GEOLOGIST

About the role

This position will serve as a Geologist GS-1350-09/11/12 for the U.S. Geological Survey in either Austin, TX or Moffett Field, CA. The position will be filled at the GS-9 level with a full performance level of GS-12.

Duties

At the full performance level (GS-12) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Compiles existing geoscience data to generate geologic maps, data releases, metadata, and associated documents in the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program mandated Geologic Map Schema (GeMS) format.
• Applies GIS techniques to geologic studies and problems including generating geologic maps.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance project-level and enterprise GIS solutions to geologic problems and studies.
• Applies a variety of sophisticated processes and analytical methods to the preparation and analysis of field/remote sensing observations and/or laboratory samples.
• Contributes to evolving project, science center, and program needs through training, workshops, and user-manual production.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Requirements

• 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.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 4 nights per month.
• You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
• You cannot hold an active real estate license, nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
• You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• 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.

Qualifications

Basic Educational Requirement: You must meet at least one of the following:

• A. 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. You must submit transcripts.
• B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

To qualify for this position at the GS-9 grade level:

Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience performing a variety of observations, computations, compilations and analyses in assisting higher level Geologists in carrying out geologic assignments such as:

• Developing and managing cloud-based enterprise GIS systems with ESRI software (or similar Graphic Information Software) and associated server hardware;
• Generating ESRI file geodatabases;
• Integrating ArcGIS online with geologic field data;
• Developing and maintaining Python/ArcPy geoprocessing tools.

You must include hours per week worked.

Education: Successful completion of at least two years of progressively higher-level graduate education (36 semester hours, 54 quarter hours or the equivalent) leading to a master's degree in geology or other directly related field of study or master's or equivalent graduate degree in geology or other directly related field of study if it provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position to be filled. You must include transcripts.

Combination of education and experience: To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours (or equivalent) earned towards a directly related graduate degree that is beyond the first year of graduate study and divide by 18 semester hours (or equivalent). Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week and transcripts.

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 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.

Pay

Pay will vary based on duty location for which you're selected. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate. For Austin, Texas the pay range for the GS-9 level is $63,457 - $82,499 per year. For Moffet Field, California the pay range for the GS-9 level is $77,161 - $100,315 per year.