Duties

Summary

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) manages the exploration and development of the nation's offshore resources. It seeks to appropriately balance economic development, energy independence, and environmental protection through oil and gas leases, renewable energy development and environmental reviews and studies. For information about our bureau go to: http://www.boem.gov/

This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The mission of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is to manage ocean energy and mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in a manner that balances energy independence, economic development, and environmental protection. Energy resources on the OCS include oil and natural gas, as well as sources of renewable energy. Marine mineral resources include sand, gravel, and other non-energy minerals.

The Marine Minerals Program (MMP) manages the non-competitive use of OCS sand and gravel in qualified projects, as well as the competitive leasing of OCS critical minerals. Major MMP functions include resource mapping and evaluation, mineral leasing and policy development, environmental assessment and study, stakeholder engagement, and responsible resource stewardship. This work is critically important to promote coastal resilience and sustainably manage OCS marine minerals to ensure future availability.

The Marine Minerals Division (MMD), organized within the Office of Strategic Resources (OSR) in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), is responsible for oversight and execution of these MMP functions. The MMD leads the Bureau's efforts to advance the marine mineral stewardship mission, National Offshore Sand Inventory, and Marine Minerals Information System.

The incumbent serves as a Geologist or Oceanographer in the Office of Strategic Resources (OSR), Marine Minerals Division (MMD). The incumbent specializes in resource evaluation, resource management, and leasing.

*Note: If you are chosen for an interview, you may be required to provide a writing sample.

At the full performance level (GS-13) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:
1) Provides technical and policy recommendations and develops new and improved procedures related to the exploration, leasing, and stewardship of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) marine minerals.
2) Contributes to the development of BOEM's National Offshore Sand Inventory and Marine Minerals Information System.
3) Coordinates leases and other authorizations related to the use of or exploration for OCS minerals.
4) Evaluates OCS sand and mineral resources using geophysical, geological, and geospatial data.
5) Initiates, participates in, and manages research related to identification, characterization, and stewardship of OCS marine minerals.
6) Supports inter-agency coordination, stakeholder engagement, and research partnerships.
7) Represent the Bureau or Department concerning matters related to resource evaluation, leasing, or multiple use conflicts.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework, and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Salary Information:
GS-11: $69,581 - $90,461
GS-12: $83,398 - $108422
GS-13: $99,172 - $128,920 Per annum. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level.

This vacancy is also announced as BOEM-MMCC-19-KS-121(DEU) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Competitive Examining procedures.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - 1-5 nights may be required.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination
• You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
• You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/ .

Security Clearance Required: You will be required to obtain and maintain a Public Trust Background Investigation if you are selected and hired for this position.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

To qualify for this position you must meet the (1) Basic Educational Requirements AND (2) Specialized Experience for the grade and series to which you are applying.

1350 Geologist:
Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for this series:

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.

-OR-

B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in "A" above (24 semester hours or the equivalent in geology plus 20 additional semester hours or the equivalent in any combination of courses as specified in "A" above), plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in "A" above.

1360 Oceanographer:

Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for this series :

A. Degree: major study of at least 24 semester hours in oceanography or a related discipline such as physics, meteorology, geophysics, mathematics, chemistry, engineering, geology, or biology, plus 20 additional semester hours in any combination of oceanography, physics, geophysics, chemistry, mathematics, meteorology, computer science, and engineering sciences.

-OR-

B. Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Applicants who qualify on the basis of major study in biology or geology must have had at least 6 semester hours in the major directly concerned with marine science or 6 semester hours in oceanography; applicants who qualify on the basis of other physical sciences or engineering must have had differential and integral calculus and at least 6 semester hours in physics.

--

(2) Specialized Experience:

GS-11

To qualify for the GS-11, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 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 in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
(1) collecting and analyzing geological or oceanographic data;
(2) training and or experience evaluating alternatives to address a resource management issue in the coastal or marine environment; and
(3) supporting preparation of technical documents related to geological or oceanographic matters and delivering or co-delivering professional presentations.


Must meet all three.

GS-12

To qualify for the GS-12, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 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 in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
(1) collecting, analyzing, and interpreting geological or oceanographic data to characterize sediment or another mineral resource;
(2) experience evaluating alternatives to address a sediment management issue in the coastal or marine environment and helping define a course of action;
(3) helping coordinate or manage a project involving various stakeholder perspectives and needs, and
(4) preparing technical documents related to geological or oceanographic matters and delivering professional presentations.

Must meet all four.

GS-13

To qualify for the GS-13, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 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 in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
(1) collecting, analyzing, and interpreting geological or oceanographic data to characterize sediment and understand the implications of its use;
(2) planning and overseeing research projects related to the delineation of sediment or mineral resources;
(3) experience evaluating alternatives to address a sediment management issue in the coastal or marine environment and recommending the course of action;
(4) experience interpreting and applying regulatory requirements related to beach nourishment and coastal restoration projects;
(5) coordinating or managing a project involving resource stewardship objectives and various stakeholder perspectives and needs; and
(6) preparing technical documents related to geological or oceanographic matters and complex resource management issues, as well as delivering professional presentations.

Must meet all six.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Merit Promotion candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

Education: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements.

Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the specific educational requirements as stated above. 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: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Additional information

Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.

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.

Important Note: All Department of the Interior (DOI) employees are subject to the conflict of interest restrictions imposed upon all employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and may be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report. In addition, DOI employees, GS-15 and above, who work in the Office of the Secretary; along with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) employees (at ALL grade levels), are further restricted concerning their interests in Federal lands and resources administered or controlled by the Department of the Interior. This includes holding stock in energy corporations which lease Federal lands (e.g.: oil, gas, coal, alternative energy resources, etc.). If you have any such investments you should contact the DOI, BOEM or BSEE Ethics Office before accepting employment. DOI employees are held to the highest level of integrity. Employees must be objective and impartial in the performance of their work. All potential issues (e.g.: work-related interactions with friends, family members, or previous employers) must be disclosed at the time of application or during the interview process.

NOTICE: This employer participates in E-Verify and will utilize your Form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.

A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The preliminary background check consists of a search of Office of Personnel Management and Department of Defense background investigation files and an FBI National Criminal History Fingerprint Check; it may take up to 3 weeks to complete. If selected for this position, you will be extended a tentative offer of employment pending a satisfactory background check. Current Federal employees or individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check; these will be handled on a case-by-case basis in coordination with the Bureau security office.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online assessment will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. The best qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

Your answers to the on-line assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

• Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and make recommendations; learns adaptively from experience and mistakes.
• Project Management - Applies principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting quality and performance.
• Gather and Analyze Data - Collects, objectively evaluates, and integrates information from various sources relevant to problem or issue; applies skill and critical thinking to interpret and apply relevant data and information.
• Scientific Knowledge - Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, policies, practices and methods related to geology or oceanography.
• Interpersonal Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience; expresses information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information. Presents in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience; expresses information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information.
• Teamwork - Works cooperatively with others to accomplish objectives to build and maintain mutually-beneficial partnerships, leverage information, and achieve results. Fosters an environment that emphasizes knowledge sharing, shared vision, and group participation.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Your resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement and OPM qualification standards for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. It is strongly recommended that you use the USAJobs Resume Builder as it was designed to ensure that your resume includes the standard information needed. The Resume Builder is available at https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/How_to_create_your_resume

Your application package must include: (1) Resume showing relevant experience as written in your own words; (2) Completed online Assessment Questionnaire; (3) Your most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, tenure, and duty station; and a past SF-50 showing your highest Full Potential Level (FPL) position; (4) Certificates, license, etc. (if applicable); (5) Form DD-214 OR VA letter and Standard Form 15, if eligible under VEOA or VRA; (6) Proof of eligibility if applying under a special appointing authority;(7) Current or former Government employees are strongly encouraged to submit a recent performance appraisal.

NOTE: Applicants claiming eligibility under VEOA or VRA, must submit a copy of your DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," (Member 4 copy is preferred), showing the dates of active duty, type of discharge, and character of service (must be honorable); OR acceptable proof of verification of your preference (i.e., official document, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying that the veterans total combined serviced-connected disability rating is 10% or more).

NOTE: Applicants claiming eligibility based on 30% or more service connected disability, you are required to submit documentation that is indicated on the SF-15 as acceptable proof of verification of your preference (i.e., official document, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying that the veterans total combined serviced-connected disability rating is 30% or more.

You will find additional information on the following topics: (1) e-Verify; (2) Selective Service; (3) CTAP/ICTAP; (4) Education - accreditation; (5) Foreign education; (6) Veterans preference; (7) Special appointing authority documentation; and more can be found on our web site: https://www.bsee.gov/careers/usajobs-assistance OR http://www.boem.gov/USAJobs-Assistance/ .

If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, you must submit proof by the closing date of the announcement that you meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP or you will not receive priority consideration. The proof includes a copy of the agency notice, your most recent Performance Rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty station. To be considered well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, you must earn a minimum score of 85 or above (prior to the assignment of veteran's preference) on the rating criteria for this position.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.