Geologist

About the role

This is a Geologist for Bureau of Land Management in the following area: Barstow, California Battle Mountain, Nevada Butte, Montana Carson City, Nevada Elko, Nevada Ely, Nevada Lake Havasu City, Arizona Las Vegas, Nevada Meeker, Colorado Phoenix, Arizona Rawlins, Wyoming Ridgecrest, California Tonopah, Nevada Vale, Oregon Winnemucca, Nevada Position is open under VIN CCCR-27-13092822-FUL-AWF.

You must apply to each announcement for consideration under both recruitment methods.

What you will do

• The classified PD assigns the major duties collectively as 100% and does not provide separate duty percentages.
• The following duty areas organize the PD work for job-analysis and competency-linkage purposes; they do not change the official PD or assign new work.
• Planning & Environmental Coordination Develops, implements, and updates the field office's geology and minerals planning inputs (inventories, development opportunities, economic data, conflicts); uses the planning system to keep land-use plans current; serves on interdisciplinary teams for minerals-related actions (e.g., free-use permits, mineral material sales, oil and gas leasing, geothermal leasing, exploration and development drilling, and mining plans of operation under 43 CFR 3809, 3802, and 3814); participates on other Bureau EA and EIS projects.
• Public Inquiries, Assistance & Inter-Office/Agency Coordination Provides written and oral assistance on laws, regulations, and policy governing mineral resources; establishes and maintains cooperative relationships with BLM offices, user groups, and State/Federal agencies; conducts informal coordination and consultations with landowners, operators, and field/district office staff to carry out minerals activities and related multiple-use programs.
• Mineral Reports & Appraisals Reviews exploration or development/operating plans for adequacy; recommends bond amounts; prepares mineral reports on salable and locatable mineral potential based on field examinations and literature searches.
• Surface Protection, Inspection & Enforcement; Trespass Provides technical expertise in formulating surface protection stipulations, standards, and mitigation; ensures ground compliance and prepares inspection/surface-use/mineral-potential reports; emphasizes inspection, enforcement, and production verification under 43 CFR 23 & 2800 (material site rights-of-way), 3100 (oil & gas APDs), 3150 (seismic notices), 3600 (mineral material sales, free-use, sampling/testing), 3715 (mining claim occupancy), 3802 (mining plan of operation), and 3809 (notices and mining plan of operation).
• Investigates suspected trespass, documents cases from discovery through prosecution or dismissal, and recommends corrective actions or suspension when operations are not conducted per regulations and approved plans.
• Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Determines safe abandonment procedures for mine shafts, portals, and other features; inspects and investigates mineral operations and beneficiation facilities to ensure operations are conducted in accordance with acceptable practices.
• Processing Leases, Permits, Notices & Plans of Operation Reviews mining, prospecting, and drilling plans for adequacy under Bureau standards, including surface protection of public lands subject to mining and leasable mineral development; processes applications for mining law, mineral materials, oil and gas, and non-energy minerals; investigates lands and mineral deposits; prepares reports leading to the issuance of permits and leases; prepares approval letters for plans and notices with provisions to protect the environment, prevent mineral waste, and reclaim disturbed lands.
• Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• To learn more, visit ***
• You cannot hold an active real estate license, nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
• A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.
• This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized.
• In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.
• Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

This position has a mandatory education requirement.

You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience.

Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position.

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs.

Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. ***

How you will be evaluated

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 any additional assessment(s) required for this position. Your resume must not exceed 2 pages.

Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. 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 the following 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 assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Geology Mining Engineering Planning and Evaluating Project Management Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. 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 assessment(s), including a structured resume review.

These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job. Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP).

To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

Documents you must provide

• Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates in month-year format (include month/day/year format if needed for 52 weeks of experience), and indicate hours worked per week (or full-time).
• Your resume must clearly show how long you have held each grade/rank.
• Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted.
• The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text.
• All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression.
• Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
• Your 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements.
• If you have federal experience, you should include series, and grade for each position held, and if experience is part of a career ladder position, you must clearly distinguish the job duties and length of time working for each grade level.
• More information on how to write a Federal Resume: *** Complete All Required Assessment(s).
• All college transcript(s), if qualifying based on education.
• Please submit both undergraduate and graduate level transcripts, as applicable.
• Veterans Preference Documentation, if applicable.
• Veterans must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (member 4 copy) or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15.
• If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Parent or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15.
• You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from *** or call ***.
• If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active-duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
• Interagency Career Transition (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): You MUST submit proof of eligibility including 1) copy of the agency notice, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc.; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal.
• To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be well qualified.
• For more information visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).
• Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.
• It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
• Do not submit photographs with your application package.
• Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from all documents.
• Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations.
• Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
• Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents.
• Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

What to expect next

Please refer to your USAJOBS account for application status; the Human Resources Office cannot respond to individual status inquiries. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position.

After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application. You can find your path with the Department of Interior at *** Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration.

We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. 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.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive.

A continued service agreement may be required if it is determined you are eligible for a permanent change in duty station (PCS), recruitment, or relocation incentive.

All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, ***

The duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

Duty Station Information: Las Vegas; Tonopah, NV; Lake Havasu City, AZ Salary Range: GS-7: $51,542 - $67,006 GS-9: $63,046 - $81,964 Barstow; Ridgecrest, CA Salary Range: GS-7: $58,827 - $76,476 GS-9: $71,957 - $93,549 Carson City, NV Salary Range: GS-7: $55,934 - $72,716 GS-9: $68,419 - $88,949 Phoenix, AZ Salary Range: GS-7: $52,783 - $68,620 GS-9: $64,564 - $83,938 All Other locations fall under the Rest of US Salary Range: GS-7: $50,460 - $65,599 GS-9: $61,722 - $80,243