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Geologist

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

Summary

These positions are located in Carlsbad Field Office, in the Lands and Minerals Division.

These positions are concurrently open to Merit Promotion eligibles under Announcement Number BLM-NM-23-11715209-MP-OPM

Salary Range: Per Grade Level

GS-07 $54,111-$70,343
GS-09 $66,188-$86,041
GS-11 $80,081-$104,101

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
01/09/2023 to 01/23/2023
Salary
$54,111 to - $104,101 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 11
Location
Carlsbad, NM
2 vacancies
Remote job
No
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
Yes—Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will be paid if the selectee lives outside of the local commuting area and is otherwise eligible for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation
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
BLM-NM-23-11715208-DE-OPM
Control number
692902000

Duties

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  • Plan, initiate, direct, and exercise supervision over mining industry, sales, permits, and leases to assure the orderly development and conservation of mineral materials, locatable, and leasable minerals on public lands.
  • Assure maximum economic recovery of mineral deposits through the review of industry operating plans for exploration, development, and extraction of minerals.
  • Assure compliance with the environmental and reclamation requirements of the Secretary's regulations and current Bureau policy.
  • Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required
  • May be required to complete background investigation and drug screening.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
  • Must provide resume and supporting documents (See required documents).
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license, nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
  • You will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450 on an annual basis.

Qualifications

To qualify, you must meet the Basic Requirement AND the Additional Qualification Requirements. Your resume must clearly define your relevant experience, and transcripts must be provided if qualifying based on education.

Basic Requirement for GS-1350 Series: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's 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, a combination of education and experience course work as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Note: Evaluation of Experience: 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. Experience that involved only one phase of geology work, e.g., collecting samples, would not be acceptable as providing the required professional knowledge of the theory and principles of geology. 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 professional geological competence. Examples include some positions in geophysics, mining engineering, soils science, physical oceanography, hydrology, climatology, biology, analytic or experimental chemistry, metallurgy, and comparable fields where the normal duties or results of investigations have been extended to the solution of geologic problems. Ordinary functions of positions such as seismic, computer, petroleum or mining engineer, mine superintendent, or metallurgist generally are not considered professional geological experience. To receive credit for geological experience obtained in positions that are not full-time professional geological positions, you are responsible for clearly indicating the actual time or percentage of time devoted to geologic duties within such positions, and for giving adequate descriptions of the geologic functions.

AND, Specialized Experience GS-07 : Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing the following: (1) updating the geology and minerals portion of an office planning system that could include inventories, opportunities for development, economic data, and possible conflicts with other programs; (2) using a planning system to periodically update information to keep land use plans current; (3) reviewing the exploration or development/operating plan for mineral leases, sales and mining operations for adequacy; (4) developing mineral reports on the salable and locatable mineral potential for a site, based on field exams and literature searches.
OR, Education GS-07: Successful completion of at least one full year of graduate level education from an accredited college or university in a field directly related to the work of the position such as geology or other closely related sciences, e.g., geophysics, geochemistry, or hydrology.
OR, Combination GS-07 : An equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate level education described above when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement.
OR, SAA GS-07: Successful completion of a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for this position such as geology or other closely related sciences, e.g., geophysics, geochemistry, or hydrology as described above from an accredited college or university, and meets one of the requirements for Superior Academic Achievement based on the following: (1) class standing (upper third standing in the graduating class of a college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses); (2) grade-point average (3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0) as recorded on the official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or (3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0) 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; (3) election to membership in a national scholastic honor society.

Specialized Experience GS-09 : Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing the following: (1) developing and implementing the geology and minerals portion of the field office planning system that could include inventories, opportunities for development, economic data, and possible conflicts with other programs; (2) participating in interdisciplinary team projects for minerals related actions, such as free use permits, material sales, oil and gas leasing, and mining plans of operation; (3) providing written and oral assistance to the public on questions concerning the laws, regulations, and policy on mineral leases, sales and mining operations; (4) reviewing the exploration or development/operating plan for adequacy and recommends the amount of bond to be required.
OR, Education GS-09: Successful completion of at least two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or a completed master's degree or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited college or university in a field directly related to the work of the position such as geology or other closely related sciences, e.g., geophysics, geochemistry, or hydrology.
OR, Combination GS-09: An equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate level education described above when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement. Please note only graduate education in excess of one year (18 semester hours) may be used to qualify under this option.

Specialized Experience GS-11 : Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing the following: (1) conducting inventories and mineral evaluations utilizing geology and minerals management methods and techniques; (2) utilizing mineral extraction technologies such as mining methods for surface and underground mineral development; (3) utilizing petroleum and geothermal resources and recovery techniques in work activities; (4) coordinating activities for environmental assessments, land use planning and/or the preparation of resource protection stipulations.
OR, Education GS-11: Successful completion of at least three full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or LL.M., in a field such as geology or other closely related sciences, e.g., geophysics, geochemistry, or hydrology.
OR, Combination GS-11: An equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate level education described above when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement. Please note only graduate education in excess of two years (36 semester hours) may be used to qualify under this option.

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

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.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

Additional information

  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 5 nights per month.
  • Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.
  • The Bureau of Land Management has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
  • BLM may use certain incentives, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract high quality applicants.
Physical Demands: The work includes both office and field conditions. Office work involves long periods of intense concentration on technical details. Most field work requires a certain amount of physical stamina and is often under a variety of arduous conditions, including travel by vehicle, all train vehicles (ATVs), or foot over rugged, slippery, and/or hazardous terrain, exposure to adverse temperature and weather conditions, as well as physiographic extremes. The individual may be required to perform duties that require recurring bending, crouching, stooping, reaching or lifting. Work may also include lifting of moderately heavy items, such equipment and samples.

Working Conditions: When in the office, the position is physically located in close proximity to a number of other professional employees, and must tolerate and average amount of conversation, telephone and other similar office distractions and background noise. Office quarters are located in a modern office building and tend to be open space arrangements.

Field conditions include the full range of topographic conditions, ranging from rolling plains to a steep mountainous terrain. Incumbent will, on occasion, be required to enter surface and underground mines and tolerate high/low temperatures, dust and high levels of noise and vibration. Safety clothing such as self contained breathing apparatus; safety boots, goggles, etc. are required to be worn. During winter months temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit can be expected, while during the summer temperatures in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit are not uncommon. The incumbent may subjected to hostile wildlife, chemical and physical hazards. Incumbent will adhere to all safety rules and regulations as prescribed in manuals/supplements or by the designated Safety Officer.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) or Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible see http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 90 or above on the rating criteria for this position.

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

How you will be evaluated

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

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Occupational Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions may affect your rating.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position.

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 additional assessments, including a subject matter expert resume review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed below that are required to successfully perform the job.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

  • Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
  • Geology
  • Legal, Government and Jurisprudence
  • Technical Competence
  • Writing

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