SURVEY TECHNICIAN

Clarification from the agency

Who May Apply: US Citizens

• Determines channel depths of navigation channels, surveying dredged material placement sites for dredging, surveying burrow sites, pre-dredge and post-dredge surveys, waterway bottom relief, identifying and locating obstructions, and the like.
• Reports, observes physical features in the field such as tree size, bridge clearance, levees, dam deformation, breakwaters, piers, utility connections and sizing underground culverts and sewer lines for planning, design, and construction.
• Creates monument descriptions and drawings that include identifying physical landmarks and their relationship to the monument.
• Utilizes computers and digital devices to collect and process data to calculate final coordinate position of control monument and physical features
• Serves as the rod person when performing a topographic survey taking measurements as directed by higher grade technicians and engineers using standard and common field codes to describe the physical features.

Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position requires the completion of a pre-employment Physical Examination and an annual examination thereafter to ensure the continued, required level of physical health and ability or fitness to perform the duties of the position.
• Incumbent is enrolled in the hearing conservation program and must undergo pre-employment, annual, and pre-termination audiograms.
• All Army personnel must comply with safety regulations, occupational safety and health standards, and other safety directives and orders.
• Incumbent is required to operate a motor vehicle; therefore must have and maintain a valid state driver's license.
• Incumbent is required to obtain and maintain a USACE license for the operation of motorboats less than 26 feet.
• Business travel requirement up to 75% of the time. Travel could be as much as 200 days of a year.
• Incumbent must be able to enter and exit through boat hatches that have a width of 15 in., lifting scientific and surveying equipment that weigh 50 lbs, and sustained physical effort when operating a 20 lbs chainsaw.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

To qualify at the GS-04 grade level, you must have: Six months of general experience (1) in any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with survey methods, techniques and procedures to complete survey assignments AND six months of specialized experience which includes experience in technical work which provided the knowledge and skills needed for work in the type of surveying involved. It must have required the use of measuring instruments and techniques involved in surveying, such as recording and checking data, reading or working from maps/drawings, and use of basic math and geometry to determine distance, elevation, and quantity. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-03).

NOTE: Completion of appropriate training such as in service training programs, training acquired while serving in the Armed Forces, and government-sponsored developmental training programs will be allowed credit on a month-for-month basis depending upon its applicability. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

OR

Education: Successful completion of 2 years of postsecondary education that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: surveying, engineering, industrial technology, construction, physics, drafting, forestry, geography, navigation, cartography, physical science, or mathematics.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: 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 the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of education by 60. Add the two percentages.

To qualify at the GS-05 grade level, you must have: :One year of specialized experience which includes utilizing hammers and post drivers to set survey stakes and Carsonite post; setting up tripods, rods, targets, and sights in preparation for conducting field surveys; or printing, sketching, and drawing legible and neat records of field activities. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-04).

NOTE: Completion of appropriate training such as in service training programs, training acquired while serving in the Armed Forces, and government-sponsored developmental training programs will be allowed credit on a month-for-month basis depending upon its applicability. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

OR

Education: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited or pre-accredited institution (a) with major study in an appropriate field of surveying, engineering, construction, or industrial technology; OR (b) that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: surveying, engineering, industrial technology, construction, physics, drafting, forestry, geography, navigation, cartography, physical science, or mathematics.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: 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 the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of education beyond two years (total semester hours minus 60) by 60. Add the two percentages.

How you will be evaluated

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

As vacancies occur, the Human Resources Office will review your resume to ensure you meet the hiring eligibility and qualification requirements listed in this flyer. You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume, along with your supporting documentation as it pertains to the following criteria:
1. Math and measurement aptitude
2. Computer and digital device proficiency
3. Experience working outdoors
4. Working with a team
5. Verbal and written communication
6. Willingness/ability to train.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates.

If selected, you may be required to provide additional supporting documentation.

Your complete application includes your resume and other documents which prove your qualifications and eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

1. Your resume:

• Your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.
• For each relevant work experience, make sure you include the employer's name, job title, start and end dates (include month and year), for qualifications purposes, the number of hours worked per week, and a brief description that show you can perform the tasks at the required level listed in the job announcement. If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you may not receive consideration for this position.
• Use plain language. Avoid using acronyms and terms that are not easily understood. The hiring agency will not make assumptions about what's in your resume.
• If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
• For additional information, to include formatting tips, see: What to include in your resume.

2. Other supporting documents:

• Cover Letter, optional
• This position has an individual occupational requirement and/or allows for substitution of education for experience. If you meet this requirement based on education you MUST submit a copy of your transcript with your application package or you will be rated ineligible. See: Transcripts and Licenses

NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.

Next steps