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GEOLOGIST

Department of the Army
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Engineering and Construction Division; Design Branch; Geotechnical Design Section
This job announcement has closed

Summary

About the Position: This is a situational telework position, not full-time telework. The Walla Walla District US Army Corps of Engineers helps manage local water resources for navigation, flood damage reduction, disaster assistance, hydroelectric power generation, and other natural and heritage areas.

This position is being filled under the Direct Hire Authority for Post-Secondary Students and Recent Graduates.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
03/23/2021 to 04/05/2021
Salary
$43,683 to - $84,049 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 9
Location
Walla Walla, WA
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel up to 20 percent of the time 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
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
WTHG210116107730HS
Control number
595816500

Duties

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  • Serve as a project geologist on projects and studies in support of major civil works and, environmental restoration projects.
  • Projects include primarily dams, levees, and flood damage reduction structures.
  • Serve on a team providing geologic expertise in support of District planning, design, construction, and operation activities.
  • Apply a sound knowledge of accepted scientific theories and practices in the field of geology, hydro-geology, and engineering geology using a good general knowledge of related sciences, e.g., chemistry, mathematics, physics, and geophysics.
  • Conduct analyses and draw conclusions that impact design, construction, and operation costs of District projects.
  • Projects must conform with Corps Regulations and policy and adhere to various state and federal environmental laws and regulations.
  • The incumbent will prepare and oversee the investigation service contracts.
  • Contracts involve subsurface exploration, well installation, excavation, blasting, geologic mapping, and geophysical explorations and A/E contracts for a wide variety of geotechnical services.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • A probationary is required in accordance with agency policy.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Security Background Check.
  • Recent graduate must have completed a qualifying Geology degree from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two years or will complete the degree no later than June 2021.
  • GPA must be 2.95 or higher as printed on your transcripts. (Must upload transcripts as evidence).
  • Current transcript must be submitted as part of application package showing date degree was awarded, or shows classes are in progress for your final semester/quarter which is no later than June 2021.
  • Recent Graduates must sign a Mobility Agreement with the Agency.
  • Current career status federal employees will be converted to a new Career Appointment and maybe required to complete a new two year probationary period.
  • The duties of this position require the incumbent to possess or obtain and maintain a valid state Driver's License in one of the 50 U.S. states or possessions to operate vehicles.
  • Travel is required approximately 20% of the time via air, water, or land transportation.
  • May involve fieldwork on evenings and/or weekends.
  • Must be able to carry relevant field equipment up and down stairs and up and down steep creek and levee banks.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: To be eligible for consideration you must meet the definition of recent graduate as defined below:

Recent Graduate: a person who was awarded a degree by an institution of higher education not more than two years before the date of the appointment of the applicant. Exception: For a person who has completed a period of obligated service in a uniformed service of more than four years, the degree may be awarded by an institution of higher education not more than four years before the date of the appointment of the applicant.

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. 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).

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant education and experience.

Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Requirement for Geology:

A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (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: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. 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 applicant's professional geological competence. To receive credit for geological experience obtained in positions that are not full-time professional geological positions, the applicant is responsible for indicating clearly the actual time or percentage of time devoted to geologic duties within such positions, and for giving adequate descriptions of the geologic functions.)

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

GS-7 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes experience collecting, reviewing, and analyzing geologic data. This geologic experience may have been either obtained in an academic setting or on-the-job, including internships. (Must be documented in your resume to be considered). This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05).

OR

Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: [insert applicable field(s) of study].

OR

Superior Academic Achievement. In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above. Superior Academic Achievement is based on:
(1) Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR
(2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your 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 (b) 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.; OR
(3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achsnatl.org/).

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. 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. Add the two percentages.

GS-9 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes experience collecting, reviewing, and analyzing geologic data at dams, levees, and/or construction sites. (Must be documented in your resume to be considered). This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07).

OR

Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: [insert applicable field(s) of study].

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. 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) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.


OCCUPATIONAL QUESTIONNAIRE

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the 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. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

  • Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
  • You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
  • Direct deposit of pay is required.
  • This is a Career Program (CP) 18 - Engineers and Scientists position.
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
  • Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
  • When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information.
  • 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.
  • Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations.
  • Recent Graduates will be appointed to a permanent, career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service.
  • May be selected at any grade level with non-competitive promotion potential to target grade. Non-competitive promotion potential to the target grade is based on time-in-grade requirements and demonstrated ability to perform the higher graded duties.
  • Non-competitive promotion potential to the target grade is based on time-in-grade requirements and demonstrated ability to perform the higher graded duties.
  • Transcripts must show the date a four year Geology degree was awarded and have a cumulative GPA of 2.95 or higher. If using an alternate method of meeting the Basic Requirements above, provide required documentation as part of the application package.
  • Graduates will not be hired until degree audit is complete and transcripts show date degree was awarded and the GPA is 2.95 or higher. Must graduate by June 2021 to qualify for this opportunity.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If, after reviewing your résumé and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates.

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