Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Geologist

Department of the Army
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
USACE Geotechnical and Hazardous, Toxic, Radioactive, and Waste Branch
This job announcement has closed

Summary

About the Position: Works under the supervision of the Chief, Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste (HTRW) Section receiving instructions in general terms as to the scope of the assignment. Works on own responsibility, with relative freedom from technical supervision in selecting the proper methods and procedures for carrying assignments through to completion

NOTE: THIS IS AN OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WILL BE OPEN FROM 2/1/22 TO 3/31/22. REFERRAL TO BE ISSUED AT MANAGEMENT REQUEST.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
02/08/2022 to 03/31/2022
Salary
$44,740 to - $103,176 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Savannah, GA
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
75% or less - You may be expected to travel up to 65% for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy. Please see additional information section below for more information.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
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
GW221234565741HWS
Control number
635878100

Duties

Help
  • Conduct surveys and studies of active sites to determine present and potential hazards.
  • Develop interim measures necessary to remove immediate threat to the environment.
  • Make field inspections of the projects, determining any necessary emergency actions
  • Assure that all Hazardous, Toxic, Waste related facets of possible environmental damages are assessed.
  • Ensure that design data concerning environmental considerations, soils, groundwater, construction methods, and other conditions are included in plans and specifications.
  • Plan, coordinate, and execute environmental conditions surveys related to various agencies and military programs.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • This position requires the completion of a pre-employment Physical Examination and an annual examination thereafter to ensure the continued, required level of physical health and ability or fitness to perform the duties of the position.
  • This position requires the wearing of protective equipment, e.g., safety shoes, safety glasses, etc., are required on project sites and other protective equipment, such as respirators may be periodically required.
  • This position requires the incumbent to obtain and maintain a Government Credit Card.
  • Appointment to this position is subject to a two year probationary period unless the appointee has previously met the requirements as described in 5 CFR Part 315.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements 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 experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Requirement for Geologist:
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-07: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes 1.) Utilizing instruments and equipment to select sampling locations for testing. 2.) Assist in performing limited geological studies and investigations for subsurface exploration programs relative to geological and hydro-geological problems which may include foundations, landslides, channel design, and hazardous toxic and radioactive waste (HTRW) etc in projects. 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: geology.

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-09 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes 1.) Utilizing instruments and equipment to select sampling locations for testing. 2.) performing limited geological studies and investigations for subsurface exploration programs relative to geological and hydrogeological problems which may include foundations, landslides, channel design, and hazardous toxic and radioactive waste (HTRW) etc in projects. 3) assisting in preparing appropriate portions of plans, specifications, design memoranda and various other reports for the execution of projects. 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: geology.

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.

Requirements continued in Education section.

Education

GS-11: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes Experience determining adequacy of field investigations , both in planning and re-planning, and interprets results of subsurface drilling and geophysical programs; researching published material, other projects with related or similar geologic peculiarities, topographical maps, subsurface data, aerial photos and correlates all available foundation data; evaluating and determining extent and significance of current data in relation to previous investigations, conclusions, and recommendations. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09).

OR

Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 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: {physics, chemistry, biological science}.

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 second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09).

GS-12: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes Experience determining adequacy of field investigations, both in planning and re-planning, and interprets results of subsurface drilling and geophysical programs; researching published material, other projects with related or similar geologic peculiarities, topographical maps, subsurface data, aerial photos and correlates all available foundation data; evaluating and determining extent and significance of current data in relation to previous investigations, conclusions, and recommendations.; making reconnaissance surveys of proposed or potential sites for dams, power and pumping stations and other structures for suitability of foundations; and conducting field investigations.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

GS-07 Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-05).

GS-09 Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-07).

GS-11 Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-09).

GS-12 Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-11).

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.
  • Two year trial/probationary period may be required.
  • Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
  • Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
  • If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
  • This is a Career Program (CP) 18 - Engineers & Scientists position
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
  • Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and; (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a score of 90 or above. Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.
  • 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.
  • Recruitment/Relocation/or Retention maybe authorized.
  • Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement within a designated time frame identified by the organization. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the agency's telework policy.
  • Information may be requested regarding the vaccination status of selectees for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols. For more information, visit https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/faq/vaccinations/.
  • Selection can be made at the GS 07, GS-09, GS-11 or GS-12. If selection is made at the GS-07, GS-09 or GS-11 non-competitive promotion potential to GS-12 without further competition when selectee is eligible and recommended by management.
  • This announcement is a direct hire solicitation. Category rating, veteran's preference, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do NOT apply for this vacancy.

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.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.