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Geologist/Geophysicist

Department of the Interior
Geological Survey
Natural Hazards Mission Area
This job announcement has closed

Summary

What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position?

Salary dependent upon the duty location of the position. Locality pay tables can be found here.

NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.

Open to current or former Federal employees: USGS-RES-23-12058780-ST-SER

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open date: 08/07/2023
Closed date: 08/18/2023
Location
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$146,874 - $183,500 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel 5 nights per month for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
USGS-RES-23-12058779-DE-SER
Control number
741575900

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Duties

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As a Volcano Hazards Program Coordinator within the Natural Hazards Mission Area, some of your specific duties will include:

Serves as the senior science advisor on the state of volcano science, providing leadership for collaborative work across USGS programs and mission areas to address current and emerging demands. Develops the overall strategic science direction for the USGS Volcano Hazards Program and the effective development and delivery of observations, information products, assessments, and forecasts related to volcanic activity, multi-hazard risk reduction, and community resilience.

Responsibility for program management for the Volcano Hazards Program (VHP), including the establishment of requirements, short- and longterm priorities, the development of the annual budget request and justification for DOI, OMB, and Congress, and the annual allocation of appropriated resources to support a balanced portfolio of projects addressing the breadth of program responsibilities and evolving stakeholder needs.

Leads teams composed of people across scientific and technical community related to the program. Supervises a small staff of technical and support personnel. Fully supports the goals and objectives of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workplace.

Participates on external committees and stakeholder groups with other USGS entities, Federal and State agencies, tribes, academia, nongovernmental organizations, and private industry to advance the USGS programs and strategic science goals.

Physical Demands: Work is generally sedentary although inspection of field operational activities may require navigation of rough terrain or deployment in small vessels.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office setting by may require significant travel throughout the country to visit field centers where Program implementation occurs and to attend internal and external stakeholder meetings. Attendance at international meetings and to visit international partners may also be necessary.

Driver's License/Driving Record - You will be required to operate a government-owned or -leased vehicle in the performance of your official duties. Applicants for this position must meet the following requirements: (1) possess a valid State license, and (2) possess a safe driving record. If selected, you will be required to provide proof of a valid State license & a copy of your driving record.

Financial Disclosure - If selected for this position, you may be required to file one or more financial statements upon reporting and annually, some of which may be subject to public disclosure.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Key Requirements:

  1. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
  2. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
  3. Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period.
  4. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
  5. Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record.
Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?
  • If selected you may be asked to provide information regarding your COVID-19 vaccination status for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols, such as those related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
  • Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment. Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued.
  • A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
  • Financial Disclosure - If selected for this position, you may be required to file one or more financial statements upon reporting and annually, some of which may be subject to public disclosure.
  • Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualifications

For GS-1313:

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Geophysicist, all grade levels. A. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included at least 30 semester hours in mathematics (including calculus) and the physical sciences (geophysics, physics, engineering, geology, astronomy, meteorology, electronics, etc.). **OR

B. A combination of education and experience -- at least 30 semester hours in mathematics (including calculus) and the physical sciences (geophysics, physics, engineering, geology, astronomy, meteorology, electronics, etc.), plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in "A" above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE)

For GS-1350:

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Geologist, all grade levels.

A. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in geology. In addition to the geology course work included in the degree, it must also have included or been supplemented by 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. A combination of education and experience-course work as shown in "A" above (24 semester hours or the equivalent in geology plus 20 additional semester hours or the equivalent in any combination of courses as specified in "A" above), plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in "A" above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE)

For GS-15:

In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must have one year of appropriate professional experience in geology/geophysics that is equivalent to at least the GS-14 level in the Federal service

Experience would include leadership of activities that require coordinated planning and execution across a complex organizational structure of a sustained multi-investigator, multi-project program of geologic hazard research, product development, and delivery. Resulting programmatic efforts targeted highly unstructured problems through assessment and selection of technologies, often adapted to new applications; and involved complex human relations requiring effective written and verbal communication of complex technical principles to non-technical but influential internal and external audiences to demonstrate program relevance. The results of these efforts had significant effects in developing and delivering science products with potential to inform policy and management decisions over a wide region of the United States and provided strategic direction for management and guidance to senior technical experts responsible for implementation. Experience would also include familiarity with budget formulation for a complex multi-objective activity, development of budget justification, and planning and implementing where budgetary outlooks are uncertain.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

  • 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.
  • Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .

Additional information

Other Information:

  • Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
  • Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position.
  • USGS employees are subject to Title 43, USC Section 31(a) and may not: (a) have any personal, private, direct or indirect interest in lands or mineral wealth of lands under survey; (b) have any substantial personal, private, direct or indirect interests in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business with the United States; or (c) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations.
  • The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.
  • DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
  • The Department of the Interior (DOI) places a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspectives and encourages applications from all interested eligible candidates. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental principles that guide the Department and allow us to successfully achieve our mission.
  • THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
Agency Benefits:

How you will be evaluated

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

--Vacancy Related Questions: As part of the online application process, you will need to respond to a series of questions designed to assess your possession of the following knowledge skills, abilities and/or competencies:

  • Scientific Knowledge
  • Management Advisory
  • Project Management
  • Flexibility
  • Leadership
  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Teamwork

--Basis of Rating: Category rating will be used in the ranking and selection process for this position. The quality categories are Best Qualified, and Qualified. 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 assessment required for this position. Your responses must be substantiated by your resume. If you do not respond to the application questions you may be rated ineligible. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.

--Additional Assessment Required: If you meet the eligibility and basic qualification requirements for this position a subject-matter-expert will perform a structured review of your resume to evaluate your knowledge, skills, abilities, and competences as they directly relate to the duties of this position.

--NOTE: If it is determined that you have rated yourself higher than is supported in your description of experience and/or education as described in your resume/application, or that your resume or application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible, not qualified, or your score may be lowered.

To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12058779

Geological Survey

Agency contact information

Sally Ruskowski
Phone
703 648-7437
Email
sruskowski@usgs.gov
Address
VOLCANO HAZARDS PROG OFFC
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Mail Stop 600
Reston, VA 20192
US

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