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Land Surveyor

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

These positions are located at Forest Service offices across the Intermountain Region, Region 4.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Janet Wilkins at janet.wilkins@usda.gov.

Applications will expire in 90 days. To remain in consideration, you must resubmit your application.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/18/2023 to 02/20/2024
Salary
$37,696 to - $69,107 per year

Pay rate is RUS 2023. Please refer to OPM for location and year.

Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 11
Location
Many vacancies in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection,
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position for meetings, trainings, and/or site visits.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation expenses may be reimbursed at the discretion of management in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Multiple - Permanent Full Time and Full Time Seasonal 13/13 positions are available.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
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
23-R4OCR-1373-57911-DP
Control number
744031300

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Duties

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  • Duties listed are at the fullest performance level GS-11
  • Direct the execution of survey projects involving multiple issues associated with legal and/or engineering areas of concern.
  • Provide guidance to Unit management and staff personnel on problems involving boundary disputes.
  • Perform cadastral, geodetic, rights-of-way, and/or engineering surveys.
  • Conduct field surveys of limited difficulty to establish property boundaries, rights-of-way, and/or geodetic control for mapping and/or road construction.
  • Ensure surveys follow state and federal regulations, and local policies, and procedures.
  • Interpret legal descriptions and documents associated with land surveys.
  • Provide technical assistance to Unit management and staff personnel on problems involving boundary disputes.
  • Establish and maintain Unit files of U.S. General Land Office plats and field notes to determine ownership of private and public lands.
  • Operate theodolites, levels, electronic distance measuring devices, and other equipment to perform survey work.
  • Negotiate with private and/or public organizations for contract compliance.

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.
  • For the GS-11: A State Land Surveyor registration for the state(s) in which the duties will be performed will be required within one year of selection.

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.

See "Education" section below for basic educational requirements.

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:

A degree: 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
A combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in land surveying or civil engineering as described in paragraph A, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
OR
A 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.

For the GS-07:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include at least 2 of the following: 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.
OR
Superior Academic Achievement by one or more of the following: I am in the upper third of the graduating class of a college or university or one of its major subdivisions, based on completed courses; I am a member of a national scholastic honor society that meets the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies (excluding freshman honor society); I have a 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum (GPA will be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 rounds to 3.0 and 2.94 rounds to 2.9). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.
OR
Successfully completed one (at least 18 semester hours/27 quarter hours) or more years of graduate level education with course work directly related to the position.
OR
A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience (equivalent to at least the GS-05 level) that is directly related to this position that together meets the qualification requirements of this position. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18 (semester hours) or 27 (quarter hours). Add the two percentages. To qualify, the combined total must equal 100%.

For the GS-09:
One year of Specialized Experience equivalent to the GS-07. Examples of specialized experience includes one or more of the following: Planned and conducted Public Land Survey System (PLSS) cadastral surveying projects of a complex nature, usually involving conflicting title data or fragmentary corner evidence; Assembled Public Land Survey System (PLSS) survey project data and performed the necessary mathematical computations involved in traverse closure, azimuth determination, state plan coordinate transformation, section subdivision, route alignment and location; Prepared preliminary and final Public Land Survey System (PLSS) survey plats, drawings and reports, legal records, and title descriptions for review and approval by a registered land surveyor.
OR
2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in a field related to the position.

For the GS-11:
One year of Specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09. Examples of specialized experience includes two or more of the following: Provided professional land surveying input for the planning and programming of Agency/company Public Land Survey System (PLSS) land surveying priorities; Planed and directed the execution of survey projects of a complex nature usually associated with boundary disputes or title claims cases, or high-order geodetic surveys, right-of-way, easement, and engineering surveys; Recommended solutions to land boundary and/or ownership disputes involving the Public Land Survey System (PLSS); Consulted with Registrar of Deeds, County Surveyors, other Registered Land Surveyors, property owners, Government officials for Public Land Survey System (PLSS) survey data.
OR
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a field related to the position.

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


Basic Requirement:

  1. Degree: 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

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

    or

  3. The basic requirements for this series may be fully satisfied by a 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.

Additional information

Duty Location: LOCATION NEGOTIABLE AFTER SELECTION: Multiple positions (or one) will be filled across the Region at a Forest Service Office. Final determination of duty locations will be determined by the selecting officials at the time of the job offer. To see where these Forest Service Offices are located click Region 4 - Forest & Grassland Offices (usda.gov). We encourage applicants to select Forest Service Locations if willing to consider multiple geographical locations, in addition to selecting specific duty locations they wish to be considered for.

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.

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.

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 not guaranteed.

This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/

Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.
THIS IS AN OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. This type of announcement provides the Forest Service with a readily available source of applicants when vacancies occur. Eligibility and qualifications will be verified when there is a vacancy for the location and grade for which you applied. Information on specific locations where jobs are being filled and the dates when applications are due for these locations can be found at https://fsoutreach.gdcii.com/Outreach.

Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel Help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email SM.FS.asc_tos@usda.gov

Positions maybe fulltime, or Fulltime seasonal 18/8 or 13/13.

We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.

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 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/12087501

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