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This position is located in the Department of Labor (DOL), Mines Safety and Health Administration, Tech Support, Mine Waste & Geo Engineering Division in South Park, PA.
- This position is inside the bargaining unit.
- Additional selections may be made from the job announcement.
- Selection can be made from any advertised grade(s).
- No PCS or Relocation incentives
Learn more about this agency03/05/2020 to 03/19/2020
$44,537 - $102,709 per year
GS 07 - 12
1 vacancy in the following location:
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - 5%
No
Permanent
Full-Time
Competitive
12 - There is no obligation to provide future promotions if you are selected. Promotions are dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, meet all the performance requirements, and supervisor’s recommendation to the next grade.
No
No
DE-20-PHIL-MSHA-0030
561923600
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
All U.S. Citizens, ICTAP and CTAP in the local commuting area of South Park, PA.
GS-07- The incumbent is responsible for evaluating safety problems in the mining industry that are of a civil engineering nature with an emphasis on mine waste disposal and dam safety issues. 1. Review engineering plans for dams and other mine waste disposal facilities. The plans may be for the correcting of deficiencies at existing dams or waste disposal structures, for the construction of new sites, or for the modification and expansion of existing sites. 2. Evaluate problems in geotechnical engineering. 3. Analyze structural engineering problems related to the safety of mine structures such as preparation and processing plants, storage facilities, and bulkheads. 4. Analyze safety problems related to mining operations. 5. Conduct field and accident investigations. In situations where these existing conditions are found to be deficient or where construction techniques are inadequate, make recommendations on corrective actions that should be pursued. 6. Develop and deliver technical training on topics related to the Division's mission. 7. Keep abreast of developments in the fields of dam safety, structural mechanics, soil mechanics, rock mechanics, hydrology, hydraulics, and mining technology. 8. Assist senior engineers during litigation proceedings and in preparation for expert witness testimony.
GS-09 – The incumbent is responsible for evaluating safety problems in the mining industry that are of a civil engineering nature with an emphasis on mine waste disposal and dam safety issues. 1. Review engineering plans for dams and other mine waste disposal facilities. 2. Evaluate problems in geotechnical engineering such as soil or rock slope stability, rockfalls, foundations, and retaining walls. 3. Analyze structural engineering problems related to the safety of mine structures. 4. Analyze safety problems related to mining operations such as haul roads, subsidence, or mining near bodies of water. 5. Conduct field and accident investigations in areas of Division responsibility to make observations and collect data that will allow an assessment of conditions or the cause of an accident to be determined. 6. Develop and deliver technical training on topics related to the Division’s mission. 7. Keep abreast of developments in the fields of dam safety, structural mechanics, soil mechanics, rock mechanics, hydrology, hydraulics, and mining technology. 8. Assist senior engineers during litigation proceedings and in preparation for expert witness testimony.
GS-11- The incumbent is responsible for evaluating safety problems in the mining industry that are of a civil engineering nature with an emphasis on mine waste disposal and dam safety issues. 1. Review engineering plans for dams and other mine waste disposal facilities. 2. Evaluate problems in geotechnical engineering such as soil or rock slope stability, rockfalls, foundations, and retaining walls. 3. Analyze structural engineering problems related to the safety of mine structures such as preparation and processing plants, storage facilities, and bulkheads. 4. Analyze safety problems related to mining operations such as haul roads, subsidence, or mining near bodies of water. 5. Conduct field and accident investigations in areas of Division responsibility to make observations and collect data that will allow an assessment of conditions or the cause of an accident to be determined. 6. Develop and deliver technical training on topics related to the Division’s mission. 7. Keep abreast of developments in the fields of dam safety, structural mechanics, soil mechanics, rock mechanics, hydrology, hydraulics, and mining technology. 8. Assist senior engineers during litigation proceedings and in preparation for expert witness testimony.
GS-12- As a senior-level engineer, is responsible for the independent planning and execution of projects related to the solution of complex safety problems at mining operations throughout the United States. Employs basic and advanced engineering concepts, and applied research techniques in executing duties and transfers the results of highly theoretical or complex studies to practical applications. Due to the Division's diverse workload, the incumbent will work in the areas of dam safety, slope and high wall stability, structural safety, mine inundation, and haulage safety. Will act on their own initiative on investigations involving problems where general MSHA policy has already been established. The incumbent may lead an investigative team in the execution of assigned field and laboratory projects. The incumbent has responsibility for making changes or modifications when necessitated by local conditions or preliminary findings. He/ she will evaluate the progress of field or laboratory projects and makes recommendations regarding their continuation, expansion, or termination. On completion of a field or laboratory project, evaluates the data and prepares reports covering the findings. The work assigned will be independently.
Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) that must be met in addition to meeting the specialized experience.
Basic Requirements:
OR
AND
GS-07: In addition to meeting the basic entry qualification requirements, applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-5, in the Federal Service
Specialized experience include computer software for example Word, Excel and PowerPoint, work within team and technical writing methods.
OR
1 year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement.
GS-09: In addition to meeting the basic entry qualification requirements, applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-7, in the Federal Service.
Specialized experience include: experience using engineering analysis software and be capable of using computer software. Knowledge in the areas of soil and rock mechanics, foundation engineering, earth dam design, hydrology, hydraulics, and structural mechanics is desirable. Also desirable is knowledge of testing procedures used to determine the engineering properties of construction materials (including metals, soil, rock, and mine waste materials) and mining principles and operation.
OR
2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree
GS-11: In addition to meeting the basic entry qualification requirements, applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-9, in the Federal Service.
Specialized experience include: experience using engineering analysis software and be capable of using computer software. Knowledge in the areas of soil and rock mechanics, foundation engineering, earth dam design, hydrology, hydraulics, and structural mechanics is necessary. Also needed is knowledge of testing procedures used to determine the engineering properties of construction materials, including metals, soil, rock, and mine waste materials. The incumbent should have a general knowledge of the mining industry, The Coal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1969, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, and should be familiar with Title 30, U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 77.214 – 77.216. The incumbent should have competent written and oral communication skills.
OR
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree
GS-12: In addition to meeting the basic entry qualification requirements, applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-11, in the Federal Service.
In addition to meeting the GS-9 and GS-11 specialized experience the incumbent must have the following specialized experience: The ability to represent the Agency in a professional and effective manner when consulting or coordinating within the Agency or external organizations on projects. Skilled in presenting testimony as an expert witness in civil or criminal litigation. Have knowledge of technical writing methods and the ability to write technical reports based on information gathered from field investigations, lab tests, and literature searches incorporating tables, graphs, and diagrams. Skills in preparing multi-media presentations and making oral presentations should be demonstrated. Also have proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
No educational substitution.
Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.
If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.
If substituting education:
For GS-7 - you must have 1 year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement
For GS-9 - 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree
For GS-11 - 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree
For GS-12 there is no education substitution.
DOL seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees’ differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.
Refer to these links for more information:
GENERAL INFORMATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
All MSHA employees and their spouses, and minor children are prohibited by regulation from having any interest, direct or indirect, in any mine or mining company which may be directly affected by the work of MSHA through its investigations, technical research, or other activities. These interests are prohibited under the Department of Labor's Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct Regulations at 5 CFR 5201.105. Certain MSHA employees are required to file a financial disclosure report. For questions, please contact the vacancy contact on this announcement.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be evaluated against the evaluation factors below and will be placed into a category based on your vacancy question responses.
Categories
Category A - Meets the basic qualification requirements for the vacancy and has successful experience in the same or similar job that has demonstrated superior proficiency in applying critical competencies required by this position to work of increased levels of difficulty and complexity.
Category B - Meets the basic qualification requirements for the vacancy and demonstrates satisfactory proficiency in the critical competencies required by this position.
Category C - Meets the specialized experience described in the minimum qualifications requirements section of this announcement and demonstrates proficiency in the basic competencies.
Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:
Analysis/Problem Solving: Knowledge in concepts, principles, and practices of geotechnical engineering and rock mechanics, hydrology and hydraulics, earth dam design, construction, operation, and maintenance, structural engineering. Knowledge of laboratory and field tests used in the geotechnical and rock mechanics fields. Knowledge in earthquake engineering and analysis. Knowledge, use of geotechnical and rock mechanics monitoring instrumentation. Knowledge of surface mining, earth-moving, and construction techniques and equipment. MSHA Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of the Federal Mine Safety & Health Act of 1977, Title 30, U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, with emphasis on Parts 56/57.200010; Part 56, Subpart B - Ground Control; Part 77, sections 214, 215, and 216; and Part 77, Subpart K - Ground Control. In-depth knowledge of MSHA, Center, and Division policies, practices, and procedures as they pertain to investigations, plan reviews, reports, etc. Knowledge of MSHA organizational structure. Consulting: Ability to represent the Agency in a professional and effective manner. Ability to present testimony as an expert witness in issues related to the position. Interpersonal:Ability to work in a team and reach consensus. Communication: Knowledge of technical writing methods. Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (WORD, Excel, PowerPoint). Ability to write technical reports Ability to make an oral presentation.
The information you provide may be verified by a review of your work experience and/or education, by checking references and through other means (ex. interview). The examining Human Resources Office (HRO) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the vacancy questions. If not, the HRO may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume. Your evaluation may also include a review by a Human Resources Specialist or panel and may include other assessments (ex. interview, panel review, written test, writing sample, etc.)
INFORMATION FOR ICTAP/CTAP ELIGIBLES ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under ICTAP/CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. ICTAP/CTAP eligibles who are placed into Category [B] or higher will be considered "well-qualified".
Click Application of Veterans Preference for Category Rating Jobs for more information.
The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. You are not required to submit a document if it does not apply to you. Warning: If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission. Also, do not upload password protected documents. -
Veterans Documents (if applicable): To be considered as a 5-point preference eligible, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD214. Your DD-214 must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. To claim 10-point preference, you must submit a copy of your DD214; an Application for 10-point Veteran's Preference, SF15; and the proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally an official statement, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. (For active duty service members expecting honorable or general discharge or release within 120 days, click Active Duty). Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's preference. For more information, go to: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/hire/hrp/vetguide/index.aspx
- Displaced Employee Placement Documents – Only required if requesting priority consideration under CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.
- Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience, but may be submitted Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship, and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.
– Unofficial Transcript(s) (in English) - submit if using education as a basis for qualifying for this position. If so, you must submit all applicable academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements (ex. BA/BS, MA, JD, PHD, etc). If specific course work is required to qualify, you must supply transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit.
You may upload your transcript(s) as one document (3 MB size limit). If over 3 MB, please submit via fax feature.
OFFICIAL Transcripts MUST BE RECEIVED prior to selection and report date. Reference the “Education Section” for College Transcript and Evaluation of Foreign Education.
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. Follow the steps below to apply. Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration. Paper applications and supplemental documents submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the vacancy contact will not be considered. Click here for information on Reasonable Accommodations. SAVE your information before the 30 MINUTE TIMEOUT! For help, go to https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/. STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including Resume and Saved Documents Your resume must provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses in the self-assessment vacancy questions. If not, HR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the competency indicated by resume content. FOR EACH EMPLOYMENT PERIOD, include: start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week); otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete.
STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS) Once you have identified a job on www.usajobs.gov that you wish to apply for, click on the title and click the Apply button . For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Click “Start Application” and proceed through 5 steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. At Step 5, click “Continue to Agency Site”.
STEP 3 – Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL) On the Department of Labor (DOL) page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click “APPLY TO THIS VACANCY”. Continue through the 7 progress steps indicated by circles at the top of the DOL page. The 3rd progress step is where you answer the vacancy specific questions. The 4th progress step "Documents" is where you submit required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the "Required Documents" section of this vacancy. If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission.
STEP 4 – On the “Review and Submit” step, click “Submit Application” The last “Confirmation” step will turn green noting that your application was submitted successfully. STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm ET of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, then “Update Application”.
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and refer candidates for selection consideration. Candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days from the issuance date of the certificate.
For instructions on how to check the status of your application, go to Step 7 on: Using DOORS and USAJOBS Help Guide. To sign up for Application Status Updates via email: Click Here for instructions.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/561923600. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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