AZ STATE LAND DEPARTMENT

Address:  1110 West Washington Street, Suite 510 Phoenix, AZ 85007

Salary:  $60,000 - $65,000

Grade: 20

Closing Date: Open Until Business Needs Are Met

The Arizona State Land Department manages more than 10,000 leases, permits, rights of ways, sales and other contracts relating to the management use and disposition of 9.2 million acres of State Trust lands. State Trust lands are lands granted to the State of Arizona pursuant to the federal Enabling Act. The Trust lands are held in Trust for the common public schools and 13 other public institutions. Any use or disposition of Trust lands must benefit the Trust's beneficiaries.

Under the direction of the Minerals Section Manager, the Geologist II is responsible for permitting and leasing of State Trust land under several state-wide programs, including Mineral Exploration Permits, Mineral Leases, Common Variety Mineral Materials Leases, Oil and Gas Leases, Geothermal Energy Leases, and Special Land Use Permits for exploration and mining related purposes primarily on split estate lands where the Department controls only the surface estate. The work primarily processes the different permits, leases and geologic field operation plans.

The position involves the hard rock mineral/sand & gravel industry, inspection of exploration activities, drilling sites, mining operations and reclamation and performs related work as required.

Summary of Duties
• Process applications:
   o Exploration of oil and gas, hard rock (copper, gold, silver, etc.), sand and gravel and geothermal resources
   o Mining including hard rock and sand and gravel
   o Production of oil and gas and geothermal resources
   o Special land use permits (SLUPs) when the State only owns the surface
• Process Geologic Field Operation Plan(s):
   o Review proposed exploration sampling plans for all types of permits and leases
   o Review proposed reclamation plans for the activities proposed above
• Conduct site visits to current and future applications, currently open, soon to be closed and legacy operations. These site visits include:
   o Lease extensions to sand and gravel mines
   o Lease renewals for hard rock mines
   o During reclamation of soon to be closed mines (both hard rock and sand and gravel)
   o During exploration projects
   o Pre-mining to observe current conditions prior to disturbance
   o Prepares site visit memorandum documenting conditions and observations which would include figures and photographs
• Review Mineral Development Report(s) that describe the following:
   o Geologic and geographic data
   o Geological, geophysical and topographic maps
   o Resource and reserve estimations
   o Location of mining facilities and infrastructure
   o Type of mining and processing facilities
   o Estimated mine life
   o Cultural resource, native plant and biologic surveys
   o Access and impacts to the nearby area
   o Potential impacts to groundwater and surface water
   o Reclamation plan
• Communicate and interface with other Department divisions and sections, other federal, state and local agencies, and public entities. Communicates via e-mail, telephone and/or letter with applicants and lessees to answer questions and resolve problems, or to answer general questions regarding the application and leasing processes, or other Minerals Section programs.
• Apply the principles, theories, and concepts of the Arizona Management System (process improvement); actively participating in daily group huddles and huddle board updates; continually identifying areas for process and quality improvement; adhering to established standard work and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned as related to the position.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of geology pertaining to the following areas:
  • mineral and mineral material value
  • appraisal methodology
  • reclamation practices
  • water availability and utilization
  • petroleum exploration and drilling
  • geologic field equipment, tools, and instruments
  • related geologic and engineering principles and practices
• Mineral deposits including type, kind and theories as to genesis
• Sampling methods, analytical techniques and appropriate applications
• Basic principles and practices of mining
• Economics of mineral commodities, their uses, value, demand and production methods and costs
• Understanding of mineral resource availability within the state, nation and world
• Understanding of mining rules and procedures and governmental agency policies
• Understanding of appraisal theory and methodology and mineral valuation

Skills:

• Speak and write effectively
• Preparation of technical memorandum
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with various levels of government, mining companies and the general public
• Basic computer literacy skills:
  o Microsoft Word
  o Microsoft Excel
  o Microsoft PowerPoint
  o Geographic information systems – ArcView/ArcMap
  o Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software – Salesforce and ViewCenter

Abilities:

• Implement, evaluate and revise standard work
• Organize and accomplish the activities in a work plan
• Provide effective and responsive customer service
• Balance, prioritize and organize multiple tasks
• Work collaboratively in teams and across organizations
• Synthesize feedback and adjust plans accordingly
• Build strong relationships with both internal and external customers
• Ability to travel in rugged and remote terrain, drive a 4-wheel drive vehicle, read topographic maps and aerial photographs
• Prepare maps and diagrams illustrating field relationships and/or concepts
• Conceptualize and model ore deposits in terms of geology, operations and economics
• Make oral presentations of projects and programs with appropriate props and illustrations
  
  

A Bachelor’s Degree in Geology or a mining-related field is required. An advanced degree and a minimum of 3 years of experience in hard rock minerals is preferred; mining related job experience helpful. Additional years of experience may be substituted for the advanced degree.

• Prior or after interviewing, candidates may be subject to a pre-employment skills assessment.
• Requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver’s license appropriate to the assignment. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete required driver training. (refer to Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.)
  

• Sick leave
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance.
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance
  

For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
• Participation is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria as defined in statute.
• Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.
• The current contribution rate is 12.17%
  

If you have trouble applying for this position, please email HRIShelpdesk@azdoa.gov for assistance.
Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting ASLD Human Resources at 602-542-2629. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.

Arizona State Government is an AA/EOE/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer.