Planetary Science Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Summary
These positions serve as Geologist's, GS-1350-12/13 with the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Office of the Regional Director, Rocky Mountain Region, Central Energy Resources Science Center.
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Duties
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These positions are located within the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Office of the Regional Director, Rocky Mountain Region, Central Energy Resources Science Center, duty stationed in Lakewood, Colorado.
At the full performance level (GS-13) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:
1. Compile, synthesize, interpret, and integrate diverse geologic datasets for a basin or region to construct geologic models for the generation, migration, accumulation, and/or production of geologic energy resources.
2. Conduct studies of geologic energy resources (e.g., petroleum, geothermal, uranium); these studies lead to assessments of undiscovered resources.
3. Collaborate with USGS colleagues to conduct quantitative assessments of geologic energy resources.
4. Participate in internal and external conferences and/or meetings as a technical representative. Participation in meetings and/or conferences is for the purpose of disseminating results.
5. Prepare reports documenting geologic energy assessment related work. These reports may be for internal USGS publications or for external journals and are intended to disseminate results.
Salary Range Information (Per Annum): *First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level.
GS-12: $99,800 - $129,742
GS-13: $118,675 - $154,280
Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• 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 www.dhs.gov/EVerify/.

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.
*Additional Requirements located under qualifications*
Qualifications
Requirements Continued...
Qualifications:
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/23/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.
Minimum Qualification Requirements:
To qualify for this position you must meet the (1) Basic Educational Requirements AND (2) Specialized Experience for the series/grade to which you are applying.
Geology Series, 1350:
Individual Occupational Requirements
(1) Basic Educational Requirements:
Option A: EDUCATION: You must have successfully completed a 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. NOTE: You must submit copies of your transcripts. (Unofficial okay)
-OR-
Option B:
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: You must have a combination of education and experience, that includes course work as shown in A above [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.] PLUS, appropriate experience or additional education related to this position. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in one of the fields stated in A above. (Note: 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 geological samples, handling various types of instruments and equipment, assembling geologic data from source materials, and analyzing and reporting findings orally and in writing.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. 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.) This combination must be sufficient to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the duties of a professional Geologist. NOTE: You must submit copies of your transcripts. (Unofficial okay)
-AND-
(2) Specialized Experience
GS-12 Specialized Experience
To qualify for the GS-12, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equips the applicant with knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
Independently performing scientific work of considerable difficulty in the following:
1. Designing and executing complex geologic studies that involve intensive investigations into geologic processes; AND
2. Understanding and integrating various elements of a particular field of study (e.g., sedimentology, structural geology, geochemistry, petrophysics) into geologic energy resource studies; AND
3. Disseminating results through publications in scientific journals or presentations at meetings or conferences.
To qualify, you MUST meet all three (3) of the specialized experience statements above.
GS-13 Specialized Experience
To qualify for the GS-13, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equips the applicant with knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
Independently performing scientific work of considerable difficulty in the following:
1. Designing and executing complex geologic studies that involve intensive investigations into geologic processes; AND
2. Understanding and integrating various elements of a particular field of study (e.g., sedimentology, structural geology, geochemistry, petrophysics) into geologic energy resource studies; AND
3. Disseminating results through publications in scientific journals or presentations at meetings or conferences; AND
4. Working within integrated teams that apply global tectonic, sedimentary, sequence-stratigraphic, structural, geophysical, and geochemical concepts to regional basin analysis and assessments of energy resources.
To qualify, you MUST meet all four (4) of the specialized experience statements above.
Desired Experience (Not required for qualification):
We are particularly interested in candidates who have demonstrated experience creating, calibrating, and interpreting basin models that integrate diverse geologic datasets at basin and/or regional scales.
Volunteer Experience: 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
This position does not allow substituting education for experience.
This position has a mandatory education requirement.
You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) (UNOFFICIAL Okay) 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. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification
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.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses are authorized with the exception of the Guaranteed Home Sale Provision or first-post-of-duty relocation expenses are authorized, as applicable. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), signed into law December 2017, suspends the moving expense deduction and the exclusion from income of qualified employer reimbursements of moving expenses that was allowed under previous tax laws. Employer reimbursements for moving costs are now generally taxed at the same rate as ordinary income.
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, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.
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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
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have