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Geologist

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Denali National Park and Preserve, Sciences & Resources Management Division
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in Denali National Park and Preserve in the Sciences and Resources Management Division.

Government housing may be available.

This announcement is being advertised concurrently under number AK-1537-DENA-24-12455017-ST, which is open to certain merit promotion and status candidates. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/08/2024 to 07/29/2024
Salary
$98,232 to - $127,698 per year

An additional 3.21% cost of living allowance (COLA) will be added to the salary above. Pay is subject to annual review and adjustment.

Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Denali Park, AK
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel up to 5 nights per month 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
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
AK-1537-DENA-24-12455016-DE
Control number
798871700

Videos

Duties

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  • Serves as the geologist for Denali National Park and Preserve performing advanced, novel, and complex assignments in remote environments, requiring seasoned scientific knowledge of geologic principles and practices.
  • The position's field activities include managing a variety of geological resources and processes including: 1) geohazard identification, classification, monitoring, mapping and associated infrastructure hazard assessments; 2) Fluvial geomorphology mapping, monitoring, and assessment of fluvial aggregate resources; and 3) Detecting, mapping, monitoring, paleontological resources.
  • Using advanced remote sensing methods and image processing to map and monitoring geological resources and landscape physical processes.
  • Acquiring remote sensing data using manned and unmanned aerial systems (drones and aircraft). Managing contracts and agreements for the acquisition of remotely sensed data.
  • Writing monitoring protocols, monitoring plans, reports, popular articles, social media posts, and peer reviewed publications on a wide range of geologic topics. Deploys remote sensing imagery in creating a variety of communication products.
  • Presenting to a wide variety of audiences including park visitors, park managers, and peer scientists on geological topics.
  • Projects may require utilization of subordinate employees, partners, and contractors.
  • Supervises subordinate staff including creating work plans; ensuring training is provided and completed; and creating and providing performance evaluations.

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 miles 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, windy, and extreme cold environments, driving 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive vehicles like trucks, traveling to remote field sites in helicopters or small fixed wing planes, and/or boats. Lifting of equipment and objects weighing up to 50 pounds may be necessary. Fieldwork requires flying in small fixed and rotary winged aircraft. During fieldwork encounters with hazardous wildlife and crossing rivers by wading or in pack rafts is likely.

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, ice or flooding. Field work may involve encounters with dangerous fauna and flora, and other wilderness dangers. 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.

Denali is six million acres of wild land, bisected by one ribbon of road. Travelers along it see the relatively low-elevation taiga forest give way to high alpine tundra and snowy mountains, culminating in North America's tallest peak, 20,310' Denali. Wild animals large and small roam un-fenced lands, living as they have for ages. Solitude, tranquility and wilderness await. Additional information for this stunning geographical location is available here: Living in Denali and Denali National Park Month by Month

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
  • You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. Important: Please, do not provide a copy of your driver's license at this time. If selected for a position, you will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record.
  • You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
  • 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. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
  • Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
  • You must obtain a commercial FAA issued Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) license within 12 months of entering on duty.
  • Applicants must be at least (1) 18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-07/29/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

Candidates who do not meet these requirements by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position.

BASIC REQUIREMENT:
Must have a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university 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. You must include a copy of your transcripts.
-OR-
A combination of education and experience - course work as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. You must include a copy of your transcripts.

- AND -

In addition to meeting one of the basic requirements above, to qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 level in the federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: evaluating geohazards (landslides, debris flows, rock glaciers) affecting infrastructure or human safety, managing reclamation and remediation associated with abandoned mineral lands; evaluating aggregate (gravel) resources, monitoring paleontological resources, using GIS and image processing technology and remote sensing to compile and analyze geologic, hydrologic, or paleontological information for reports, publications, and resource preservation initiatives. You must include hours worked per week in your resume.

When describing the nature of your duties (e.g., your paid or unpaid work or volunteer experience), please be extremely clear, thorough, and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience. Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire. For additional information on what to include in your resume, click here. For information on what you should leave out of your resume, click here. The following five-minute video may also be helpful for creating and updating your federal resume: click here.

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.

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.

Additional information

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.

A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will be paid if the person selected for the position is from outside the local commuting area and is otherwise eligible for reimbursement of relocation expenses under the Federal Travel Regulations.

Employer paid and reimbursed relocation expenses are considered taxable income. The NPS does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Employees should consult professional tax, legal and accounting advisors regarding concerns about the financial implications of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS).

Alaska currently does not have a state income tax.

In the event of an accident while traveling in a government aircraft, the payable benefits of a private life insurance policy may be affected.

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

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
  • Leadership
  • Research
  • Technical Competence
  • Writing


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 (SME) panel resume review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.

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