This position is located within a National Forest. The primary purpose of this position is to provide professional, scientific assistance to the staff pertaining to a variety of botanical and sensitive plant species duties in support of Forest activities.

Duties

Serves as a botanist with staff responsibilities for developing, evaluating, and monitoring threatened, endangered and sensitive plant species and plant community and vegetation management programs. Participates on interdisciplinary teams to provide the documentation and coordination necessary for the effective management of threatened, endangered and sensitive plant species. Develops and/or modifies established procedures for recording plant survey information in order to meet environmental assessment requirements, botanical baseline data requirements, and for maintaining plants. Assists others in plant identification, as well as conducts training to help assigned field personnel recognize, identify, and locate plant species. Conducts and oversees vegetation inventories, population, and community monitoring in compliance with selected protocols to contribute to the project's baseline data for botanical resources. Coordinates surveys for special status plants and noxious weeds. Maintains plant surveys and monitoring records in appropriate data base files, in addition to collection and preparation of voucher specimens for plants. Is responsible for the analysis and interpretation of population trend and community composition monitoring data and the preparation of summary reports. Assists unit personnel or contract personnel in conducting botanical research and studies. Assists in the development and implementation of management plans for the protection and enhancement of habitat for special status plants, and the control of noxious weeds or other invasive species. Performs assignments which may include collaborating with other resources specialists in the preparation of prescribed fire, pesticide use and NEPA compliance documents for a variety of vegetation management and restoration actions. Assists in project planning and identifying suitable plants for restoration projects.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.
• Must be 18 years of age.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-Verify.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. You must possess the Basic Requirements identified below to be considered qualified for this position, which includes all positive education requirements if applicable. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. When using previous work experience to qualify for the position, your resume must clearly detail the appropriate experience requirements. Basic Requirements: Successful completion of 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 botany; or basic plant science that included at least 24 semester hours in botany. OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in botany or basic plant science that included at least 24 semester hours in botany, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. For positions dealing with the study of fungi, or with basic mycological relationships, the course work in botany must have included at least 6 semester hours in mycology. Evaluation of Education: Courses in basic botany, plant anatomy or morphology, cytology, histology, genetics, taxonomy or systematics, algology, mycology, ethnobotany, and those dealing with specific problems of a botanical nature or with specific groups of plants are qualifying. The courses required for mycologists are specific and must have been in mycology. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. GS-09: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as: an advanced trainee, participating in the evaluation and monitoring of the threatened, endangered and sensitive plant species and plant community and vegetation management programs. Locating, surveying, identifying, and recording threatened, endangered and sensitive plant species information in order to meet environmental assessment requirements. Collecting and summarizing data and administering plant species projects. OR 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. OR Combination of Education and Experience: courses equivalent to a major in botany or basic plant science that included at least 24 semester hours in botany, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. 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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. To receive consideration for this position, you must meet all qualification requirements on the closing date of this announcement.

Contacts

• Address USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT Albuquerque, NM 87109 US
• Name: HRM Contact Center
• Phone: 1-877-372-7248 X2
• Email: [email protected]