Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. This position is located in Vernal, Utah. Information about Vernal and the surrounding area can be found here. We expect to fill one vacancy at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

Duties

This position serves as a Botanist/Natural Resources Specialist (Botany) for the Vernal Field Office. Duties include but are not limited to: Involved in environmental planning actions and program development planning. Uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) database to organize, collect, and maintain data. Writes Biological Assessments for Threatened and Endangered (TE) plant species. Initiates and completes all aspects of Section 7 consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service as required by the Endangered Species Act and recommends mitigation and/or corrective actions. Provides input pertaining to vegetation management and plant ecology for oil and gas management.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Be sure to read the 'How to Apply' and 'Required Documents' Sections.
• You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
• Direct Deposit Required.
• Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
• Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
• May require a one year probationary period.

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. In addition to the basic requirements, to qualify at the GS-09 level you must meet the following: Specialized Experience: Applicants must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-07 level that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of a Botanist/Natural Resource Specialist (Botany). Examples include participating in the planning and execution of plant studies; performing established tests and analyses on a broad range of plant samples; and mapping and documenting botany species; and preparing and/or reviewing reports on ecological investigations to determine project impacts on vegetation including T&E plant species. OR Education: To qualify based on education, you must have 36 semester hours of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in a directly related field of study. OR Combination of Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed higher level graduate education and professional experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of 18 semester hours may be combined with experience. In addition to the basic requirements, to qualify at the GS-11 level you must meet the following: Specialized Experience: Applicants must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-09 level that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of a Botanist/Natural Resource Specialist (Botany). Examples include evaluating proposed projects or actions for impacts to vegetation including T&E species; developing and implementing conservation methods for plant species and habitats; planning and executing botanical investigations under the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act rules and regulations; recommending course of action to solve botanical issues; and create, evaluate, and review vegetation GIS data. OR Education: To qualify based on education you must have 54 semester hours of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a directly related field of study. OR Combination of Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed higher level graduate education and professional experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of 36 semester hours may be combined with experience. 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. You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement. Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade requirement in accordance with 5 CFR 300.604. If you are a current Federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level. Physical Demands: Work may be performed in the office or performing work in isolated/remote locations. The fieldwork may be arduous, and the incumbent may be required to walk long distances over rough terrain in varying temperatures. The field location areas within the field office boundary. The incumbent may also be required to operate four-wheel drive vehicles and UTVs over primitive roads in isolated areas. Work Environment: The position can consist up to 50 percent field work and 50 percent office work. The incumbent must remain flexible and be able to adjust work schedule to accommodate new or conflicting job requirements. Field work involves exposure to moderate risks and discomforts, such as those due to irregular hours in a wide variety of remote and rugged terrains where climatic conditions are variable and extreme. On occasion the incumbent may be required to stay overnight in the field. Office work is performed in an office setting that normally involves everyday risks or discomforts. The incumbent will adhere to all safety rules and regulations as prescribed in manuals/supplements or by the designated Safety Officer.

Education

To qualify for the Natural Resources Specialist (0401) series, you must meet one of the following:

A) Degree: In biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
B) Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

To qualify for the Botanist (0430) series, you must meet one of the following:

A) Degree: botany; or basic plant science that included at least 24 semester hours in botany.
OR
B) 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.

Contacts

• Address BLM Utah State Office BLM Utah State Office, UT-953 400 West 200 South Suite 500 Salt Lake City, UT 84101 US
• Name: BLM Utah HR Recruitment Team
• Email: [email protected]