as prescribed in manuals/supplements or by a designated Safety Officer. When completing work assignments in the office or field, or operating a motorized vehicle, you must be alert to safety hazards to ensure work is accomplished in the most efficient and safe manner.

The Bureau of Land Management has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

BLM may use certain incentives, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract high quality applicants.

How you will be evaluated

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

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Occupational Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions may affect your rating.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position.

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessments, including a panel interview and a writing sample. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed below that are required to successfully perform the job.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

  • Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
  • Geology
  • Surveying
  • Research
  • Technical Credibility
  • Manages and Organizes Information

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