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.
- 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.
Qualifications:
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement 08/26/2026 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
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 equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully 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:
1. Collaborated with colleagues in applying knowledge of stratigraphy and sedimentology as they relate to coal depositional environments to interpret coal geology and correlate coal beds and associated strata.
2. Assisted, under supervision, in building, refining, and querying geologic databases to produce data and maps for coal resource assessments using specialized coal-geology modeling software.
3. Utilized geologic modeling and CAD-based software applications under supervision, gaining familiarity with their content and functions.
4. Collaborated with colleagues in applying knowledge and proficiency in coal quality to analyze and apply coal-quality parameters for coal resource assessments.
5. Co-presented or assisted in presenting assessment results and findings under direct supervision through publications, professional meetings, and/or conferences.
To qualify for the GS-12, you must MEET ALL the statements above.
GS-13
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 equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully 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:
1. Independently apply knowledge of stratigraphy and sedimentology as they relate to coal depositional environments to interpret coal geology and correlate coal beds and associated strata.
2. Independently build, refine, and query geologic databases to produce data and maps for coal resource assessments using specialized coal-geology modeling software.
3. Independently utilize geologic modeling and CAD-based software applications.
4. Independently apply knowledge and proficiency in coal quality to analyze and apply coal-quality parameters for coal resource assessments.
5. Present assessment results and findings through publications, professional meetings, and/or conferences.
To qualify for the GS-13, you must MEET ALL the statements above.
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.
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
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.
Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
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:
You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
- Customer Service
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Data Management
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Geology
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Mathematical Reasoning
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Modeling and Simulation
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Project Management
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Research
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Technology Application
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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.
