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Land Surveyor

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Recent Graduates Program affords developmental experiences in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service to individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs. Current students who are scheduled to graduate within nine months may also apply to these positions. However, these students cannot be appointed until after graduation and the official degree has been awarded and conferred.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/13/2020 to 04/27/2020
Salary
$35,136 to - $43,523 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 7
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Albuquerque, NM
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Recent Graduates
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
9
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
20-NCH-R3-690935-1373-57-RG
Control number
565308400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Recent graduate who has, within the previous two years, completed a qualifying Associate's, Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate, professional, vocational or technical degree or certificate program. Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree due to military service obligation have up to six years after degree completion to apply.

Duties

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  • Assist with planning, organizing and execute field surveying projects.
  • In a training capacity, works on field survey parties with responsibility for operating levels, theodolites, distance measuring devices, and other equipment used in cadastral as well as geodetic and engineering survey work.
  • Under supervision of higher grade employees, conducts routine analysis, and prepares routine legal descriptions, plats, and survey reports.
  • Checks and compiles field survey data and makes appropriate mathematical computations for traverse closures.
  • Exchange information, research survey data, and obtain advice in land surveying.
  • Conduct 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.
  • Prepare routine legal descriptions, plats, and survey reports.
  • Direct 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.
  • Direct assigned survey parties in the execution of limited cadastral, geodetic, and engineering survey projects.
  • Assist with planning, organizing and execute field surveying projects.
  • Exchange factual and professional information, research survey data, obtain advice and instruction, to broaden experience in land surveying and to seek permission to conduct field surveys on private lands.
  • Conduct 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.
  • Operate theodolites, levels, electronic distance measuring devices, and other equipment used in cadastral, geodetic, and engineering survey work.
  • Audit and verify survey data using programmable calculators to compute traverse closures and other geometric solutions.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be at least 16 years of age and meet education requirements.
  • Must be suitable for Federal employment as determined by a background investigation.
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National or be lawfully permitted to the U.S. as a permanent resident or otherwise authorized to be employed.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.
  • The incumbents of Recent Graduate positions may be reassigned/relocated to any geographical location where the employee's services are needed as determined by management. Mobility agreement may be required.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period.
  • A signed participant agreement is required for employment under Pathways.

Qualifications

You are required to meet the eligibility requirements of the Recent Graduate program, as described below in order to be considered for this position. You must meet all the eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, go to: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=GS-PROF The minimum qualification requirements for each grade level of this vacancy announcement are described below:

RECENT GRADUATES PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible, you must meet one of the following requirements:

Completed all requirements for an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two years; OR

If you are a current student who is in the process of completing your degree, academic documentation must accompany your application package to validate your upcoming graduation date (you must complete all degree requirements within nine months of the application closing date to be considered a Recent Graduate); OR

Due to military service obligation, you were precluded from applying to the Recent Graduate Program during any portion of the two-year eligibility period described above. This eligibility period cannot extend more than six years from the date on which the requirement for the academic degree or certificate was received.

Applicants can qualify by meeting the EDUCATION requirements specified below and/or the SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE requirements.

You must possess the qualifications requirements identified below to be considered qualified for this position. Your application or 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 Qualification Requirements for the GS-05 and GS-07:

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

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

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.

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:


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.

For the GS-05 level: No specialized experience required. Applicants who meet the basic education requirements described above are fully qualified for the GS-05 entry grade.

For the GS-07 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level; 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 are: 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.

Please note that Superior Academic Achievement can only be applied if you have graduated or completed (or expect to complete within 9 months) all the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

Education

Education completed in foreign colleges and universities may be used if it has been accredited or evaluated by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Note regarding certificate programs: A certificate program is defined as a post-secondary education, in a qualifying education institution, equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum. While recently graduating from a certificate program may afford you Recent Graduate Program eligibility, it may not be sufficient in terms of qualification standards for the series and/or the grade level.

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/

This position is not bargaining unit eligible. For additional information, please contact Sarae Leuckel at 505-842-3835 or sarae.leuckel@usda.gov

The duty station for this position will be at the duty location listed in this announcement. Salary range as shown is the locality pay area of Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM (AQ). Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2020/general-schedule/

For additional information, please email: SM.FS.intern@usda.gov

Additional information

GOVERNMENT HOUSING: Government housing is not 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. Recent Graduates are on a trial period for the duration of the program.

TRAINING/IDP: This position requires 40 hours of formal, interactive training per year. An Individual Development Plan (IDP) must be completed and approved by the supervisor within 45 days of appointment. A mentor must be assigned within 90 days of appointment.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: Recent Graduates may be non-competitively converted to a term or permanent position in the competitive service after the successful completion of one year of continuous service. To be eligible for conversion, the Recent Graduate must meet the following:

  • Complete all requirements of the Recent Graduates program.
  • Receive a favorable recommendation by supervisor.
  • Meet the OPM Qualification Standards for the position to which the Recent Graduate may be converted. Conversion is not guaranteed and is based on the needs of the agency.
  • Meet any agency specific requirements as outlined in the Participant Agreement.
  • Perform the job successfully.
TRANSFER OF STATION (TOS): Recent Graduates may be offered TOS upon selection. 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.

Please note, this position is targeted toward graduates who have been awarded their bachelor's degrees or who have completed one full year of graduate level education.

This position has a targeted effective date of Summer 2020.

Before you submit an application for any of our vacancies, you should completely review the announcement and the requirements. You should only apply for position if you meet the required minimum qualifications AND program requirements described in the announcement. Do not apply to a duty location if you are not willing to accept or travel to that location.

If you have reviewed the announcement and believe that you meet both the minimum qualifications and the program requirements, you should document your experience and education in your resume. Since traditional resumes do not provide all the information needed to determine your status, you should create a more detailed resume to use when applying to Federal positions.

Please ensure that your resume contains your full name, permanent address, contact phone number and email address.

If you meet the eligibility requirements of the Recent Graduate program and the basic minimum requirements established for the position, you may be referred to the selecting official for consideration. Qualified individuals with veteran's preference are listed ahead of individuals who do not have veteran's preference.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10788926

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