Exempt Geologist Jobs in Arizona (NOW HIRING)

Summary
This announcement is being advertised as a Forest Service National Hiring effort to fill multiple vacancies. Positions may be filled at one or more of the duty locations included in this announcement. Final determination of the duty location will be made at the time of the job offer.
For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Amber Waters at amber.waters@usda.gov.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
Help

• Duties listed are at the full performance GS-12 level.
• Provides support to Engineering and Minerals Staff Officer in managing, developing, and administering the Forest's mineral and geology program.
• Responsible for implementing the Forest's mineral and geologic resource program.
• Provides technical review and advice on plans of operation for proposed new mines, as well as for changes to existing operations.
• Reviews proposals for mine development, and evaluates the potential impact on the environment.
• Reviews plans of operations for mineral proposals and assures that the 1872 Mining Law, NEPA, Code of Federal Regulations, Forest Plans, Regional and Forest directives are followed.
• Serves as Project Manager for significant exploration and mining activities that could include a variety of decision types form Categorical Exclusions to Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
• Performs supervisory duties 20% or less of the time.
• Must be a Certified Mineral Examiner and/or a Certified Minerals Administrator, or obtain certification within a timeframe specified by the supervisor at the time of placement into the position.

Requirements
Help
Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• 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.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may 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. 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.

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:
GS-1350 Series:
Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study 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.
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.
In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.
Specialized Experience Requirement:
For the GS-11 level: Applicants must have one-year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09. Qualifying specialized experience is defined as one or more of the following:

• Collected, analyzed, and reviewed soil and rock sample data and reported findings in response to a geologic inquiry or as a result of reviewing a geologic map or report;
• Participated in validity examinations and surveyed forest land to make assessments of geologic potential;
• Conducted studies or investigations on projects where minerals and geology activities had an effect on development and/or management of forest resources.

OR
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (coursework directly related to position being filled)
OR
An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.).
For the GS-12 level: Applicants must have one-year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11. Qualifying specialized experience is defined as one or more 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;
• 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;
• 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.
Education
See above for education that may be qualifying for the GS-11 grade level. There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for the GS-12.
Additional information
The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered.
Promotion potential will vary based on position being filled and will either be at the GS-11 or GS-12 grade level. If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed.
The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional Information is available on the OPM Website.
Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.
Salary wage as shown is for Rest of the U.S. Final salary will be determined at the time of selection dependent on the duty location for more information, refer to the Office of Personnel Management, Salary and Wages web page.
Forest Service daycare facilities may be available.
Government Housing may be available.
We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
Expand Hide additional information
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.