Job Description

What You Will Be Doing
The Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys is seeking an advanced geologist with expertise in hyperspectral geoscience and technology to lead a new hyperspectral scanning program at the Division's Geologic Materials Center (GMC). The program manager will conduct original scientific research, provide hands-on oversight of technological operations, lead data analysis, processing, and interpretation, publish spectral data and results, generate internal and external funding, develop collaborative projects and partnerships, and support the State of Alaska goals to enhance understanding of geology and resource systems. This challenging but exciting position involves leading a high-level research program using the extensive GMC sample inventory and scanning technology to create detailed digital representations of drill cores.

Mission and Culture
The Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys is working to determine the potential of Alaskan land for the production of minerals, fuels, and geothermal resources, the locations and supplies of groundwater and construction material, and the potential geologic hazards to buildings, roads, bridges, and other installations (AS 41.08.020). The goal is to increase understanding of Alaska's geologic history, stimulate public interest, and connect the state's largest geologic collections to research, industry, and education communities. The program manager will contribute to a portfolio of Alaska geologic information, highlighting resource development opportunities and helping grow Alaska's economy.

Benefits of Joining Our Team
The Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys provides great on-the-job training, flexible work hours, and collaboration with passionate colleagues. Staff are encouraged to learn and grow through work experiences, knowledge-sharing, and structured training sessions. The hyperspectral program lead is part of a dedicated team supporting the local and global resource industry, government researchers, and academia in studying Alaska's geology. Internal work involves collaboration with scanning and core library teams, mineral and energy experts, and guidance from the State Geologist. External relationships include partnerships with mining and energy professionals, federal and state agencies, universities, and companies offering hyperspectral services. The program manager plays a vital role in studying Alaska's geological history, both locally and globally.

The Working Environment You Can Expect
Located at the Geologic Materials Center in Anchorage, Alaska, this full-time permanent position offers a balanced workday, including program management, core scanning, data analysis, staff training, hardware support, and skills development. The facility in northeast Anchorage provides ample parking, outdoor space for walking, bike trails, and proximity to food vendors. The 100,000 square-foot center holds 6 million pounds of rock samples for geologic research and education. Employees enjoy a standard 37.5-hour workweek, vacation time, health care benefits, and retirement savings options.

Who We Are Looking For
The chosen candidate will lead a new scientific program overseeing all operational, budgetary, and developmental aspects. Responsibilities include staff training, protocol and documentation development, data management, hardware maintenance and troubleshooting, addressing software needs, facilitating publication, and directing geoscience research focusing on Alaska's geological systems. They will utilize hyperspectral and digitally captured data to enhance understanding of Alaskan geological systems while fostering collaborations and securing new funding sources. This role will benefit from previous experience with hyperspectral scanner hardware, Alaska geology knowledge, and hyperspectral data applications. The GMC system will combine HySpex VNIR-1800 and SWIR-640 cameras with HyperCam Mini MWIR and LWIR cameras from Telops, covering a wide spectral range of 400-12,500nm.

Additional skills and knowledge beyond the standard qualifications are required for the position of Geological Scientist 1. These must be detailed in the cover letter and applicant profile. If proficiency is lacking in any listed ability, this should be acknowledged in the required cover letter.

• Program management skills to oversee and enhance hyperspectral drill core scanner operations.
• Lead Applied Research and Development projects to understand Alaskan geologic systems utilizing proximal sensing to analyze mineralogical, chemical, spatial, and temporal features.
• Set scanning priorities, authoring reports, providing hyperspectral interpretation support to stakeholders, generate internal and external funding, and foster collaborations with commercial and scientific partners in support of State of Alaska resource-development activities.
• Assure data integrity, platform maintenance, and communication with hardware and software designers to resolve higher-level problems.
• Communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing, to develop data products, peer networks, and relationships with resource exploration and development geologists and effectively disseminate findings to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.

Minimum Qualifications

A master's degree from an accredited college in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, geologic engineering, engineering geology, or any of their subdivisions/sub-disciplines, including mining engineering.
AND
Five years of advanced professional experience in a geology subdivision/sub-discipline of a geoscience discipline as stated above. This experience is met by service as a Geologist 3 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.
OR
Three years of multiple major project manager and senior geology research experience, coordinating technical team work in geological disciplines and sub-disciplines. This experience is met by service as a Geologist 4 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.

OR
A doctorate degree from an accredited college in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, geologic engineering, engineering geology, or any of their subdivisions/sub-disciplines, including mining engineering.
AND
Three years of advanced professional experience in a geology subdivision/sub-discipline of a geoscience discipline as stated above. This experience is met by service as a Geologist 3 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.

Additional Required Information

SPECIAL SALARY NOTE
Applicants to this position may be awarded an advanced step placement in accordance with Division of Personnel SOP “Recruitment DOPLR-01 VII.” Advanced step placement is an exception to the normal starting pay rate in the salary range for new employees. It is also an exception to the merit principle and is strictly controlled to assure consistency in the pay plan, providing like pay for like work. Approval of advanced step placement must be based on the exceptional qualifications of the individual and/or difficulty in recruiting for the position.

At the time of application ,the applicant must attach as individual documents the following items (If unable to attach documents, please fax or email the contact listed below):

• Cover letter (will be considered a writing sample).
• Transcripts (in support of education experience).
• Full curriculum vitae, including a list of publications.

If selected for an interview , the applicant must provide the following:

• Three (3) professional references.
• Valid driver's license.
• Pre-employment certification form – Link to form.

SPECIAL NOTICES

• If foreign national applicant, country of origin should have expedited visa status with the United States covering skilled workers. For example, the E-3 visa issued to skilled workers from Australia.

Application Notice
You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or a hardcopy application. Instructions on how to apply with Workplace Alaska may be found on the Workplace Alaska “How to Apply" page. Your application must be submitted 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 explain how you meet the minimum qualifications for the position and highlight your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience as they pertain to the responsibilities listed in the job description above. Your cover letter will be used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment.

REQUIRED knowledge and skills must be documented in your cover letter. Two-page maximum.

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 provided below.

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 obtained a degree, please indicate the units 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 in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the minimum qualifications listed above. If utilizing this education, you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the post-secondary institution. It is your responsibility to provide such 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 and minimum qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the recruitment interview and selection phase.

Note: Attaching a resume is not an alternative to filling out the application entirely. Noting, "see resume" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination that your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.

Bargaining Unit
If you are a current state employee, please mark the union you are a member of at the time of application. Do not complete this question if you are not a current state employee.

Driver’s License Requirement
Applicants must possess a valid driver's license. Proof of licensure will be required prior to reporting to duty.

Firearms
This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.

A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.

If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.

EEO Statement
The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-0430 or 465-4095 in Juneau or (907) 465-3412 (TTY) or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at P. O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

Contact Information

Workplace Alaska Application Questions & Assistance
Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll-free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to recruitment.services@alaska.gov.

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For specific information about this position, please get in touch with the hiring manager at the following: