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Engineering Technician (Petroleum)

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Montana/Dakotas State Office
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Five (5) positions are located in Dickinson, North Dakota. Information about the area can be found at Dickinson Chamber of Commerce website. One (1) position is located in Great Falls, Montana. Information about the area can be found at Great Falls Chamber of Commerce website.

We expect to fill six (6) vacancies at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
09/09/2023 to 10/09/2023
Salary
$51,713 to - $74,250 per year

See salary details in Additional Information section.

Pay scale & grade
GS 8 - 9
Locations
Great Falls, MT
1 vacancy
Dickinson, ND
5 vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel is required to attend trainings, conferences, workshops, and field visits.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Travel and relocation expenses will be paid consistent with the Federal Travel Regulation, Chapter 302, and Departmental policy. Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11 - The promotion potential of this position is GS-11. However, this position is being filled at a lower grade. Approved subsequent promotion(s) may be made without further competition. Promotion up to the GS-11 level is neither guaranteed nor automatic.
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
MTMP-23-12109779-AM
Control number
748207600

Duties

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  • Selection at the GS-08 through 09 grade levels allows incumbent to perform duties with a reduced level of responsibility and/or difficulty while receiving on-the-job, trainee assignments or other appropriate training.
  • Work is performed under direct supervision to prepare the incumbent for promotion to the next higher grade level.
  • Incumbent will be trained to certification standards in the areas of drilling/work over, production, environmental protection, plugging and abandonment, compliance, and documentation.
  • Performing and/or assisting in performing supervision and regulation of oil and gas operations under the lease management program on Federal and Indian lands.
  • Assisting with/performing inspections of oil and gas leases to enforce all appropriate laws, rules, and regulations as well as the terms and conditions specified in the various approvals.
  • Performing general petroleum engineering technician work involving most phases of drilling and production inspection and enforcement activities.
  • Ensuring safe and efficient development of operations for the successful production of minerals in conformity with Federal regulations and requirements.
  • Inspects all aspects of drilling operations to ensure they comply with the approved Application for Permit to Drill (APD), Sundry Notices (SN), lease terms, Notices to Lessees, Onshore Orders, and applicable regulations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Be sure to read the 'How to Apply' and 'Required Documents' Sections.
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
  • Direct Deposit Required.
  • Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
  • If selected for this position, you will be required to annually complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450 within 30 days of reporting to duty.
  • You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position.
  • An applicant appointed to this position must possess (or obtain within 30 days of entrance on duty) and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.
  • You must successfully complete the BLM Petroleum Engineering Technician (PET) Certification Program and continue service in the Federal Government for 2 years from the date of obtaining PET certification.
  • May require a 1-year probationary period.

Qualifications

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements. Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement or vacancy questions. Your resume MUST contain job title (include job series and grade, if federal), duties, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and salary. In addition, your responses to the questions must be adequately reflected in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

Selective Placement Factors: This position requires special qualifications that have been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as screen out elements. If you do not provide evidence that you possess the below selective factors, you will be rated not qualified:

  • Demonstrated skill and ability in the use of mathematics at the high school algebra level to verify volume and height of cement and to calculate other drilling fluids and oil and gas volumes to account for production from Federal and Indian oil and gas leases.
  • Must have a valid current state driver's license.
  • Ability to operate 4-wheel drive vehicles over mountainous or rough terrain.

To qualify for the GS-06: In addition to the Selective Placement Factors, you must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-05 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: work as a Petroleum Engineering Technician (PET), or similar position, performing work in support of the discovery, development, production, and conservation of petroleum and/or natural gas or trainee inspecting well production equipment, production handling, and surface activities. -OR- Education: One (1) full year of graduate education directly related to the work of the position, preferably in physical science, engineering, or mathematics. Must provide transcripts. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Must provide transcripts.

To qualify for the GS-07: In addition to the Selective Placement Factors, you must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-06 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: work as a Petroleum Engineering Technician (PET), or similar position, performing work in support of the discovery, development, production, and conservation of petroleum and/or natural gas or inspecting well production equipment, production handling and surface activities following established methods and processes. -OR- Education: One (1) full year of graduate education directly related to the work of the position, preferably in physical science, engineering, or mathematics. Must provide transcripts. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Must provide transcripts.

Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level of the position to be filled.

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.

Physical Demands: On-site inspection work requires almost continuous physical activity. Most of the on-site inspection time is spent walking, standing, crouching, and climbing. In climbing up and down ladders and steep stairways, the PET is protected from falls only by firmly grasping on ladder rungs and hand railings. You may be 1) required to hike into unusually rugged areas to inspect abandoned sites; 2) subject to call 24 hours a day; and 3) required to work long non-stop tours-of-duty, occasionally in excess of thirty hours. Some work is sedentary, although much of the job requires overnight field trips which involve physical activity on irregular terrains and work at physically demanding job sites. Office work consists predominantly of working at a desk and using a computer, including using a mobile device to record measurements.

Work Environment: Much of the work is at field locations where it is necessary to wear appropriate safety equipment. You must walk under and around heavy derrick and hoisting equipment and piping and around other potentially hazardous operating equipment. Work environment involves exposure to extreme weather conditions, hostile flora and fauna, hazardous explosive fumes, poisonous gasses, toxic chemicals, high frequency noises, high-pressure and high temperature equipment, detonating devices, and moving machinery. Work involves climbing up and down ladders and steep stairways. A large part of the time is spent driving to work sites that are located in isolated areas. This work environment requires the use of hard hats, hard-toe boots, safety glasses, ear protection equipment, poisonous gas detection equipment, and cold weather gear and/or a respirator may also be required. The position requires operating a motor vehicle, often in isolated areas, on unimproved roads and in potentially dangerous weather conditions.

Education

If using education to qualify, you must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. See Required Documents section for more information.

Additional information

Concurrent Announcements: This announcement is being advertised concurrently under numbers MTMP-23-12109775-AM at the GS-05 grade level, and MTMP-23-12109777-AM at the GS-06-07 grade levels, which are open to status candidates. Also being advertised are MTDE-23-12109776-AM at the GS-05 grade level, MTDE-23-12109778-AM at the GS-06-07 grade levels, and MTDE-23-12109780-AM at the GS-08-09 grade levels, which are open to all qualified persons. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Additional Office Locations: Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur in other office locations within the BLM Montana/Dakotas organization.

Salary Details: Selectees for Dickinson, North Dakota, location will be paid on a special salary table specific to this job series and location, the salary range for the GS-08-09 grade levels is $59,925.00 to $86,041.00.

E-Verify: DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify.

Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service.

Telework: The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis. The selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Driver's License: Will be required to operate a government-owned or leased motor vehicles in the performance of duties, therefore, must possess (or obtain within 30 days of entrance on duty) and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.

Incentives: Certain incentives (such as Recruitment, Relocation or Student Loan Repayment) may be authorized to eligible selectees. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive or Student Loan Repayment.

Relocation: Tax Law Impact for PCS: Moving expenses reimbursement is a taxable benefit. However, the Federal Travel Regulation 18-05 issued by General Services Administration has authorized agencies to use the Withholding Tax Allowance and Relocation Income Tax Allowance to pay for "substantially all" of the increased tax liability resulting from the "2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" for certain eligible individuals.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP

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 Alternative Application.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are eligible and qualified for this job, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made along with the outcome of two assessment phases.

First Assessment: Your responses to the online questionnaire will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered.

Second Assessment: If determined you pass the first assessment, your application will then be evaluated by a Subject Matter Expert Resume Panel.

The assessment process will evaluate your competencies in the following areas:
General Engineering: Knowledge of oil and gas drilling, production, methods, and equipment utilized by the petroleum industry in onshore exploration and development.
Compliance: Knowledge of land management policies and procedures, and of the various statues governing the exploration and development of fluid minerals.
Technical Competence: Skill in gathering information regarding operations to communicate with more senior personnel and prepare reports of inspection findings.

In the evaluation process, due weight will be given to job related experience, education, training, incentive awards and performance appraisals. Applicants must have a performance rating of at least the equivalent of fully successful to be eligible for promotion or placement. Applicants may provide a copy of a performance appraisal of record dated within the last 18 months. If the applicant is unable to provide a performance appraisal of record dated within the last 18 months, the applicant may provide a written explanation as to why.

Based on the outcome of the assessments described above, the best qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be contacted for an interview.

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