Geologist 2

Geologist 2 The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land & Water, is recruiting for a Geologist 2 in Fairbanks. This position is open to Alaska Residents only. Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify. What you will be doing: As a journey-level Geologist 2, you will apply your professional geoscience and mining engineering expertise to permit, monitor, and inspect suction dredging, placer mining, and hard rock exploration operations across Alaska while administering applicable state mining laws. You will review Applications for Permits to Mine in Alaska (APMA) using your knowledge of state regulations, geology, and mining practices, establish permit stipulations relative to individual mines, and carry out duties related to the issuance of permits. You will assist operators in developing complete mine plan of operations applications for submission, reclaiming disturbed lands, and interpreting geological, geochemical, and geophysical data. You will independently plan and conduct field inspections, map mine sites using GPS and GIS tools, ensure regulatory compliance, and prepare inspection reports. You will also provide technical information to the public and agencies on mining laws, land status, reclamation standards, and mineral resources. Mission and values/culture: Our team helps carry out the Department of Natural Resources' mission to manage Alaska's lands, waters, and minerals for the benefit of current and future Alaskans, while supporting a strong, sustainable economy. We value responsible resource development that balances economic opportunity with environmental stewardship and respect for Alaska's communities. Our culture emphasizes collaboration, technical excellence, and public service, reflected in sound, transparent decision-making and efficient permitting processes. Benefits of joining our team: This position is housed within the Mining Section, which offers an extremely supportive, positive, and collaborative work environment. The successful applicant will have access to training and travel opportunities, as well as advancement opportunities within the Division/Department. The work is both intellectually challenging and professionally rewarding, with frequent opportunities to solve complex, real-world problems. Employees work extensively with the mining industry, the public, and other agencies to support the responsible development of Alaska's mineral resources, contributing directly to the state's long-term economic health. The working environment you can expect: This position is based at the DNR Northern Regional Office (NRO) in Fairbanks, a beautiful Interior Alaska city, that serves as the economic and transportation hub of the region, with an international airport and the University of Alaska Fairbanks nearby. The NRO campus offers a charming, wooded setting with convenient access to shopping and restaurants, and Fairbanks provides extensive year-round outdoor recreation opportunities- including hiking, wildlife viewing, river trips, winter sports, and world-class aurora viewing- amid striking natural scenery and a rich mining history. This role provides a strong balance between office-based work and fieldwork/travel for inspections, site visits, and studies, with remote fieldwork travel expected across the state. We are looking for a candidate who possesses the following position-specific competencies: Geology: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of the origins and structure of the earth, including the physical forces that have shaped it and its physical and organic history. Mining Engineering: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods related to rock mechanics; the exploration, excavation, extraction, processing, and transporting of mineral resources; and the conservation and development of mineral lands, materials, and deposits. Compliance Inspection: Knowledge of the guidelines, regulations, and procedures associated with compliance inquiries, including application of compliance rules and criteria, and the ability to make appropriate decisions and issue citations, fines, or orders. Oral and Written Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral and written presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving: Uses a logical, systematic, sequential approach to address problems or opportunities or manage a situation by drawing on one's knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary. Minimum qualifications: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, geological engineering, engineering geology, or any of their subdivisions, including mining engineering. AND one year of entry professional level experience in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, geological engineering, engineering geology, or any of their subdivisions, including mining engineering. This experience is met by service as a Geologist 1 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer. Substitution: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college in any science major, which includes the completion of 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in the above geoscience fields and 24 additional semester hours (36 quarter hours) of course work in natural sciences, may substitute for the education requirement. Equivalent combinations of professional experience and graduate level education in the geoscience fields described above are acceptable and will be considered as follows: 24 graduate semester hours=one full year of graduate education=one full year of professional experience. Additional required information: At the time of application, the applicant must attach the following items as individual documents; failure to provide the requested documentation may result in non-consideration. If you are unable to attach documents, please fax or email the contact listed below. Required documents include: Cover letter. At the time of the interview, please ensure that you provide the following materials. Failure to do so may result in loss of consideration. Required documents include: A copy of your last two performance evaluations or two letters of recommendation may be used in lieu of performance evaluations (if you are a current or former State of Alaska employee). A copy of any documents necessary to show proof of meeting this position's minimum qualifications. This includes a copy of your college transcripts. Alaska Driver's License. Special notices: Ability to walk over steep, uneven, rocky, and/or heavily vegetated terrain in highly variable weather conditions as required. Must be comfortable traveling in small fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, riverboats, and operating off-road vehicles. This position will require travel within the state and may include short-notice response to complaints of non-compliance or other incidents/issues at permitted mine sites. Application notice: You can only apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or by submitting a paper application. Instructions for applying are available on the Workplace Alaska How to Apply webpage. Your application must be received by 5:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time on the closing date. Cover letter: A cover letter is required for this position. The letter should be two to three paragraphs (no longer than one page) and address your knowledge and experience related to the desired position-specific competencies listed above. Your cover letter will serve as a writing sample and will help determine which applicants advance to the interview phase of the recruitment process. Please attach the cover letter to your application before submitting it online; if you cannot attach it, fax or email it to the contact number below. Supplemental questions: For your application to be evaluated, you must answer the Supplemental Questions. The State of Alaska (SOA) uses four proficiency levels to measure and describe an applicant's competence in applying specific behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities to accomplish a specific task. The four proficiency levels are Mastery, Fluency, Literacy, and Discovery. You must rate your proficiency level for each competency listed in the supplemental questions. Education: If post-secondary education is required to meet the minimum qualifications, you must fill out the Education section of the application. If you have not yet obtained a degree, please indicate the units you have completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials if used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position. Special instructions for foreign education: Education completed at foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the minimum qualifications listed above. If using this education to meet minimum qualification requirements, you must demonstrate that the credentials have been submitted to a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in standard U.S. education programs. Alternatively, an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution must report that the other institution's transcript is given full value or that full value is recognized in relevant subject areas aligned with the post-secondary institution's curricula. It is your responsibility to provide this evidence when applying. Work experience: If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer's name, job title, employment dates, and whether full or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine whether the responses are supported GovernmentJobs.com