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Duties

This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Superintendent, Jicarilla Agency, Branch of Natural Resources in Dulce, New Mexico. As a Soil Conservationist, you will perform a variety of duties: providing technical expertise in a comprehensive Natural Resources Program to address issues related to soil conservation, range management, and on other natural resources concerns, in regards to environmental protection, cultural and archeological protection, threatened and endangered species protection, agriculture, water resources management, soils, range, wildlife and other outdoor recreation. MAJOR DUTIES Performs rangeland data collection that measures utilization and condition. Provides assistance in soil conservation design and implementation to land stakeholders and tribal departments. Develops work plans and submits reports on findings. Reviews proposed range, water, timber, oil and gas development projects, and other surface disturbing projects. Disseminates information, coordinates input, and retrieval of data from the Geographical Information System (GIS). Performs special irrigation land classification surveys and special soil investigations.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship Required.
• Indian Preference applies.
• You may be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period.
• You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
• A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
• If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
• The incumbent may be required as an incidental duty to operate a government-owned or leased motor vehicle. If selected, you will be required to complete an Incidental Motor Vehicle Operators Certification Form.
• Government housing is not available.
• TRAVEL AND RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE AUTHORIZED. Any relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet the qualification requirements contained in the OPM Standards. For this position, they are listed below: Occupational Coverage, Soil Conservation Series, 0457 Individual Occupational Requirement, Basic Requirement: A. Degree: soil conservation or related agricultural or natural resource discipline such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, agricultural education, or agricultural engineering. The study must have included 30 semester hours in a natural resource or agricultural field, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soils and crops or plant science. Of the 12 semester hours, a minimum of 3 semester hours must have been in soils and 3 semester hours in crops or plant science. B. Combination of education and experience: at least 30 semester hours in one or more of the disciplines as shown in A above, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soils and crops or plant science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Of the 12 semester hours, a minimum of 3 semester hours must have been in soils and 3 semester hours in crops or plant science. Evaluation of Education: Education that provided specialized knowledge and skills in soil and water conservation is more valuable than education that imparted broad but general knowledge and skills. Courses in soil fertility, soil chemistry, soil genesis, plant physiology, plant science, and field crops are examples of specialized courses that contribute towards meeting the required 12 semester hours as described above. Courses in the physical sciences or engineering such as geology, civil engineering, and hydrology also meet the soils, crops, or plant science course requirements where such courses included a complete introduction to the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils. Evaluation of Experience: Experience that included the application of techniques, principles, and methods from a variety of agricultural and natural resource fields is appropriate, given the interdisciplinary character of the soil conservation occupation. For example, experience gained in a specialized field such as soil science, forestry, or agronomy is as fully acceptable as experience directly obtained in soil conservation work. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for Professional and Scientific Positions. Minimum Qualifications for the Soil Conservationist, GS-0457 GS-11 Grade Level: one (1) year Specialized Experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level OR three (3) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph. D. degree or Ph. D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR combination of experience and education. Specialized Experience: performing duties such as: rangeland monitoring, data collection to determine land usage and condition; participate in reviews of natural resources development, participate in reviews of surface disturbing projects to determine environmental impact; advise and assist stakeholders on planning and best practices to carry out soil, water and related environmental resource conservation policies, programs and activities to achieve sound land use. OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (coursework directly related to position being filled). OR Combination of Graduate Education and Professional Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Merit Promotion candidates must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the announcement closing date: 10/02/2023. The full performance level of this position is the GS-11 grade level.

Education

If you are qualifying based on your education, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education which shows 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: FOREIGN EDUCATION

Contacts

• Address BIA Center for Recruitment Albuquerque BIA Center for Recruitment Albuquerque 1011 Indian School Road, NW Suite 136 Albuquerque, NM 87104 US
• Name: Deborah Abeita
• Phone: (505) 563-5123
• Email: [email protected]