Summary
This position serves as a Geologist (Coal), 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.
Duties
This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Us 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. Take Initiative to conduct relevant assessments of the availability and recoverability of coal resources and reserves on a regional scale, using peer reviewed methodology and techniques. 2. Lead efforts to determine the amount of technically recoverable coal remaining in the U.S., with an emphasis on coal resources on Federal lands; plans and prioritizes future coal assessment studies, based on potential coal utilization patterns and coal quality trends; 3. Refine and work to improve the methods and techniques used in coal assessments, including the use of stochastic geostatistical methods. Develops protocols to continue to integrate the use of coal quality parameters to further delineate coal resources in assessment studies. The incumbent will use expertise and knowledge of coal mining methods to establish reasonable parameters to assist in defining coal resources and reserves, based on current mining techniques and technology. 4. Serve as a technical expert on complex coal geology, coal resource, and coal quality research topics on a national and international scale. Areas of expertise include coal depositional systems, coal exploration and resources assessments, coal rank and classification, coal quality, coal mining methods, ground control, identification of adverse geologic mining conditions, and other areas of coal geoscience. Collaborates with the EUSEF co-project lead in the Geology, Energy, and Minerals Science Center (GEMSC), CERSC management, and the ERP Program Coordinator to formulate and modify, if needed, project research strategy and scope. Takes the initiative to develop collaborative research opportunities with other Federal or state agencies, academia, and/or industry. 5. Prepare, complete, and disseminate the results of research and assessments through presentations and publications which advance the knowledge and understanding of coal depositional processes and coal resource quantities. Information and results will be disseminated internally within the USGS and in external publications. Pre-employment Medical Examination This position involves field work where the duties of the position may involve arduous conditions. Therefore you will be required to pass a pre-employment medical examination to ensure you can perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position, with or without accommodation. Work Environment Work is performed primarily in an office setting, with occasional work in the field and/or in a laboratory. In an office setting, the incumbent may spend extended periods of time working at a computer. Field and laboratory duties may expose the incumbent to additional risks and safety hazards. These additional risks and safety hazards may require safety or hazard recognition training, as well as the use of special personal protective equipment. Temperature and weather extremes may be encountered during the performance of outdoor field work. Field work may also include the operation of four-wheel drive vehicles and light trucks. The incumbent is expected to conduct all duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger themselves, fellow workers, or property. Physical Demands The work may include office, field, and laboratory assignments. Office assignments are generally sedentary, and the incumbent may spend extended periods of time working at a computer. Physical activities may involve lifting or moving moderately heavy items such as computers, file boxes, or rock samples. Field work may require moderate physical ability, average agility and dexterity, and some physical exertion. Field work may include walking over wet, sandy, uneven, or rocky surfaces. Field work may also include the lifting of moderately heavy objects, such as field equipment, rock samples, or core boxes, as well as physical activities such as bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, or reaching. Telework You may be allowed to telework on a situational basis at management discretion. Driver's License You will be expected to travel for this position, therefore you will be required to maintain a valid State issued Driver's License as a condition of employment. Travel You may be expected to travel for meetings, training, field work, and site visits.
Requirements
Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship. 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/ Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. 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.
Education
This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. 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
How you will be evaluated
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of any additional assessment(s) required for this position. Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. THIS POSITION FALLS UNDER PROFESSIONAL & SCIENTIFIC. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into the following categories: Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job. You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Customer Service Data Management Geology Mathematical Reasoning Modeling and Simulation Project Management Research Technology Application Writing Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessment(s), including a Structured Resume Review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job. Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.