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Geophysicist, GS-1313-12/13 (DEU-PERM-EG)

Department of the Interior
Geological Survey
This job announcement has closed

Summary

What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position?

GS-12 Salary: $84,118 (Step 01) to $109,358 (Step 10);

GS-13 Salary: $100,027 (Step 01) to $130,039 (Step 10);

NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.

This position is also being advertised under:

Open to current or former Federal employees: DEN-2020-0290.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
05/18/2020 to 06/08/2020
Salary
$84,118 to - $130,039 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
few vacancies in the following location:
Lakewood, CO
few vacancies
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Overnight travel of 1-5 nights per month is required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Payment of relocation expenses has been authorized for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
DEN-2020-0289
Control number
568343600

Duties

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As a Geophysicist within the Central Energy Resources Science Center (CERSC) , some of your specific duties will include:

  • Interpreting reflection seismic and other types of available geophysical data for the Energy Resources Program (ERP) and CERSC projects using industry standard and state-of-the-art software.
  • Acquiring, interpreting, and archiving seismic data, which are used for ERP projects. Archiving data within the National Energy Research Seismic Library.
  • Working with IT staff to maintain, support, and administer computer hardware and software that are dedicated to the ongoing functions of the Geophysical Analysis of the Energy Resources Project.
  • Preparing, documenting and disseminating results of research and studies through a series of presentations and publications which advance the role that reflection seismic data play in understanding petroleum systems processes and undiscovered geologic energy accumulations in priority basins.
  • Operating a government vehicle as an incidental driver.

Physical Demands:

The work may include office and field assignments. Office assignments are generally sedentary, and the incumbent may spend extended periods of time working at a computer. Physical activity may involve lifting or moving moderately heavy items such as computers or file boxes. Field work may require moderate physical ability and average agility and dexterity and may involve physical exertion. Field work may include walking over wet, sandy, rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces. Field work may also include lifting moderately heavy objects and bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities.

Work Environment:

Work is performed primarily in an office setting, with occasional work in the field. The office setting is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated and involves normal everyday risks. In an office setting, the incumbent must often spend extended periods of time working at a computer. Field duties may expose the incumbent to additional risks and may require safety training and the potential use of special protective gear. Temperature and weather extremes may be encountered in the performance of outdoor field work. Fieldwork may include, but is not limited to, driving four-wheel-drive vehicles and trucks. The incumbent is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow workers, or property.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
  • Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period.
  • More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
  • Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record.
  • Selectee subject to successful completion of a pre-employment medical exam.

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position

  • If selected for this position, you may be required to file one or more financial statements and/or a procurement integrity certification of compliance upon reporting and annually, some of which may be subject to public disclosure.
  • You will be required to operate a government-owned or leased vehicle in the performance of your official duties. Applicants for this position must meet the following requirements: (1) possession of a valid state driver's license, and (2) possess a safe driving record. If selected, you will be required to provide both of these.Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment.  Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued. 
  • This position requires completion of a medical examination at Federal expense. 
  • A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
  • Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualifications

For information on basic qualifications, which includes information on whether you may substitute education for specialized experience, please click on the following: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/geophysicist-gs-1313

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Geophysicist, all grade levels. A. 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 at least 30 semester hours in mathematics (including calculus) and the physical sciences (geophysics, physics, engineering, geology, astronomy, meteorology, electronics, etc.). **OR

B. A combination of education and experience -- at least 30 semester hours in mathematics (including calculus) and the physical sciences (geophysics, physics, engineering, geology, astronomy, meteorology, electronics, etc.), plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in "A" above.

For the GS-12:

In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must have one year of appropriate professional experience in geophysics that is equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service.

Examples of such experience could include designing and executing complex geophysical studies that involved intensive investigations into geophysical processes. This work typically involved conventional methods and techniques though it required adapting methods to the problems at hand and interpreting findings in terms of their scientific significance. At this level, geophysicists have a very good knowledge of the fundamental principles of geophysics and their application, and the ability to independently perform scientific work of considerable difficulty. The applicant must have demonstrated knowledge and the technical ability to interpret two- and/or three-dimensional reflection seismic data for the purpose of analyzing elements of petroleum systems. Additionally, the applicant must have demonstrated knowledge and the technical ability to assist with administering computer hardware and software dedicated to geophysical data processing and interpretation.

For the GS-13:

In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must have one year of appropriate professional experience in geophysics that is equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service.

Examples of such experience could include planning, executing, and reporting on original or ongoing geophysical studies requiring innovative approaches to solving new problems that address geophysical processes operating in petroleum systems. The complexity of this work typically required extensive modification and adaptation of standard procedures, methods, and techniques, and the development of new methods and techniques to address geophysical problems for which guidelines or precedents were not applicable. At this level, geophysicists have extensive knowledge of the principles of geophysics and highly developed ability in their application, and wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment to perform scientific work of marked difficulty and responsibility. The applicant must have demonstrated knowledge and the technical ability to interpret two- and/or three-dimensional reflection seismic data for the purpose of analyzing elements of petroleum systems. The applicant must also have the demonstrated ability to analyze complex geophysical attributes. Additionally, the applicant must have demonstrated knowledge and the technical ability to lead in administering computer hardware and software dedicated to geophysical data processing and interpretation.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

  • 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 completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .

Additional information

  • Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.
  • Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position.
  • USGS employees are subject to Title 43, USC Section 31(a) and may not: (a) have any personal, private, direct or indirect interest in lands or mineral wealth of lands under survey; (b) have any substantial personal, private, direct or indirect interests in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business with the United States; or (c) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations.
  • The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.
  • DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
  • THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

How you will be evaluated

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

Vacancy Related Questions: As part of the online application process, you will need to respond to a series of questions designed to assess your possession of the following knowledge skills, abilities and/or competencies:

-- Collect Scientific Data

-- Compile/Analyze Data

-- Compute/Analyze Data

-- Creativity

-- Plan & Organize Work

-- Scientific Knowledge

-- Attention to Detail

-- Problem Solving

-- Leadership & Supervision

-- Teamwork

-- Pressure/Deadlines

-- Interpersonal Communication

-- Information Management

-- Infrastructure Maintenance

-- Technical Reports

-- Written Communication

-- Speech Writing

-- Disseminate Data

Basis of rating:  Category rating will be used in the ranking and selection process for this position. The quality categories are Best Qualified and Qualified. You will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position. If you are eligible, your on-line responses to the application questions will determine your placement in the appropriate quality category described above. Your responses must be substantiated by your resume. If you do not respond to the application questions you may be rated ineligible. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.

NOTE: If it is determined that you have rated yourself higher than is supported in your description of experience and/or education as described in your resume/application, or that your resume or application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible, not qualified, or your score may be lowered.


To preview questions please click here.

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