This position is located with Northern Region, Region 1 Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest. Serves as the Forest Service Unit's lead Geologist on projects and studies in support of major projects where geology and mineral activities have an effect on development and/or management of forest resources. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Quentin Smith at [email protected].

Duties

Determine the impacts of prospecting, exploration, development, and mining on public lands through the application of geologic principles. Investigate and determines the geologic limitations and capacities of projects in a specific geographical area. Serve as expert witness by providing testimony in validity determination cases through the use of geologic subject matter expertise. Coordinate with other Federal, State and Local agencies and private entities to ensure effective environmental and administrative compliance with required mineral and NEPA laws, regulations and polices. Serve as lead Geologist on projects and studies in support of geology and mineral activities on National Forest lands. Conduct geologic mapping and surveys in support of all forest/region missions. Serve as a consultant in geologic and rock mechanics related issues, providing sound scientific advice to superiors and agencies on these matters. Examine and assess public land for the potential of mineral presence to support management activities.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or 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.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• 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.gov

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: Geology Series, GS-1350: Degree: 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 -- courses equivalent to a major in geology as described in paragraph A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Evaluation of Experience: 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 in the amounts listed below. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-12: You must have one-year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as two or more of the following of the following: 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; and/or 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. 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. 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.

Education

There is no subsitution of education for specialized experience.

Contacts

• Address USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT. Albuquerque, NM 87109 US
• Name: HRM Contact Center
• Phone: 1-877-372-7248 X2
• Email: [email protected]