Summary This position is located in a H Q, State, Area or Field Office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Incumbent is responsible for providing the full range of geological services to assigned geographic area. Incumbent will perform developmental assignments under supervision closer than normal until proficiency is demonstrated. Locations: Altoona, Barron and Ellsworth Responsibilities Prepares geologic analysis services for land use categories. Applies geologic evaluation. Conducts sedimentation studies to determine sediment storage requirements, and sediment surveys on existing reservoirs. Prepares written reports, including interpretations of surface and subsurface conditions and conclusions concerning the suitability of all earth materials and ground water conditions for projects for all land use categories. Conduct geologic investigations. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications (NOTE: You must attach a copy of your transcripts. Failure to submit transcripts will result in an ineligible rating.) Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Basic Requirements: 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; Combination of education and experience: Course work as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. GS-7 Grade Level: In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualification requirement in order to be considered for this position: Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-7 grade level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 or higher in the Federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service that has equipped you with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience includes: Assisting in preparing basic geologic analysis services; Assisting in basic application of geologic evaluation; Providing assistance with sedimentation studies. OR Superior academic achievement in a bachelor's degree a curriculum directly related to the work of the position. To qualify for superior academic achievement, you must have ONE of the following: (1) standing in the upper third of your college class or major subdivision at the time you apply; (2) grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed, either (a) at the time of application or (b) during the last 2 years of your undergraduate curriculum; (3) B+ (3.5 on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed in a related discipline, either (a) at the time of application or (b) during the last 2 years of your undergraduate curriculum; OR (4) election to membership in one of the national honorary scholastic societies that meets the requirements of the Association of College Honor Society; OR Education Substitution: Possess one year of graduate level education leading to a Master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in a discipline satisfying the educational requirement. OR Possess a combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. GS-9 Grade Level: In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualification requirement in order to be considered for this position: Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-9 grade level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 or higher in the Federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service that has equipped you with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience includes: Assisting in preparing basic geologic analysis services; Assisting in basic application of geologic evaluation; Providing assistance with sedimentation studies; Conducting geologic investigations; Assisting in basic plans and modifying investigations based on knowledge of geologic field. OR Substitution of Education in Lieu of Specialized Experience: 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in a discipline satisfying the educational requirement. OR Possess a combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. GS-11 Grade Level: In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualification requirement in order to be considered for this position: Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-11 grade level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 or higher in the Federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service that has equipped you with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience includes: Assisting in preparing basic geologic analysis services; Assisting in basic application of geologic evaluation; Providing assistance with sedimentation studies; Conducting geologic investigations; Assisting in basic plans and modifying investigations based on knowledge of geologic field. OR Substitution of Education in Lieu of Specialized Experience: PHD or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skill, and ability necessary to do the work of the position such as Geology. OR Possess a combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours beyond the second year by 18 and add the two percentages. To view the position's Qualification Requirements of the associated occupational series as outlined in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, General Schedule Qualifications Standards. See the link below: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=0400-ndx 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 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 You must submit a copy of your college transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify all education requirements (i.e. substitution of education and/or basic education requirement). If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement. You must document all requirements on every vacancy; we cannot use previous determinations as a basis for rating. If you have not yet conferred your degree or certificate, but will within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement, a letter from the school documenting current standing, degree being obtained and expected graduation date must be submitted with your application. All required information must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and non-submission of all required documents/documentation will result in non-consideration. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcript will be required prior to entering on duty. This information must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Non-submission of these documents will result in non-consideration. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Applicants must, therefore, only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation via this link. All education claimed by applicants will be verified accordingly. Important: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Click on this link for more information. Additional Information Locality Pay: The salary for each location may vary depending on locality. Locality tables my be found at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. 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 neither implied nor guaranteed. This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor. Physical Demands: Work is typically performed in both field and office settings. During field visits the work requires the incumbent to walk over uneven fields and difficult terrain, recurring bending, crouching or stooping, and carrying of light items less than 35 pounds. Construction site visits may pose hazards associated with heavy equipment and exposure to agricultural wastes and pesticides. Work Environment: Work that is performed in an office setting is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated. Field visits may involve exposure to construction equipment and environments where safety precautions must be observed such as wearing boots, gloves, hard hat, etc. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized. PLEASE NOTE: In the interest of filling these positions as efficiently as possible, we are requiring the following: If called for an interview, applicants must be available to interview within 3 business days of being contacted. If a tentative job offer is extended, selectee will have 2 business days in which to accept or decline. It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. See more information at: http://www.chcoc.gov/transmittals/TransmittalDetails.aspx?TransmittalID=6465