PDF versionJob Summary
Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource.For additional information about the BLM, please visit Our website.This position is located in Needles, CA. Information about theNeedles areacan be found here:Needles Chamber of Commerce
Major Duties
At the GS-09 and GS-11 levels the duties of the position are developmental in nature and lead to the full performance level. Duties may include: Plans, initiates, and directs and exercises supervision over mining industry, sales, permits and leases to assure the orderly development and conservation on minerals materials, locatable and leasable minerals on public lands; and assures maximum economic recovery of mineral deposits through review of industry operating plans for exploration, development, and extraction of minerals and compliance with the environmental reclamation requirements of the Department of Interior’s regulations and the Bureau of Land Management policy.
At the full performance GS-12 level, the incumbent serves in a dual capacity, (1) as a Geologist, and (2) a Certified Mineral Examiner (CME) for the Needles Field Office. Serves as the program leader responsible for planning, initiating, directing, and executing the minerals program at the Field Office level. Some of the associated resource values are of national significance. Mining law administration including mineral reports, validity determinations, and surface management on mining claims and mineral material sites.
- Develops portions of the long-range programming for the minerals program. Monitors progress and determines deviations from the minerals portion of the annual work plan.
- Develops, implements and updates the geology and minerals portion of the planning system that could include inventories, opportunities for development, economic data, and possible conflicts with other programs.
- Represents the Field Manager at meetings of business, professional, governmental, educational, scientific and various user and interest groups.
- Verifies compliance with appropriate laws, regulations, terms and conditions of operations relating to surface and mineral material management, mining law administration, oil and gas, and non-energy leasable mineral management.
- Conducts inspections, compliance reviews, Enforcement and Trespass.
- Determines procedures for the safe abandonment of mine shafts, portals, and other potential features caused by mining and exploration operations.
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 physical stamina and is often under a variety of arduous conditions, including travel by vehicle, all train vehicles (ATVs), or foot over rugged, slippery, and/or hazardous terrain, exposure to adverse temperature and weather conditions, as well as physiographic extremes. You 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 as equipment and samples. You may be subjected to hostile wildlife, confined spaces, chemical and physical hazards.
Work Environment: When in the office, you will be physically located in close proximity to a number of other professional employees, and must tolerate an 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 steep mountainous terrain. You 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 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. You 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, you must be alert to safety hazards to ensure work is accomplished in the most efficient and safe manner.
Qualifications
Specialized Experience Requirements: In addition to meeting theeducation requirement, applicants must have specialized experience and/or directly related education of the position to be found qualified. In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet 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.
GS-09:One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in geology related work. At this level, geologists independently perform recurring assignments that are more difficult & complex than those performed by a recent graduate. Examples: review & provide geologic expertise in the processing of applications to conduct drilling; review mineral exploration proposals & recommend stipulations to protect resource values; provide geologic data to staff engaged in drainage & economic evaluation; OR 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 have an equivalent combination of the type and level of experience and education described above. Only graduate level education in excess of the first year of may be combined with experience.GS-11: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in geology related work. At this level, work assignments require the geologist to determine approaches and solutions, using judgment in modifying, adapting and making compromises within standard guidelines, applying standard scientific practices to new situations and relating the work to precedents. Examples: 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 3 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 have an equivalent combination of the type and level of experience and education described above. Only graduate level education in excess of the first two years may be combined with experience.GS-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in geology related work.Specialized experience examples include: interpreting and applying applicable statues, regulations, procedures and policies, and their applicability to the process of minerals actions; applying mineral laws, public land laws and legal records, lease sale procedures and requirements, and inspection and enforcement principles; gathering, assembling, analyzing and evaluating information regarding organizational and management problems and processes. Analyzing issues and creating policy documents to address issues within the area of Fluid Minerals Management Education may not be substituted for specialized experience at this grade level.
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.
Pay Range
$60,415.00 - $113,900.00