Vacancy Announcement: Interdisciplinary Cave and Karst Program Manager

Job Title: Interdisciplinary Cave and Karst Program Manager
Department: Department Of The Interior
Agency: National Park Service
Job Announcement Number: WO-COAB-12-597718-MP

SALARY RANGE: $73,848.00 to $114,158.00 / Per Year
OPEN PERIOD: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 to Wednesday, February 15, 2012
SERIES & GRADE: GS-0401/1301/1315/1350-12/13
POSITION INFORMATION: Full Time - Permanent

DUTY LOCATIONS: 1 vacancy(s) - Lakewood, Colorado
WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED: United States Citizens

This is a TERM appointment not to exceed 13 months, may be extended up to 4 years.
U.S. Citizenship Required
Background and/or security investigation is required.

DUTIES:
Directs, coordinates and oversees the Servicewide Cave and Karst Management Program, and serves as the Servicewide expert authority on National Park Service (NPS) cave and karst resources management. Incumbent formulates goals and objectives and provides direction for the NPS cave and karst management program, including workload identification, problem definition, formulation of budget initiatives, and resource inventory, monitoring, assessment, protection, restoration and interpretation.

Plays a pivotal role in the development of National policy, research, maintenance, protection, interpretation, and public use and understanding of caves and associated resources. Provides liaison with the Washington Office, regional offices, other Federal, State, and local agencies, field areas, the National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI), international cave and karst conservation organizations, academic organizations regarding a host of issues, including, e.g., research and management of national, regional and individual park cave and karst issues

Provides expert technical assistance to field areas and other agencies in the inventorying of cave and karst resources, development of comprehensive maps, cave classification, legal description, photographs, etc. Develops cave and karst management materials and assists with cave and karst management planning with state and other Federal agencies. Assists NPS areas and other agencies in the exploration of caves and karst areas, which may include submerged cave systems.

Facilitates Servicewide cave and karst research. Plans or coordinates contracts and cooperative geologic/scientific research programs or technical evaluations involving other agencies, organizations, institutions and individuals to describe cave features, cave and karst processes and other natural or human caused phenomena.

Physical demands:In addition to sedentary office duties, the position requires frequent travel to nationwide geographic locals for the purpose of gathering data, attending meetings and onsite evaluation of proposed or ongoing projects. Performance of these duties may require hiking and climbing over rough and or steep mountainous terrain in adverse weather conditions with heavy packs and equipment. In addition incumbent must be in good physical condition and be able to pass prescribed SCUBA physical if this duty is to be performed. Caving, rescue, and SCUBA activities may require periods of extremely strenuous activity. Office duties are sedentary.

Work environment: Majority of incumbents duties are sedentary in an office environment. however, field investigations may require hiking, riding horses, operating vehicles over rough mountain terrain, steep roads and trails, or flying in fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft over hazardous terrain. Outdoor assignments expose incumbent to snow, ice, desert temperatures exceeding 100 degrees F. swift flowing rivers, spiny/poisonous flora and fauna, and extremely high humidity. Caving duties may require extensive periods of underground work, often in extremely cramped, maze passage, vertical exposure exceeding 300-feet, and may expose incumbent to airborne viruses and dangerous diseases such as rabies. SCUBA operations require extended exposure to waters which may approach near-freezing temperatures.


http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/307778000


Cheers,
Mike

If I weren't so afraid of the cold... this looks awesome.

Oh man and I would love to move to Colorado, too bad I am tied down to Houston for a few more years...

Dream Job. Well except for the fact that I hate the cold.

Colorado is one of the few states I'd tolerate the cold for!

Yea, i actually went through the questions, i do pretty well...if i was 10 years younger i'd apply.

They had me until the last paragraph - "...extensive periods of underground work, often in extremely cramped, maze passage..."

Cool.

If anyone wants any tips on how to get through the system, PM me.

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Originally Posted by Slüdge

They had me until the last paragraph - "...extensive periods of underground work, often in extremely cramped, maze passage..."

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I think it is how you do on this part that is going to count:

https://applicationmanager.gov/Quest...ype=Assessment

B. I am not a United States

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Originally Posted by Slüdge

B. I am not a United States

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Yes even the fed's mess up...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wingman

Yea, i actually went through the questions, i do pretty well...if i was 10 years younger i'd apply.

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You must have been an adventurous 60 year old Bill!

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Originally Posted by wingman

I think it is how you do on this part that is going to count:

https://applicationmanager.gov/Quest...ype=Assessment

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Not true.

Here's how the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) hiring system works.

Everyone submits their resume. At the end of the close date, the queue becomes available to the Civilian Personnel Operating Center (CPOC). The HR person in CPOC proceeds to put in some standard phrases, and the systems reduces the resumes to those that match.

Hopefully, the list of words and phrases was coordinated with the selecting supervisor. :(

So, once s/he gets it down to around 40-ish (or less if s/he is lazy), this non-technical HR person reads the formal Position Description (PD) as it is listed in the Fed Classification System. S/he weeds out those that don't sound like they match the PD. (Are you aghast, yet?)

Finally, a quick check and removal of those that don't meet specific requirements (not a citizen, not degreed, etc).

So, the supervisor gets this 13-15 pruned-down list of resumes, of which 75% tend to be people that just copy and pasted the duty description into their resume.

Oh, yeah . . . the questions - they get weeded out by HR, too.


And that, ladies and gents, is why it is difficult to get good people on board the government.


Oh, did I mention Veteran's preference? If someone is minimally qualified, (has a pulse, degree) YOU MUST TAKE HIM OR HER OVER ANY OTHER CANDIDATES!

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Originally Posted by jj1987

You must have been an adventurous 60 year old Bill!

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Thanks...i was...hiked the grand canyon rim to rim (took 3days to do i though)...there's a ton of cave in the canyon, there is said to be one up a canyon near the cottonwood camping area on the north kaibab, next time i'm there im going to camp at cottonwood and day hike to the cave.

Let's make this very clear, y'all.

YOU MUST HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE.

All that combination of education and experience is for someone who has a degree and the composite classes and experience to qualify for what is known as a "hard-science degree" [Scientist or Engineer, Career Program 16 (CP16)].

This is not negotiable:

Quote:

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The course work must have included at least 6 semester hours in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus), and at least 6 semester hours in physics. Calculus and physics, as described above, are requirements for all grade levels.

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Not trying to dissuade anyone, but the system has very firm requirements that are in stone to keep the good ol' boy network from hiring non-qualified individuals. The fact that it allows edjumicated idjuts to be hired is beside the point. :mad:

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Physical Scientist, GS-1301

A full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree that included a major field of study in physical science, and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.
OR
A combination of education and experience that included education in one of the majors described above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The quality of the combination must demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of the position and are comparable to that normally acquired through the completion of a full four-year course of study with a major as described above.


Geologist, GS-1350 position



A bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited college or university 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, cartography.

OR

A combination of education and experience - (24 semester hours or equivalent in geology plus 20 additional semester hours or equivalent in any combination of courses specified above, plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years which demonstrates sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the duties of a professional Geologist.


Natural Resource Program Manager GS-0401



A bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited college or university in: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

A combination of education and experience - Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.



Hydrologist GS-1315


A bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited college or university in physical or natural science, or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in any combination of courses in hydrology, the physical sciences, geophysics, chemistry, engineering science, soils, mathematics, aquatic biology, atmospheric science, meteorology, geology, oceanography, or the management or conservation of water resources. The course work must have included at least 6 semester hours in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus), and at least 6 semester hours in physics. Calculus and physics, as described above, are requirements for all grade levels.

OR

A combination of education and experience - course work as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jax

Let's make this very clear, y'all.

YOU MUST HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE.

All that combination of education and experience is for someone who has a degree and the composite classes and experience to qualify for what is known as a "hard-science degree" [Scientist or Engineer, Career Program 16 (CP16)].

This is not negotiable:



Not trying to dissuade anyone, but the system has very firm requirements that are in stone to keep the good ol' boy network from hiring non-qualified individuals. The fact that it allows edjumicated idjuts to be hired is beside the point. :mad:

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Hmmm, I qualify as an edjumicated idjut AND i get a veterans preference...my pulse is beating (at the moment)...you have almost caused me to reconsider and give it a shot.

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Originally Posted by wingman

Hmmm, I qualify as an edjumicated idjut AND i get a veterans preference...my pulse is beating (at the moment)...you have almost caused me to reconsider and give it a shot.

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For a 13-mo term appointment, it's not bad. However, some people take them thinking they will be hired into another position at the end of the term. Then they are horribly disappointed. Sometimes, well-meaning but supervisors will tell people that, but I guarantee you we have NO say in budget cuts, hiring freezes, etc. Term appointments are not on our TDA (authorized people) documents, but still have to be approved.

Don't get me wrong -- if anyone wants to apply, I can help. Just be aware the firm requirements must be met.

How can I help? Here's an example on how to write your resume:

Quote:

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Directs, coordinates and oversees the Servicewide Cave and Karst Management Program, and serves as the Servicewide expert authority on National Park Service (NPS) cave and karst resources management. Incumbent formulates goals and objectives and provides direction for the NPS cave and karst management program, including workload identification, problem definition, formulation of budget initiatives, and resource inventory, monitoring, assessment, protection, restoration and interpretation.

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Okay, I'm making this up . . . words in blue are what you would have to supply:

During my XX years as a volunteer to the xyz organization and working with the Florida State Parks and Services, I provided expert consult in the Direction, coordination of, and provided oversight to the [-]Servicewide[/-] Florida Cave and Karst Management Program. Continue to describe what things you did that support this statement.

I advised the Florida incumbent that formulates goals and objectives and provides direction for the NPS cave and karst management program, including workload identification, problem definition, formulation of budget initiatives, and resource inventory, monitoring, assessment, protection, restoration and interpretation. Furthermore, as the director of a 24-person org in ABC Company, I performed all the forgoing actions, responsible for a $1.5M budget, performing all the required actions not though specifically aimed at Karst Management.


By quoting the duties, you get the job description matches that get you past the computer and the HR person.

By showing how you performed those duties in a different job, you are showing qualifications.

AND if you write it well enough that the supervisor sees (A) you aren't blowing smoke and (B) hell, he knows what he's talking about, you're in.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jax

For a 13-mo term appointment, it's not bad. However, some people take them thinking they will be hired into another position at the end of the term. Then they are horribly disappointed. Sometimes, well-meaning but supervisors will tell people that, but I guarantee you we have NO say in budget cuts, hiring freezes, etc. Term appointments are not on our TDA (authorized people) documents, but still have to be approved.

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Actually i could take a year leave or a sabbatical from my academaniac job but then would return to my present job after the term...is there anything in a term appointment that would preclude that?

How far would a BS in geology from Wright State University, full cave in 95, and a papers, jurneman tool and die maker go?? Really don't like the 13 month term.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wingman

Actually i could take a year leave or a sabbatical from my academaniac job but then would return to my present job after the term...is there anything in a term appointment that would preclude that?

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Nope! And you'd have a Secret clearance and a qualifying job for any other Fed Gov't position! :D

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Originally Posted by wellzy

How far would a BS in geology from Wright State University, full cave in 95, and a papers, jurneman tool and die maker go?? Really don't like the 13 month term.

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See above -- the term doesn't guarentee anything. Some people do it just for the entree into gov't positions.

Is Wright State accredited in Geology?

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Originally Posted by wellzy

a BS in geology...

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How about a general degree in BS?

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Originally Posted by Slüdge

How about a general degree in BS?

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LOL -- That was the degree conferred by the United States Military Academy for many years . . . It became a Bachelor's of Science in General Engineering.

FWIW - that degree does qualify one for Career Program 16 positions - you just have to show the further education / experience for the specific field. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Slüdge

How about a general degree in BS?

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It might not qualify you for a technical/professional position, but among elected officials it seems to be the most common credential.