Geologist

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Department of Agriculture

Job Summary

This position is located on the North Fork John Day Ranger District on the Umatilla National Forest in Ukiah, OR The selectee will serve as a professional geologist with responsibility for planning, administering and providing professional expertise in minerals and geology programs. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Paula Guenther at 541-427-5316 or email at paula.guenther@usda.gov.

Major Duties

  • Administer mineral leasing activities on National Forest system lands.
  • Conduct geologic studies and investigations on a variety of projects where geology and mineral activities have an effect on development and/or management of forest resources.
  • Examine forest land and makes assessment of mineral potential in order to develop, evaluate, and administer minerals management activities.
  • Investigate and determines the geologic limitations and capacities of projects in a specific geographical area.
  • Participate on interdisciplinary teams for evaluating the impact of Forest Service and non-Forest Service activities on Forest lands.
  • Conduct validity examinations to determine and make recommendations about the lack of a mineral discovery or to reaffirm that a mineral discovery has been made.
  • Duties listed are at the full performance level.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. Basic Requirement for GS-1350: Degree: 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 a major field of study 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.

OR

Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. For a description of acceptable experience, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/geology-series-1350/Acceptable experience may have been 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. Experience that involved only one phase of geology work, e.g., collecting samples, would not be acceptable as providing the required professional knowledge of the theory and principles of geology. In some situations, professional scientific experience in other fields may be accepted in part as professional geological experience. Such experience must have been preceded by appropriate education in geology or by professional geological experience, and must have contributed directly and significantly to the applicant's professional geological competence. Examples include some positions in geophysics, mining engineering, soils science, physical oceanography, hydrology, climatology, biology, analytic or experimental chemistry, metallurgy, and comparable fields where the normal duties or results of investigations have been extended to the solution of geologic problems by the applicant. Ordinary functions of positions such as seismic, computer, petroleum or mining engineer, mine superintendent, or metallurgist generally are not considered professional geological experience. To receive credit for geological experience obtained in positions that are not full-time professional geological positions, the applicant is responsible for indicating clearly the actual time or percentage of time devoted to geologic duties within such positions, and for giving adequate descriptions of the geologic functions. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-09 level: Applicants must have one year specialized experience equivalent to GS-07 in the Federal service. Examples of work experience meeting requirements: Collected, analyzed, and reviewed soil and rock sample data and reported findings in response to a geologic inquiry or as a result of reviewing a geologic map or report; assisting with administering mineral locatable & saleable activities and provided standard data to higher level specialists; assisting with inspecting mineral operations for compliance and resource impacts; and/or conducted studies or investigations on projects where minerals and geology activities had an effect on development and/or management of forest resources. OR Successful completion of 2 years of progressively higher level related graduate-level education leading to a master's degree and the study was obtained.in an accredited college or university.

OR An appropriate combination of related graduate-level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 18 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.) that was obtained.in an accredited college or university and specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level that is directly related to this position that together meets the qualification requirements for this position. For a description of acceptable experience, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/geology-series-1350/For the GS-11 level: Applicants must have one year specialized experience equivalent to GS-09 in the Federal service. Examples of work experience meeting requirements: Conducted geological studies and investigations on a variety of projects where geology and mineral activities had an effect on development and/or management of forest resources; applied geologic principles to methods of prospecting, exploration, development, and mining, including investigating and determining the geologic limitations and capacities of projects in a specific geographical area; and/or developed and analyzed data and prepared reports related to the responsiveness of implementation plans for environmental protection programs, including reviewing and coordinating the preparation of comments on complex environmental impact statements.

OR

Successful completion of 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree and the study was obtained in an accredited college or university.

OR

An appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.) and the education was obtained in an accredited college or university. For a description of acceptable experience, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/geology-series-1350/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. Work Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning day, month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade if applicable; and description of duties performed. This information must be provided for each permanent, temporary or seasonal appointment/work assignment or volunteer work and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position. TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Pay Range

$52,905.00 - $83,210.00

More information...

End Date: 

Tuesday, February 4, 2020