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Geologist

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The COVID-19 vaccination requirement for federal employees pursuant to Executive Order 14043 does not currently apply. Click here for more information.

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource.

These positions are located in Ely, NV. For information about the area visit: White Pine Chamber of Commerce.

This position is offering an Incentive of 15% if eligible (see additional information).

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/07/2022 to 04/20/2022
This job will close when we have received 25 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$36,118 to - $86,074 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 7
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Ely, NV
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
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
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
NV-DEU-22-11448873-KK
Control number
647226200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens - No previous Federal Service is required. CTAP and ICTAP candidates in the local commuting area.

Duties

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  • The advanced trainee, under close supervision and structure provided by the supervisor, provides written/oral assistance to the public on questions concerning the laws/regulations/policy governing all aspects of mineral resources on public lands.
  • Independently draft surface protection stipulations, standards, and frame recommendations for mitigating measures to reduce the adverse impacts of surface disturbing activities, and performs inspections for ground compliance.
  • Develops the results in reports according to appropriate legal regulation and guidance. These reports would include inspection reports, surface use reports, mineral potential reports, etc.
  • Would independently determine the appropriate procedures for the safe abandonment of mine shafts, portals, and other potential features caused by mining and exploration operations.
  • Makes independent inspections/investigations of mineral operations/related beneficiation facilities to assure industry operations are being conducted in accordance with acceptable practices; report any issues to a more senior geologist/supervisor.
  • Knows how to review mining, prospecting and drilling plans for adequacy under the appropriate standards, including surface protection of public lands subject to mining and leasable mineral development.
  • Would be trained how to process applications for mining law/mineral materials/oil/gas/non-energy mineral management; would independently investigate lands/ mineral deposits and prepare draft reports leading to the issuance of permits and leases

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.
  • Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
  • May require a one year probationary period.
  • If selected for this position you will need to complete the Federal Information Systems Security Awareness (FISSA) training prior to start date (if applicable).

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

This position has a Basic Education Requirement (BER). Basic Education Requirement.

Basic Education Requirement: A degree in Geology, which includes or is supplemented by 20 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 that you have a combination of education and experience with course work equivalent to that above plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, you must meet the following specialized experience requirements:

For GS-05: Meet the basic requirements for professional Geologist.

For GS-07: Meet the Basic Requirement and have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 in geology-related work.Specialized experience is further defined as: provide expertise in processing applications to conduct oil & gas drilling; assist in the review of mineral exploration proposals; prepare environmental assessments for minerals activities; advise the public on law, regulations & procedures that pertain to mining claims, material sales & mineral leasing; OR have completed 1 year of graduate education leading to a master`s degree in geology or directly related education; OR meet the requirements for Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.); OR possess an equivalent combination of the type and level of experience and education described above.

Superior Academic Achievement (See OPM's General Policies, Application of Qualification Standards Section 4.f.) S.A.A. must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for 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.

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

Physical Demands: Some work of the position takes place mostly in an office or laboratory setting. No special physical effort is required. During emergency response periods, training of personnel on new equipment, or field work, the scientist may be expected to hike distances of several kilometers over uneven terrain while carrying equipment. Field work may require working in remote field sites with limited to no services.

Field work may require the use of proper personal protective gear, working in dusty, hot, humid, and extreme cold environments, occasional off-road driving of 4-wheel drive vehicles, traveling to remote field sites in helicopters or small fixed wing planes, and/or boats. Lifting of equipment and objects weighing up to 20 kilograms may be necessary.

Work Environment: Some work takes place in office or laboratory settings with adequate heat, light, and ventilation. Office conditions do not require special safety precautions; field conditions may include extreme heat or cold, rain or snow, and hazardous conditions such as exposure to extreme temperature, noxious or toxic gasses, ice or flooding.

Field work may involve encounters with dangerous fauna and flora, and other wilderness dangers. International field work may be conducted in culturally hostile areas. Geology position with duties that involve subsurface investigation require geologists to work near drill rigs and heavy equipment. Geology positions with duties that involve construction support require geologists to work near heavy equipment and construction hazards. Some work is carried out in proximity to explosives.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement. See qualification section for description of the Basic Education Requirement (BER).

You MUST submit a copy of ALL your college transcripts or a list of ALL college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. Upon selection, official transcripts must be received prior to appointment. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your 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.

Additionally you must upload copies of ALL unofficial transcripts or a list of all college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university, with your application. If your degree is from a Foreign Institution See Foreign Education.

All selections and tentative offers of selection are contingent upon submission and verification of 'official' transcripts.

Additional information

This position is offering a Relocation/Recruitment Incentive, 15% of the annual salary for duty locations in Ely, NV. To be eligible for a Relocation Incentive, you must be a current Federal Employee and the selectee must be employed with the Federal Government and the selectees current duty location is more than 50 miles from the duty location of this position. To be eligible for a Recruitment Incentive, selectee must not be employed by the Federal Government.

We expect to fill two (2) vacancies at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement (if they become available).

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.

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

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 90 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP

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

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

This announcement is being advertised concurrently under number NV Merit-22-11442389-KK, for status candidates and special hiring authority eligible. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how your application materials reflect the qualification requirements of this position.

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online questionnaire will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. Qualified applicants will be placed in one of three predefined categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified and Qualified. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans.

Your answers to the online questionnaire will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

  • Administration and Management
  • Mine Safety and Health
  • Mining Engineering
  • Public Planning


In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of the following additional assessment: Subject Matter Expert Resume Panel Review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.

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