Natural Resources Specialist

Summary

This position is located within the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The incumbent performs a variety of duties related to carrying out a coordinated natural resources conservation program to assist customers in meeting their needs and needs of NRCS and USDA. This includes assisting in the implementation of conservation plans. Duties also include assisting in conducting scientifica stuides of land management and natural resource programs.

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Duties

• Develops and implements conservation plans and programs.
• Conducts scientific studies and investigations on the use and preservation of natural resources and the environment, including soils, water, vegetation, wildlife, wetlands, and forests.
• Coordinates surveys, performs monitoring, compiles, and analyzes biological data, and prepares reports.
• Provides input for and uses natural resources data and information generated by the Geographic Information System (GIS).
  
  

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. If selected you will be sent instructions on obtaining fingerprints. Please note we are not able to reimburse any fees incurred for fingerprints.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Must possess and maintain a valid state motor vehicle operator's license for the type of vehicle(s) operated to perform the duties of this position.
  
  

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Basic Requirements

• Degree: Must have a bachelor's degree or higher in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. (You must submit transcripts.) or
• Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field. In addition to courses in the major and related fields, a typical college degree would have included courses that involved analysis, writing, critical thinking, research, etc. These courses would have provided an applicant with skills and abilities sufficient to perform progressively more responsible work in the occupation. Therefore, creditable experience should have demonstrated similarly appropriate skills or abilities needed to perform the work of the occupation. (You must submit transcripts.)
  
  

Applicants who meet the Basic Requirements listed above, meet the minimum qualification requirement for the GS-5 grade level. (You must submit transcripts.)

To Qualify For The GS-7 Level

In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement to be considered:

Specialized Experience: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through federal service. This experience must include:

• Assisting with scientific studies on the use and preservation of natural resources or environment including soils, water, vegetation, wildlife, wetlands, or forests.
• Utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools and other software to gather information to prepare reports on study findings; and
• Preparing written materials such as reports, presentations, or planning guides.
  
  

OR

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: Must have successfully completed one year of graduate-level education in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. (You must submit transcripts).

OR

Superior academic achievement (S.A.A.): A bachelor's degree curriculum directly related to the work of the position. To qualify for S.A.A., you must have ONE of the following: (1) standing in the upper third of your college class or major subdivision at the time you apply; (2) grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed, either (a) at the time of application or (b) during the last 2 years of your undergraduate curriculum; (3) B+ (3.5 on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed in a related discipline, either (a) at the time of application or (b) during the last 2 years of your undergraduate curriculum; OR (4) election to membership in one of the national honorary scholastic societies that meets the requirements of the Association of College Honor Society. (You must submit transcripts.)

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. - - Note: Only graduate-level education beyond 1 year or 18 semester hours may be combined with specialized experience. (You must submit transcripts.)

To Qualify For The GS-9 Level

Specialized Experience: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through federal service. This experience must include:

• Conducting scientific studies on the use and preservation of natural resources or environment including soils, water, vegetation, wildlife, wetlands, or forests.
• Provide training and education on natural resource topics such as land use management, preservation of natural resources, or environmental compliance.
• Utilizing information gathered by the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools to gather information and maintain records for long-term analysis on managed species, trail cameras, and various inventories.
• Recommending solutions to resolve natural resources problems.
  
  

OR

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: Must have successfully completed 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degreein biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. (You must submit transcripts.)

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. - - Note: Only graduate-level education beyond 2 year or 36 semester hours may be combined with specialized experience. (You must submit transcripts.)

For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series 0401

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experiences, including volunteer experience.

Education

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

You must submit a copy of your transcripts to include course number, title, completion and grade. 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. If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement.

Important: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Click on this link for more information.

Failure to provide all of the required documents/information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Additional information

• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
• Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
• Physical Demands: The work involves both field and office work. The work regularly requires some physical exertion such as long periods of standing; walking over rough, uneven, or rocky terrain; bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, or reaching; or recurring moving, lifting, and carrying of moderately heavy items.
• Work Environment: Some work is performed in an office setting. Other work is performed in the field, with exposure to extreme weather conditions; risks of falls, strains, and sprains; striking against brush and overhanging branches; and off-road travel in mountainous terrain. Safety equipment is required.
• PLEASE NOTE: In the interest of filling these positions as efficiently as possible, we are requiring the following:
• If called for an interview, applicants must be available to interview within 3 business days of being contacted.
• If a tentative job offer is extended, selectee will have 2 business days in which to accept or decline.
• This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements. Current USDA policy includes telework for an 8-hour workday, 4 days per week; other flexibilities are possible dependent upon availability and/or the position and its associated duties. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor.
• Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.
  

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• Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Natural Resources Conservation Service

1400 Independence Ave SW

Washington, DC 20250

US