This position is located in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC), Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS) State, Area or Field Office in Davis, CA. The primary purpose of the position is to provide the full range of geological services to the assigned geographic area.

Duties

Conducting sedimentation surveys, geomorphology for support of stream restoration, landslide hazard assessment, soils evaluation, ground and surface water interflow studies, and other conservation work. Applying geologic evaluation for a variety of practices related to specific systems applied such as but not limited to steam crossings, water well decommissioning, dam and spring development and agricultural waste storage facility construction. Developing and presenting findings, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations resulting from geological investigations. Developing and/or collecting geological information characterizing groundwater and geologic conditions in the field that impacts the design and construction of engineering practices. Conduct sedimentation studies to determine sediment storage requirements, and sediment surveys on existing reservoirs. Preparing written reports to include the interpretations of surface and subsurface conditions and conclusions concerning the suitability of all earth materials and ground water conditions. Investigations may require the incumbent to prepare contract documents, secure assistance from local personnel, and identify and secure additional equipment to complete investigation.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. If selected you will be sent instructions on obtaining fingerprints. Please note we are not able to reimburse any fees incurred for fingerprints.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Must possess and maintain a valid state motor vehicle operator's license for the type of vehicle(s) operated to perform the duties of this position.
• Physical Demands: During field visits the work requires the incumbent to walk over uneven fields and difficult terrain, recurring bending, crouching or stooping, and carrying of light items less than 35 pounds.
• Physical Demands: Construction site visits may pose hazards associated with heavy equipment and exposure to agricultural wastes and pesticides.
• Work Environment: Field visits may involve exposure to construction equipment and environments where safety precautions must be observed such as wearing boots, gloves, hard hat, etc.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must meet the Basic Requirements for this position to be considered. (Must submit transcripts) - SEE REQUIREMENTS IN EDUCATION SECTION In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level(s) in which you are applying: GS-07 Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: 1. Assisting in preparing general geological reports; 2. Assisting in basic plans and modifies investigations based on knowledge of geologic field; and 3. Assisting senior staff with geologic projects. OR Education: One full year of graduate level education in an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in a field of study that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as geology. (You must submit transcripts.) OR COMBINATION: Combination of graduate education and specialized experience as listed above. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the specialized experience listed above; then determine your education as a percentage of the graduate education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. OR Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in a field of study that demonstrates the competencies required by the position AND must meet one of the criteria below: A grade point average of "B" (a GPA of 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. A grade point average of "B+" (a GPA of 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in the applicant's major field of study, or those courses in the applicant's major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. Rank in the upper one-third of the applicant's class in the college, university, or major subdivision. Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. (You must submit transcripts.) GS-9 Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: 1. Assisting with planning and modifying investigations based on knowledge of a geologic field; 2. Assisting with preparing written reports regarding findings of geological studies; and 3. Applying geologic practices and concepts to a range of land types to help achieve conservation outcomes. OR Education: Must have amaster's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in geology or other directly related discipline. (You must submit transcripts.) OR Combination: Combination of the above-described education and specialized experience such that they total 100% when combined. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then determine your education as a percentage of the education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. (Only graduate level education in excess of one year (18 semester hours) may be combined with specialized experience.) (You must submit transcripts.) GS-11 Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: 1. Assisting with geologic analysis services for on-going conservation programs; 2. Preparing written reports summarizing of geological studies; 3. Collecting data on various land types during a geologic investigation; and 4. Analyzing and applying a variety of geologic practices to a range of land types to achieve conservation outcomes. OR Education: Must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in geology or other directly related discipline. (You must submit transcripts.) OR Combination: Combination of the above described education and specialized experience such that they total 100% when combined. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then determine your education as a percentage of the education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. (Only graduate level education in excess of two years (36 semester hours) may be combined with specialized experience.) (You must submit transcripts.) GS-12 Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: 1. Planning and coordinating a variety of geological projects that may include crop systems, pasture systems, wetlands systems, and watershed application; 2. Performing geologic analysis services for on-going conservation programs; 3. Determining the appropriate method to use based on geologic analysis and assessment; and 4. Preparing technical written reports that interpret and explain geological study results. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). 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 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

Basic Requirement:
Degree: Bachelor's degree 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 submit transcripts.)
OR
Combination of education and experience: Course work as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. 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. (You must submit transcripts.)

You must submit a copy of your college transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify all education requirements (i.e. substitution of education and/or basic education requirement). If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement. You must document all requirements on every vacancy; we cannot use previous determinations as a basis for rating. All required information must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and non-submission of all required documents/documentation will result in non-consideration. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. This information must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Non-submission of these documents will result in non-consideration. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the 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. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

Contacts

• Address Natural Resources Conservation Service 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Midwest Services Branch
• Phone: 8164265706
• Email: [email protected]