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

Geologist

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

Summary

Duty station in North Bend, OR is under the Coos Bay District, Myrtlewood Field Office.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. 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.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/18/2023 to 07/31/2023
Salary
$46,696 to - $89,835 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 11
Location
North Bend, OR
1 vacancy
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
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
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
OR-23-DE/MP-12015215-EKS
Control number
737247900

Duties

Help

The Coos Bay District Geologist Position allows for experience in the following opportunities:

  • Serves as the Coos Bay District SME (Subject Matter Expert) in Geology. This work includes participating on two field office and the District NEPA interdisciplinary teams. The geologist's primary role is to analyze if the proposed project for forest road building and timber harvests will affect slope stability. Serve as the NEPA project lead for mineral proposals as well as other tasks associated with minerals. In addition, reviews various projects as assigned and writes reports that provides geology input and clearances. Existing skills or familiarity in geomorphology, landslide identification, rock and soil mechanics, subsurface exploration techniques and environmental hazards are ideal.
  • Participates on two field office and the District interdisciplinary teams, primarily for timber planning and NEPA reviews for project's impacts to soil, and responsible for any pre- or post-project required soil monitoring. Coordinates with other BLM west side soil scientists as needed.
  • District lead for minerals, energy, and oil & gas. This work includes serving as budget lead and tracking accomplishments for these programs. This work requires the geologist to respond to public inquiry related to mining claims, recreational panning and dredging, and mineral laws. Processes and administers locatable (e.g., gold, chromite, nickel) and salable (rock quarry) and rarely leasable (oil and gas) mineral activities. Reviews mining and reclamation plans and requirements related to mineral activity. Prepares mineral potential reports for land actions. Existing skills or familiarity in rock identification, rock characteristics, mining processes and mine design are ideal. On the job training is provided for learning the BLM's policy and regulations for administering mining on public lands.
  • Use GIS to make maps, analyze Lidar for landslides and other geologic data, collect and manage geologic data in GIS for landslides, rock pits, or other geologic features that may be useful for the District.
  • Coordinates with other State and Federal agencies to accomplish the program of work.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • May be required to complete background investigation.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Must provide resume and supporting documents (See required documents) prior to the closing date of this announcement.
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license, nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
  • If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • Status applicants must meet time-in-grade requirements.
  • You may be required to occasionally travel overnight away from home. You must be eligible to obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • BLM may use certain incentives, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract high quality applicants.
  • You may be required to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license.
  • Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the experience and/or education requirements described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience. If qualifying based on education, a copy of your unofficial transcripts must be provided with your application.

You must meet the BASIC Requirement *AND* the ADDITIONAL Requirement in order to qualify for this position.

BASIC Requirement for the 1350 series:
A.
Degree: Successfully completed a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited college or university 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. NOTE: You must submit copies of your transcripts.
OR
B:
A combination of education and experience, that includes course work as shown in A above [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.] PLUS, appropriate experience or additional education related to this position. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in one of the fields stated in A above. This combination must be sufficient to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the duties of a professional Geologist. NOTE: You must submit copies of your transcripts.

*AND*

ADDITIONAL Requirement: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level in which you are applying:

GS-07:
Specialized Experience:
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) reviewing and determining compliance with regulations for exploration, development, and production activities for salable and locatable minerals; (2) reviewing and analyzing geologic data for locatable and salable minerals; (3) preparing technical reports on geological information or data; (4) preparing reparations of geologic permits, reports, maps, or presentations; and (5) reviewing mining plans of operation and/or amendments for locatable minerals.
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. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.
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/). NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.
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. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.

GS-09:
Specialized Experience:
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) assisting with geological investigations to include data analyses, monitoring, scheduling, or project funding preparation; (2) applying standard geologic or geochemical techniques to acquire data and samples; (3) interpreting geological and geophysical data in order to evaluate geologic-related projects; (4) communicating technical information to others by developing print publications or giving oral presentations.
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. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.
OR
Combination:
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. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.

GS-11:
Specialized Experience:
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 geological investigations to include data analyses, monitoring, scheduling, or project funding preparation; (2) analyzing validity of geological procedures to correct errors and/or improve results; (3) reviewing geological procedures for compliance with safe operating procedures and statutory or regulatory requirements; (4) preparing geological reports or related studies to present to others orally or in writing.
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. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.
OR

Education

(continued from above)
Combination:
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. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.

Status merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible.
One year at the GS-05 is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-07 level.
One year at the GS-07 is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-09 level.
One year at the GS-09 is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level.
(Must submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. No award SF-50 will be accepted).

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Volunteer Experience: 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 include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".

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.

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.

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

  • Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service). Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
  • You will be required to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 5 nights per month. You must be eligible to obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • Requires ability to traverse steep brushy slopes for 8 hours a day carrying a 35 lb pack
Physical Demands: 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.

Working Conditions: 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.

Telework: 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.

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, please contact San Antonio Services Branch at SASBMailbox@opm.gov or 816-541-8101.

How you will be evaluated

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

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 resume review and/or a panel interview. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed below that are required to successfully perform the job.

You will be evaluated on the following competencies:

  • Geology
  • Manages and Organizes Information
  • Oral Communication
  • Written Communication


Candidates not eligible to apply under merit promotion 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.
Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are highly qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Candidates who apply under Non-Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Performance Appraisals for Competitive and Non-Competitive Merit Promotion Applicants: In the evaluation process, due weight will be given to job related experience, education, training, incentive awards and performance appraisals. Applicants must submit a performance appraisal with a performance rating of at least the equivalent of fully successful to be eligible for promotion or placement. Applicants may provide a copy of a performance appraisal of record dated within the last 18 months. If the applicant is unable to provide a performance appraisal of record dated within the last 18 months, the applicant may provide a written explanation as to why.

Recruitment incentive awards: Applicants that have received recruitment incentive awards during the last two years, must list them on their resume.

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.