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Interdisciplinary Natural Resources Specialist or Physical Scientist

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

Summary

This position is located in the Farmington District Office, in the Farmington Field Office and Carlsbad Field Office..

This position is concurrently open to Merit Promotion eligibles under Announcement Number BLM-NM-23-12103960-MP-OPM.

Salary Ranges for Farmington, NM and Series 1301 for Carlsbad, NM:
GS-07: $46,696 - $60,703
GS-09: $57,118 - $74,250
GS-11: $69,107 - $89,835

Salary Ranges for Series 0401 Carlsbad, NM
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
09/27/2023 to 10/18/2023
Salary
$40,082 to - $77,112 per year

Advertised salary range is from the 2023 General Schedule (GS) Base Salary Pay Table.

Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 11
Locations
Carlsbad, NM
4 vacancies
Farmington, 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—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
BLM-NM-23-12103959-DE-OPM
Control number
751094500

Duties

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  • Review Notices of Staking, Applications for Permit to Drill, and Sundry Notices in compliance with applicable rules, regulations, and policies.
  • Write Environment Assessments describing the proposed action, purpose and need, analyze impacts, and draft measures required to mitigate potential impacts of the proposed action.
  • Coordinate and lead on-site inspections of proposed surface disturbing activities associated with oil and gas development and/or other land uses and associated rights-of-ways.
  • Conduct appropriate surface use inspections in support of the Field Office oil and gas inspection and enforcement program.
  • Conduct field inspections of oil and gas operations and/or other surface use authorizations for the purpose of determining compliance with applicable laws and regulations, with the lease terms, Onshore Oil and Gas Orders, *Notices to Lessees (NTL's) and with other orders of the authorized officer.
  • Prepare necessary Notices of Incidents of Non-compliance and Written Orders and conduct follow-­up inspections to ensure orders are complied with.
  • 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.
  • If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
  • You will be required to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license to operate government owned or leased vehicles for the duration of appointment.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 5 nights per month.
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this Interdisciplinary Position, you must meet the Basic Education Requirement for at least ONE series (GS-0401 or GS-1301) AND the Additional Specialized 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.

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:

Natural Resources Specialist GS-0401:
Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a Bachelor's degree (or higher) with a major study in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to this position.

OR, An equivalent combination of education and experience in courses equivalent to a major course of study, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field.

Physical Scientist GS-1301: Successful completion of a 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's degree (or higher) with a major study in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

OR, An equivalent combination of education and experience in courses equivalent to a major course of study shown above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience, or additional education. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field.

**AND**

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE and/or Additional EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:

Specialized Experience GS-07 :
One 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) assisting with processing geophysical Notices of Intent, Applications for Permit to Drill (APDs), and Rights of Way associated with road access and pipelines related to oil and gas operations; (2) assisting with monitoring compliance for mining operations occurring on public lands; (3) assisting with the preparation of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS); (4) assisting with preparing inspection and assessment reports to document findings, recommendations, and plans.

OR, Education: Successful completion of one (1) year of graduate education from an accredited college or university in a field directly related to the work of the position. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

OR, Combination: An equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate level education described above, when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

OR, Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for this position, from an accredited college or university, and meet one of the requirements for Superior Academic Achievement based on the following: (1) class standing (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.); (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 as computed 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) election to membership in a national scholastic honor society.

Specialized Experience GS-09: One 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) processing geophysical Notices of Intent, Applications for Permit to Drill (APDs), and rights of way associated with road access and pipelines related to oil and gas operations; (2) conducting compliance for mining operations occurring on public lands; (3) reviewing Environmental Impact Statements (EIS); (4) preparing inspection and assessment reports to document findings, recommendations and plans.

OR, Education: Successful completion of at least two years year of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited college or university in a field directly related to the work of the position. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

OR, Combination: 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. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

Specialized Experience GS-11: One 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) reviewing Notices of Staking (NOSs), Applications for Permit to Drill (APDs) and Sundry Notices; (2) conducting surface use inspections in support of the Field Office oil and gas inspection and enforcement programs; (3) conducting meetings with oil and gas/mining operators to resolve problems encountered in surface use operations; (4) coordinating the onsite inspection of proposed oil and gas well sites in areas involving highly complex environmental and political issues.

OR, Education: Successful completion of at least three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in a field directly related to the work of the position. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

OR, Combination: 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. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

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).

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

Education

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".

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

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.

Physical Demands: The work varies from sedentary office work to performing physically exerting field work that requires walking on uneven terrain and other vigorous work in adverse climatic and topographic situations (heat more than 101 degree F and cold below 20 degrees F).

Working Conditions: Office Work may periodically involve intense mental activity and some stress in situations involving complex solutions and short deadlines. Visits to the field office locations will require operation of motor vehicles and hiking in many cases under adverse weather conditions. Incumbent works with and around heavy or large equipment with moving attachments.

Some inspections will involve sites around oil and gas facilities with hazardous Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) concentrations. H2S is a type of gas commonly found during the drilling and production of crude oil and natural gas that is produced as a result of the microbial breakdown of organic materials in the absence of oxygen. H2S is colorless, flammable, poisonous and corrosive. H2S has a toxicity like carbon monoxide, monitoring and early detection are critical to safety. The incumbent must carefully adhere to all safety procedures to mitigate hazards and prevent injury.

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.

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.

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:
  • Compliance Inspection
  • Project Management
  • Technical Competence
  • Written Communication

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