Land Surveyor Job in Grand Junction, CO

Vacancy No. BOR-UCB-24-12443616-DE-OPM Department Bureau of Reclamation
Salary $49,025.00 to $94,317.00 Grade 7 to 11
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 7/3/2024 Close Date 7/17/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Grand Junction, CO


Job Description (Please follow all instructions carefully)

Summary

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Land Surveyor. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Duty Location: Grand Junction, Colorado

This position is concurrently open to Merit Promotion eligibles under Announcement Number BOR-UCB-24-12443617-MP-OPM.

Duties

  • Serves as a Land Surveyor, supporting surveying activities concerned with land and property boundaries, preparing plat and legal descriptions for tracts of land within the area office and to other offices.
  • Serves as project leader on a variety of land surveys and mapping projects.
  • Compiles topographic and/or planimetric maps for small contour interval and large-scale maps.
  • Performs remote sensing surveys including sonar based bathymetric and terrestrially based Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) surveys and inspections.
  • Implements cadastral and engineering surveys, as well as subprofessional engineering work related to operation, maintenance, and construction program facilities for Reclamation-owned infrastructure.
  • As a part of the Safety of Dams program, oversees and performs structural behavior monitoring of major structures within the Region.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).
You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents).
You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications).
You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education).
You must maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times will result in removal from the position.
Occasionally works outside of regular tour of duty with supervisor approval, e.g., Credit Hours, Overtime, etc. Some work must be performed at night.
Considerable travel up to 50% throughout the projects area will be required in accomplishing the responsibilities of the position. Such travel may extend over several weeks although the incumbent will usually return to the duty station on weekends.
You may be required to serve an initial probationary period.
This position is designated as a MODERATE RISK Public Trust position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated Public Trust Suitability Background Investigation (T2S or T2RS or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment.
Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet BOTH the Basic and Minimum Qualification requirements described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience. If qualifying based on education, a copy of your unofficial transcripts must be provided with your application.

BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT:
A. Education: Successful completion of a 4-year bachelor's degree or higher in Land Surveying; or Civil Engineering with a surveying option/emphasis. The civil engineering major must have included at least 6 semester hours of surveying, 3 semester hours of land law, and 21 additional semester hours in any combination of the following: surveying, photogrammetry, geodetic surveying, geodesy, route surveying, remote sensing, cartography, survey astronomy, land information systems, computer-aided mapping, aerial photo interpretation, and survey analysis and adjustments. (Note: You must submit a complete copy of your transcripts showing the required course work and your degree awarded information.)
OR
B. Combination of Education and Experience-Courses equivalent to a major in Land Surveying or Civil Engineering as described in paragraph A, plus appropriate experience or additional education. (Note: You must submit a complete copy of your transcripts showing the required course work and your resume must clearly define the appropriate experience.)
OR
C. Current registration as a Land Surveyor in a State, territory, or the District of Columbia-Such registration must have been obtained under conditions outlined in the National Council of Engineering Examiners (NCEE) Unified Model Law for Registration of Surveyors. Applicants wishing to be considered under this provision must show evidence of registration based on successful completion of the written examinations. Registrations granted prior to adoption of a registration law with qualification requirements equivalent to the NCEE Model Law by the State, territory, or District of Columbia are not acceptable under this option. To be considered equivalent to the NCEE Model law, registration laws must include the four options listed within the NCEE Unified Model Law in the section specifying "General Requirements for Registration" as a Professional Land Surveyor. (Note: You must submit proof of your registration based on successful completion of the written examinations.)
AND
To be considered minimally qualified for this position, in addition to the Basic Requirement above, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education below for the grade level for which you are applying:

GS-07 Minimum Qualifications:
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing 2 of the 4 following: (1) conducting surveys of land and/or other natural resources; (2) measuring land areas to obtain estimates of excavatable yardage, total acreage or exterior dimensions; (3) computing mathematic formulas to calculate distance and find land area. (4) locates physical evidence of boundary monumentation during field reconnaissance.
OR
Education: Successful completion of at least one full year (18 semester hours or equivalent) of graduate education from an accredited college or university in a closely related field which provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
OR
Combination of Education/Experience: Successful completion of an equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate level education as described above, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.
OR
Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): Successful completion of a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for this position as described above from an accredited college or university, and meets one of the requirements for Superior Academic Achievement based on the following: (1) class standing (upper third standing in the graduating class of a college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses); (2) grade-point average (3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0) as recorded on the official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or (3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; (3) election to membership in a national scholastic honor society.

GS-09 Minimum Qualifications:
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing 2 of the 4 following: (1) compiling and processing field survey data using various processing programs; (2) applying mathematical computations for traverse closures; (3) conducting routine analysis on land areas and/or other natural resources; and (4) applying basic land surveying techniques to establish land and/or property boundaries.
OR
Education: Successful completion of at least two years of progressively higher-level graduate education from an accredited college or university leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in a closely related field which provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
OR
Combination of Education/Experience: Successful completion of an equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate level education as described above, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement. (Only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used.) This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

GS-11 Minimum Qualifications:
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing 2 of the 4 following: (1) analyzing field survey data; (2) calculating mathematical computations for boundary closures; (3) conducting routine analysis on land areas and/or other natural resources; (4) leading the implementation of cadastral and engineering surveys according to law, technical, and/ or administrative standards.
OR
Education: Successful completion of at least three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a PhD degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a closely related field which provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
OR
Combination of Education/Experience: Successful completion of an equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate level education as described above, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement. (Only graduate education in excess of 36 semester hours may be used.) This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".

You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors if applicable, by 07/17/2024.

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

Additional information

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.

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.

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/

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.

Physical Demands: Work is performed in both office and field settings. Office work is mostly sedentary performed at a workstation with a desk, and personal computer. Field trips to remote dam sites and other facilities are frequently required. Field work includes walking on uneven ground, steep slopes, embankments, streambanks and reservoir shorelines with loose rock or unstable footing, climbing ladders and stairs, and entry of confined spaces. Field activities involve considerable walking, bending, stooping, and climbing in and around large dams and associated facilities, and lifting equipment less than 50 pounds per component. Moderate to frequent travel is required to remote field locations primarily by traveling long distances in vehicles and occasionally by commercial transportation. If conducting a bathymetric survey, work may require time in/on marine equipment and time wading in streams, rivers and/or lakes.

Working Conditions: The work environment is approximately 50% in an office setting and 50% in the field. The outdoor environment varies from flat, barren desert land or open prairie to extremely steep, rugged, and broken mountains covered with dense brush and timber. The temperatures fluctuate from extremely hot to uncomfortably cold, though temperatures are monitored for safety. At times, crews are required to work in rain and snow. Individuals are exposed to poisonous plants, snakes, insects, and most animals common to the outdoors. Work is often near large construction and hoisting equipment. Work is in and around large power and pumping plants and associated dams and reservoirs.

Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

Benefits

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Occupational Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions may affect your rating.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. 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 the additional assessments required for this position.

In order 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 assessments, including a subject matter expert resume review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed below that are required to successfully perform the job.

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. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

  • Highly Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
  • Manages and Organizes Information
  • Surveying
  • Technical Competence
  • Writing


The application questionnaire can be previewed here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12443616

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 07/17/2024.

  1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year format, and indicate hours worked per week. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
  2. A complete Occupational Questionnaire
  3. College transcripts: If qualifying based on education, a copy of your unofficial transcripts must be provided with your application.
  4. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as:
  • Veterans Preference Documentation:
    • If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
    • If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
    • If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.
  • Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above 85 on the rating criteria for this position.
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

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.

How to Apply

To apply for this position: You must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 07/17/2024. WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES.

  1. Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to login or create an account.
  2. Prompted to Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application."
  3. Select or add the resume you want to use for this application. Click here on how to build a resume in USAJOBS.
  4. Select documents you want included in this application.
  5. Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed.
  6. Select if you want to include your demographic information.
  7. After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site."
  8. Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application.
  9. Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown.
    • Upload any missing required documents or optional documents.
  10. Review and Submit Application.
  11. While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position.
  12. You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement.
    • To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job.
    • Note: When you click Update Application, you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. So it is important that you select all documents you want to use in the re-application.
  13. If you are unable to apply online, please email SASB@opm.gov PRIOR to 11:59 Eastern Time on 07/17/2024.

Agency contact information

San Antonio Services Branch
Address
Upper Colorado Basin Region, Western Colorado Area Office
Bureau of Reclamation
125 South State Street
Room 8100
Salt Lake City, UT 84138
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once the Occupational Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

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 the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies with the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s). Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. You may choose to opt in of having your information shared with other agencies when applying for this position. If an agency requests a copy of a certificate you are on, you will be notified.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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