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Geologist

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

Summary

This announcement may be used to fill more than one position at within the Ely District Office.

BLM may use certain incentives, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract high quality applicants.

This position is located in Caliente, Nevada. Information about the surrounding area can be found at the Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
04/11/2020 to 04/24/2020
Salary
$43,251 to - $83,210 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 07 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Caliente, NV
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel may be required for field visits, conferences, meetings, and training.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - This is a permanent position.
Work schedule
Full-time - 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
NV Merit-2020-0155
Control number
565337400

Duties

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Duties described at the full performance level GS-11: This position serves as a Geologist and is responsible for performing work that involves the knowledge and application of the principles of geology. The incumbent plans, initiates, directs and exercises 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, and all the minerals on acquired lands, assuring maximum recovery of mineral deposits through the review of industry operating plans for exploration, development, and extraction of minerals.

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 terrain 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.

Work Environment: 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 10 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.

When completing work assignments in the office or field, or operating a motorized vehicle, incumbent must be alert to safety hazards to ensure work is accomplished in the most efficient and safe manner.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Be sure to read the "How to Apply" & "Required Documents" Sections
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license; nor can you
  • have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Land
  • Direct Deposit Required.
  • Background Investigation required

If selected for this position you will need to complete the Federal Information Systems Security Awareness (FISSA) training prior to start date (if applicable).

If selected for this position, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450 within 30 days of reporting to duty. You will be required to provide this information annually.

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the Basic Requirement and the specialized experience requirement - please be sure to include this information in your resume. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade of the position to be filled.

Basic Requirement: A degree in Geology, which includes or is supplemented by 20 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 that you have a combination of education and experience with course work equivalent to that above plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Specialized experience for GS-07: Meet the basic education requirement AND have One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 in geology-related work. Specialized experience is further defined as: provide expertise in processing applications to conduct oil & gas drilling; assist in the review of mineral exploration proposals; prepare environmental assessments for minerals activities; advise the public on law, regulations & procedures that pertain to mining claims, material sales & mineral leasing, OR meet the basic requirement AND completed 1 year of graduate education leading to a master`s degree in geology or a directly related field OR meet the requirements for Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) OR meet the basic requirement AND possess an equivalent combination of the type and level of experience and education described above.

Specialized experience for GS-09: Meet the basic education requirement AND have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07 in geology-related work. Specialized experience is further defined as: review & provide geologic expertise in evaluating applications to conduct drilling, resource leasing, and exploration;  recommend surface protection stipulations to reduce adverse impacts of surface disturbing activities; reviews mining, prospecting and drilling plans for adequacy; OR Meet the basic requirement AND have successfully completed 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master`s degree or master`s or equivalent graduate degree in the field of geology or directly related fields of study; OR meet the basic requirement AND possess an equivalent combination of the type and level of experience and education described above.

Specialized experience for GS-11: Meet the basic education requirement AND have one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-09 in the federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: experience 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; OR Meet the basic requirement AND have successfully completed three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in the field of geology or directly related fields of study; OR meet the basic requirement AND have an equivalent combination of the type and level of experience and education described above.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement. Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade requirement in accordance with 5 CFR 300.604. If you are a current Federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

Education

This position falls under the Group Coverage Qualification Standards for Professional and Scientific Positions and Geologist, Series 1350, Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR).

This position has a positive education requirement. See qualification section for description of the Basic Education Requirement (BER). Additionally you must submit copies of transcripts or a list of all college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university time of application. If your degree is from a Foreign Institution, See Foreign Education

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at CTAP or ICTAP. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found well qualified for this vacancy. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form.

CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they receive a minimum score of 90 based on the rating criteria used for this position.

Reemployment Priority List (RPL): The RPL is the mechanism agencies use to give reemployment consideration to their former competitive service employees separated by a RIF or who have fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than one year. If you are currently on a Reemployment Priority List, you may be given priority consideration.

SELECTIVE SERVICE: Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System website.

May require completion of a 1-year probationary period. 

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

Government facilities are required to provide a smoke free environment for their employees. Smoking will be permitted only in designated areas. 

How you will be evaluated

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

Upon receipt of your complete application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. Your rating will be based on your responses to the Job Specific Questionnaire and the information stated in your resume. If qualified, your score may range from 70-100 points. In addition, interviews may be conducted for this position. The interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis or may be scored. The job specific questions relate to the following knowledge, skills and abilities required to do the work of this position.

GS-7:

KSA 1: Knowledge of basic geology, principles, theories, practices and science of geology and minerals management sufficient to accomplish day- to-day work assignments working with a diverse group of people.

KSA 2: Knowledge of general mineral methodologies related to conducting inventories and mineral evaluations and preparing technical reports.

KSA 3: Knowledge of oil and gas applications for permits to drill, mineral material sales, free use permits and sampling/testing permits, mining claims, occupancy uses, mining plan of operation, and notices of mining plan of operation.

KSA 4: Knowledge of the 1872 Mining Law, the 1920 Mineral Leasing Act, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act and other specific laws along with implementing regulations.

KSA 5: Ability to research, collect, verify, interpret, and analyze a variety of complex directions, regulations and information and communicate results to customers.

GS-9 & GS-11:

KSA 1: Knowledge of the principles, theories, practices and science of geology and minerals management to accomplish work assignments.

KSA 2: Knowledge of federal mining law, rules and policies regarding mining law administration; mineral patents; surface management; surface use and occupancy; and valid and existing rights determinations.

KSA 3: Knowledge of Environmental Assessment (EA) procedures and ability to develop EAs in the minerals management program.

KSA 4: Knowledge of and demonstrated ability to prepare professional mineral reports and other associated technical reports and documents.

KSA 5: Knowledge of programs relating to minerals program to provide multiple-use coordination necessary to complete work in other related processes such environmental assessments, land use planning and preparation of resource protection.


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