What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position? Salary: GS-5: $44,001 (Step 01) to $57,198 (Step 10); GS-7: $54,505 (Step 01) to $70,859 (Step 10); NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01. Open to all U.S. citizens under: USGS-RES-24-12450655-DE-SER This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies in the advertised office or other U.S. Geological Survey offices in the local commuting area.

Duties

The Museum Technician position for the Geological Materials Repository (GMR) provides support for the curation of diverse, complex scientific collections to make them available for reuse in new research. Duties range from cutting samples from cores, supporting user access to physical samples, to customer service and administrative duties. The position is part of a close-knit, supportive team with a diversity in daily work activities. As a Museum Technician within the Core Research Center, some of your specific duties will include: Assists with coordinating inventory management tasks, documenting sample availability, and providing detailed information to Researchers, Scientists, and others seeking to access GMR collections. Ensure organization and storage of materials with precision, safeguarding accessibility and streamlining the retrieval of materials for research purposes. Assists in providing responses to inquiries regarding the nature of collections, sample availability, and procedures for accessing the GMR collections, in relation to Inventory Management and Access. Provide support to responses for verbal and written inquiries about the GMR, its operational procedures, and the nature of its extensive collections. Supports tours of the GMR facility for interested groups from the general public, school groups of various ages, and interested research scientists. Prepare reports and maintain records of work accomplishments and administrative information, as required, and supports the preparation, presentation, and communication of workrelated information to the supervisor. Report to the Team Lead and supervisor as needed on individual work accomplishments, problems, progress in mastering tasks and work processes, and individual training needs. Follows Team Lead or higher-graded museum specialist guidance to adjust and accomplish workload in accordance with priorities, to ensure timely completion of tasks. Assists in timely accomplishment of assigned team tasks. With guidance, assist with the curation of two large collections housed at the GMR which include: (I) the rock core collection, and (2) the well cuttings collection. With guidance, assists in; supporting repository inventory management including transfer, accession and disposition of samples and collections and providing access to collections to interested USGS scientists and the public. Collects and enters information into GMR databases. When tasked and with guidance by Supervisor or higher - graded museum specialist, documents, archives, restores/preserves, accesses, and makes available contents of each collection to interested research scientists from across the USA and Internationally. Conducts independent projects relevant to the accession or curation of materials, including research to compile missing or inaccurate information. Creates reports or data visualizations to describe the results of such projects. Training and supervising junior museum staff or interns in best practices for artifact handling, storage, documentation, and exhibit preparation. Following Work Instructions (WI) and GMR staff instruction, catalogs and identifies recent GMR accessions in accordance with standard geologic nomenclature, U.S. Land Office grid systems, and GMR data management system standards. Utilizes the GMR Well Catalog database containing all samples housed at the GMR, on a custom - designed GMR master database. Utilization includes search, update, sample tracking, and support for establishment of unique identifiers for samples and subsamples. Assists in testing of new features and functionality for the database. Utilize program and administrative reference materials, project files, policies, procedures, and written instructions from the supervisor to maintain current knowledge to answer questions from GMR users on the procedures, policies, and directives. Following Work Instructions (WIs) and GMR staff instruction, prepares core and rock specimens for study, analysis, and display by sawing, polishing, etching, plugging, labeling, and using preservation techniques to conserve and protect the specimens. Responsible for the use of forklifts and other material handling/processing equipment to load and unload shelves, pallets, cargo trailers, and other related items. Physical Demands: Work requires recurring periods of standing and manual dexterity, climbing ladders, pushing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and reaching, and operating various types of forklifts. Typically, the weight handled is in the 20-40 pound range and, on occasion, may be up to 75 pounds. Work is conducted in an office setting, warehouse environment, and a laboratory setting. When in an office setting, the work may require long hours sitting at computer terminals. Work in the warehouse environment can be dusty on occasion. Duties continued below.

Requirements

Qualifications

For GS-05: Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-5 level: One year of specialized experience in or directly related to the position to be filled that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. To be creditable, the required specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-04 level in the Federal service. Examples of GS-4 level work may include: experience in cataloging and preserving physical samples in the geology or natural sciences field and physical sample or specimen management as part of research or museum collection. **OR a full four years of progressive, successfully completed education above the high school level leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or 24 semester hours of course work in a related field. Related fields of study include art, history, museum studies, scientific subjects, or other courses related to the position to be filled. **OR equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education, as described above, and specialized experience, as described above, may be used to meet the qualification requirements for GS-5. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE EDUCATION & SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE) For GS-07: In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-07 level: **One year of successfully completed graduate level education (18 semester hours, 27 quarter hours or the equivalent) in a directly related field of study if it provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position to be filled. Related fields of study include art, history, museum studies, scientific subjects, or other courses related to the position to be filled. **OR Superior Academic Achievement based on undergraduate study. (CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT). **OR one year of appropriate professional experience in related to the operation or management of a museum or similar collection of valuable objects that is equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the Federal service. Examples of such experience could include: independently curating materials including research to compile missing or inaccurate information and implementing a digital tracking method for collection management.**OR a combination of successfully completed graduate level education, as described above, and professional experience, as described above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE) You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

• 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.
• Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .

Required Documents:
Land Management Workforce Flexibility Eligibles

--If you are applying as a current or former employee of a land management agency, i.e., Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, or the U.S. Forest Service who is serving or previously served on a temporary or term appointment under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, you must submit the following documentation by the closing date of this vacancy announcement in order to receive consideration:

• SF-50(s), Notification of Personnel Action, that documents your service under competitive examining procedures in time limited appointments that totals 2 or more years at land management agencies; and
• Documentation of satisfactory performance such as performance evaluations or references by supervisors or other documents, e.g., memorandums of record, whereas the supervisor documented an acceptable performance level.

Additional information can be found here.

Eligibility for Special Appointing Authorities

If you are applying for this position based on eligibility under a special appointing authority, you must submit proof that supports your claim by the closing date of the announcement. If you fail to submit proof, you will not receive consideration under the special appointing authority. Below is a list of the most common authorities and the documentation requirements. If you're eligible for an authority not listed, you are responsible for submitting documentation that's appropriate for that specific authority.

--30% or More Disabled Veteran - Submit a legible copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, member 4 copy; and an official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs (dated 1991 or later) or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying the existence of a service-connected disability, , etc. Additional information can be found in the VetGuide.

--Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) - NOTE: The VRA authority only applies to positions at the GS-11 level or lower. Submit a legible copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, member 4 copy; and if applicable, an official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs (dated 1991 or later) or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying the existence of a service-connected disability, or the award of a campaign badge or Armed Forces Service Medal, etc. Additional information can be found in the VetGuide.

--Individuals with Disabilities - Submit documentation issued by a licensed medical professional; a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist; or any Federal agency, State agency, or an agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits. Additional information can be found here.

--Military Spouse - Submit verification of active duty member of the armed forces (i.e. a copy of your spouse's orders verifying currently on active duty and verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage); OR verification of the member's 100% disability (official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs (dated 1991 or later)); OR verification of the member's death while on active duty (DD-1300 and Death Certificate) AND verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage). Additional information can be found here.

--Appointment of Certain Former Overseas Employees - Submit a SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that confirms your eligibility and a performance appraisal from that period. Additional information can be found here.

--Peace Corps & VISTA - Former Peace Corps volunteers or VISTA members must submit their Certification of Volunteer Service. Present and former Peace Corps personnel must submit a SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that confirms their eligibility. Additional information can be found here.

--White House Staff - Submit proof that you are a current employee serving in the immediate Office of the President or Vice-President or on the White House Staff who has completed at least 2 years of service. Additional information can be found here.

--Certain National Guard Technicians - Submit proof that confirms that you were involuntarily separated (other than by removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency); you served at least 3 years as a technician; and are within 1 year of your separation date from service as a Guard Technician. Additional information can be found here.

--Public Land Corps (PLC) - Submit the signed Certificate of Eligibility for Noncompetitive Hiring Status (PLC) issued by the PLC Coordinator for the organization where the creditable service was completed. Additional information can be found here.

Contacts

• Address CORE RESEARCH CENTER 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 600 Reston, VA 20192 US
• Name: Sally Ruskowski
• Phone: 703 648-7437
• Email: [email protected]