Geologist

As a Geologist within the Geologic Hazards Science or the Volcano Science Center, some of your specific duties will include: Conduct landslide hazard assessments for multiple types of landslides including cascading landslide hazards, such as tsunami. Collect and analyze field data and remote sensing information about geologic features, systems, and processes that contribute to landslide hazards and risks. Evaluate the triggering conditions of landslides to support criteria for landslide forecasting or susceptibility products.

Coordinate the collection of landslide data from USGS partners, including State Geological Surveys, the National Weather Service, U.S. Forest Service, and other Department of Interior bureaus. Communicate effectively with a wide audience.

This includes supervisor, peers, scientists (both USGS and external colleagues), and support staff. Operate a government owned/leased vehicle as an incidental driver. Physical Demands: During emergency response periods, training of personnel on new equipment, or field work, the scientist may be expected to hike distances of several kilometers over uneven terrain while carrying equipment.

Field work may require working in remote field sites with limited to no services. Field work may require the use of proper personal protective gear, working in dusty, hot, humid, and extreme cold environments, occasional off-road driving of 4-wheel drive vehicles, traveling to remote field sites in helicopters or small fixed wing planes, and/or boats. Lifting of equipment and objects weighing up to 20 kilograms may be necessary.

Work Environment: Field work may involve encounters with dangerous fauna and flora, and other wilderness dangers. International field work may be conducted in culturally hostile areas. Geology position with duties that involve subsurface investigation require geologists to work near drill rigs and heavy equipment.

Geology positions with duties that involve construction support require geologists to work near heavy equipment and construction hazards. Some work is carried out in proximity to explosives.

Key Requirements: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.

Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record. Selectee subject to successful completion of a pre-employment medical exam. Are There Any Special Requirements for This Position?

Taking and passing a pre-employment medical examination at Federal expense is required due to the physical demands of this job.

You will be required to operate a government-owned or -leased vehicle in the performance of your official duties. Applicants for this position must meet the following requirements: (1) possess a valid State driver's license, and (2) possess a safe driving record. If selected, you will be required to provide proof of a valid State license & a copy of your driving record.

Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment. Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued. A background investigation will be required for this position.

Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active.

Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system. REQUIREMENTS CONTINUED IN THE QUALIFICATIONS SECTION:

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. Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements.

You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit:https://www.usgs.gov/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs

Basis of Rating: Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the result of the assessment required for this position.

Your responses must be substantiated by your resume. If you do not respond to the application questions you may be rated ineligible. Narrative Responses Assessment Required: If you meet the basic qualification and eligibility requirements of this position, you will be contacted via email after the vacancy announcement closes and given 5 calendar days to submit narrative responses to questions specific to this announcement.The email will include the instructions and deadline in which the responses must be submitted.

Subject-matter experts will use these narrative responses to further evaluate your knowledge, skills, abilities as they directly relate to the duties of this position. Failure to submit this information upon request will result in your disqualification from further consideration. The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities that are being evaluated are: Conducting landslide hazard assessments.

In your response, explain the types of data you have collected and analyzed, how you have used computer programming to support or implement elements of a hazard-assessment procedure, the types of landslides you have worked with, and your understanding of cascading landslide hazards. Conducting landslide hazard assessments that involve collecting and analyzing geologic field data and remote sensing information. In your response, discuss your field investigation experience, the types of remote sensing data you have used to evaluate hillslope erosion, mass wasting, and other slope-stability-related processes, and how you have applied these methods to identify or track landslide activity.

Evaluating landslide triggering conditions and advancing landslide process understanding. In your response, explain how you have used or modified numerical models and geospatial analysis methods to develop landslide forecast, susceptibility, or risk products. Include specific examples of datasets, tools or languages (for example, Geographic Information Systems, Python), how you calibrate/validate models, and how your results have informed decisions or products.

Coordinating landslide data collection. In your response, explain how you have worked as part of teams of scientists, engineers, and technical support personnel to facilitate data collection among federal, state, and/or local partners, and detail your role in compiling and performing quality control on datasets. Communicating and documenting landslide-related science for diverse audiences, including scientific peers, external partners, and the general public, in both oral and written formats.

In your response, provide specific examples of final technical products you have produced (such as technical reports or datasets), your role in developing them and the intended audience; explain how you tailor messages for different stakeholders while maintaining clarity, accessibility, and scientific rigor. Outline how partner or peer feedback shaped final products. Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and awards during the interview/selection process conducted by the hiring manager.

If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review. HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED CONTINUED IN REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Other Information: Duty location: It is anticipated that one position will be filled in the Geologic Hazards Science Center in Golden, CO, and one position will be filled in the Volcanic Science Center in Anchorage, AK.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies in the advertised office or other U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) offices in the local commuting area. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position. USGS employees are subject to Title 43, USC Section 31(a) and may not: (a) have any personal, private, direct or indirect interest in lands or mineral wealth of lands under survey; (b) have any substantial personal, private, direct or indirect interests in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business with the United States; or (c) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations.

The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361. The Department of Interior (DOI) uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.

To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. As part of the application process, a series of four short essay questions will be included.

Applicants must certify that their own words were used to answer the questions. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within DOI who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.

Agency Benefits: USGS has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework in accordance with the DOI Telework policy and with supervisor approval. The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis.

For additional information on our internal telework policy, please reference the Department of the Interior Telework Handbook at: https://www.doi.gov/telework/policies. Working for the U.S. Geological Survey offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, health, life, dental, vision, and long-term care insurance, flexible spending accounts, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS CONTINUED: Eligibility for Special Appointing Authorities If you are applying for this position based on eligibility under a special appointing authority, you must submit proof that supports your claim by the closing date of the announcement. If you fail to submit proof, you will not receive consideration under the special appointing authority. Below is a list of the most common authorities and the documentation requirements.

If you're eligible for an authority not listed, you are responsible for submitting documentation that's appropriate for that specific authority. Additional information for all the authorities below can be found on the USAJobs Hiring Paths page. 30% or More Disabled Veteran - Submit a legible copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, member 4 copy; and an official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs (dated 1991 or later) or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying the existence of a service-connected disability, etc. Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) -

NOTE: The VRA authority only applies to positions at the GS-11 level or lower. Submit a legible copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, member 4 copy; and if applicable, an official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs (dated 1991 or later) or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying the existence of a service-connected disability, or the award of a campaign badge or Armed Forces Service Medal, etc. Individuals with Disabilities - Submit documentation issued by a licensed medical professional; a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist; or any Federal agency, State agency, or an agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits.

Military Spouse - Submit verification of active duty member of the armed forces (i.e. a copy of your spouse's orders verifying currently on active duty and verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage); OR verification of the member's 100% disability (official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs (dated 1991 or later)); OR verification of the member's death while on active duty (DD-1300 and Death Certificate) AND verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage). Appointment of Certain Former Overseas Employees - Submit a SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that confirms your eligibility and a performance appraisal from that period. Peace Corps & VISTA - Former Peace Corps volunteers or VISTA members must submit their Certification of Volunteer Service.

Present and former Peace Corps personnel must submit a SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that confirms their eligibility. Certain National Guard Technicians - Submit proof that confirms that you were involuntarily separated (other than by removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency); you served at least 3 years as a technician; and are within 1 year of your separation date from service as a Guard Technician. Public Land Corps (PLC) - Submit the signed Certificate of Eligibility for Noncompetitive Hiring Status (PLC) issued by the PLC Coordinator for the organization where the creditable service was completed.

HOW TO APPLY: Applications (resume and application questions) for this vacancy must be received on-line via USAJOBS BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online resume, you will not be considered for this position. Requests for extensions will not be granted.

Most libraries, employment offices, and all USGS personnel offices can provide access to the Internet. If applying online poses a hardship for you, you must speak to someone in the Servicing Human Resources Office listed on this announcement PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE for assistance. Instructions for Applying Online for this Vacancy Announcement: 1) Click the blue "Apply Online" button. 2) If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process.

If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile. 3) As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application. 4) Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen. 5) Address the eligibility questions as well as the questionnaire containing questions and/or task statements that address the knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies for this vacancy. 6) Submit required documents. 7) If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED CONTINUED: If it is determined that you have rated yourself higher than is supported in your description of experience and/or education as described in your resume/application, or that your resume or application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible, not qualified, or your score may be lowered. To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12923371 REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Required and supporting documents may be: (1) uploaded directly from your desktop; or (2) uploaded directly from your USAJOBS stored attachments. Resume Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted.

The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression.

Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Transcripts This position requires specific educational course work to qualify. You are required to provide all unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.), which includes semester hours earned, grade received, and graduation date (if applicable) by the closing date of this announcement, or you will be disqualified from further consideration.

Please ensure that all documentation is legible. Due Weight for Performance Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official.

The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. Due weight for performance applies to federal and non-federal work. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available.

Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level. Current & Former Federal Employees If you are a current career or career-conditional Federal employee OR a former Federal employee who has reinstatement eligibility, you must submit a copy of a recent SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting proof of competitive status, tenure, position title, occupational series, grade level and step by the closing date of this announcement, or you will not receive consideration. Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) If you are claiming eligibility under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA), you must submit proof that supports your claim.

This may include: A legible copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, member 4 copy or any official documentation or statement from the Armed Forces that confirms your dates of service and that your separation, discharge, or release from active duty was under honorable conditions. If you are currently on active military duty, you must provide documentation (e.g., campaign document, award citation, etc.), that verifies entitlement to veterans' preference or that shows length of service, AND that your character of military service is honorable. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) & Inter-agency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) Eligibles If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, the Servicing Human Resources Office must receive proof by the closing date of this announcement that you meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330 Subpart F for CTAP and 5 CFR 330 Subpart G for ICTAP or you will not receive priority consideration.

This includes: copy of the agency notice; your most recent Performance Rating; and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. If you are a CTAP or ICTAP eligible, you will be considered well qualified if you earn a minimum score of 85 (prior to the assignment of veteran's preference points). REQUIRED DOCUMENTS CONTINUED IN THE HOW TO APPLY SECTION: