These positions are located at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), West National Technology Support Center in Portland, Oregon or the National Design, Construction, and Soil Mechanics Centers in Lincoln, Nebraska. The incumbents serve as Civil Engineer Technicians provide design support and professional consultation on complex civil engineering projects.

Duties

Provides assistance NRCS personnel in the planning and design of a variety of conservation practices that may include parallel terraces, waterways, irrigation systems, agricultural waste management systems and forestry practices. Provides assistance to NRCS personnel in the planning and design of a variety of conservation practices that may include dams, streambank, stabilization, and stream restoration practices. Performs drafting and other graphical work on a computer-aided drafting system. Assist NRCS personnel in developing and reviewing designs and requests assistance from the engineering staff on complex design problems. Assemble complete packages of drawings and specifications for jobs and assist in preparing engineering cost estimates and construction performance time estimates. Performs construction inspections on simple structures for conservation systems.

Requirements

• 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. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level(s) in which you are applying: GS-09 Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-8 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Provide technical assistance to field office on the installation of a variety of conservation practices that may include parallel terraces, ponds, dams, streambank stabilization, stream restoration, waterways, etc.; Assist with construction inspections on simple structures for conservation systems; Assist with drafting and other graphical work on a computer-aided drafting systems; and Assist field office personnel in developing designs and requesting assistance from the engineering staff on complex design problems. Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience) OR Education: Must have a Master's or equivalent doctoral degree, or 2 full years of graduate education in engineering or other directly related field. (Must submit transcripts.) OR Combination of education and experience: Must possess a combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described directly above that total 100% when combined. First, determine total qualifying experience as a percentage of the specialized experience described above; then determine the education as a percentage of the graduate education described above; and then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate education in excess of one year (18 semester hours) may be used when combining education and experience for this grade. (Must submit transcripts.) GS-10 Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Provide technical guidance, assistance, and evaluation on matter related to Watershed construction; Analyze drawings and specification and determines adequacy prior to final design; Apply standard procedures to construct floodwater structures using latest methods; and Keep abreast on latest engineering programs for solutions of engineering problems thought out the total construction process.(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience) OR Education: Must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of graduate education in engineering or other directly related field. (Must submit transcripts.) OR Combination of education and experience: Must possess a combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described directly above that total 100% when combined. First, determine total qualifying experience as a percentage of the specialized experience described above; then determine the education as a percentage of the graduate education described above; and then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate education in excess of two years (36 semester hours) may be used when combining education and experience for this grade. (Must submit transcripts.) GS-11 Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-10 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Provide professional and scientific technical guidance, assistance, and evaluation on matter related to Watershed construction; Analyze drawings and specification and determines adequacy prior to final design; Provide construction inspection training to new employees and other construction inspectors; and Develop change orders, modifications, and resolving technical questions from inspectors, contractors and engineering regarding contracts. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience) OR Education: Must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of graduate education in engineering or other directly related field. (Must submit transcripts.) OR Combination of education and experience: Must possess a combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described directly above that total 100% when combined. First, determine total qualifying experience as a percentage of the specialized experience described above; then determine the education as a percentage of the graduate education described above; and then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate education in excess of two years (36 semester hours) may be used when combining education and experience for this grade. (Must submit transcripts) IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). 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 experience, including volunteer experience. The OPM Qualification Standards for this position can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series

Education

You must submit a copy of your college transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify all education requirements (i.e. substitution of education and/or basic education requirement). 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. You must document all requirements on every vacancy; we cannot use previous determinations as a basis for rating. All required information must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and non-submission of all required documents/documentation will result in non-consideration. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. This information must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Non-submission of these documents will result in non-consideration. 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.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Contacts

• Address Natural Resources Conservation Service 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Midwest Services Branch
• Phone: 8164265706
• Email: [email protected]