Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. This position is located in Escalante or Kanab, Utah. Information about Escalante and the surrounding area can be found here. Information about Kanab 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 for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) with the Paria River District. Provides professional guidance in botany and plant taxonomy, vegetation management, land use planning, data collection methods, sampling procedures, and the analysis and interpretation of inventory and monitoring data. Serves as the program lead for the plant conservation, restoration, and weeds program. Provides support as requested for management of grazing allotments, permit renewals, stewardship or forestry, wildlife, and vegetation projects. Functions as the agency representative for the Special Status Species (SSS) plant and natural plant community programs; ensuring compliance with policy and law. Evaluates inventory and monitoring data to determine vegetation condition, trends and impacts, then formulates strategies designed to recover or mitigate impacts. Prepares and reviews planning and other NEPA documents. Coordinates and works with internal BLM staff and managers, as well as external stakeholders to ensure implementation and compliance with existing land use plans.

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.
• An applicant appointed to this position must possess (or obtain within 30 days of entrance on duty) and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.
• May require a one year probationary period.

Qualifications

Selective Placement Factors: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified: The incumbent must maintain a valid driver's license (required in order to operate a motor vehicle to perform field work). The incumbent is required to obtain Contracting Officer Representative certification at level 1 within one year of occupying this position. 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 Education 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 equivalent in difficulty and complexity to perform the duties of a Botanist: Qualifying specialized experience includes: mapping and documenting botany species; preparing or reviewing reports on ecological investigations to determine project impacts on vegetation including Threatened and Endangered (T&E) plant species; identifying and locating Threatened and Endangered (T&E) sensitive plants; preparing written reports related to botanical resources; and providing guidance to management on Special Status Species (SSS), Threatened and Endangered (T&E), candidate and sensitive plants. OR Education: To qualify based on education you must have a Master's or equivalent degree, or two (2) full years (36 semester hours) of graduate-level education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree in a related field of study. OR Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualification requirements for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the difficulty and complexity to do the work of this position. Only graduate level education in excess of 18 semester hours may be combined with experience. In addition to the Basic Education 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 equivalent in difficulty and complexity to perform the duties of a Botanist. Qualifying specialized experience includes: evaluating proposed projects or actions for impacts to vegetation including Threatened and Endangered (T&E) plant species; developing and implementing conservation methods for plant species and habitats; planning and executing botanical investigations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) rules and regulations; creating, evaluating, and reviewing vegetation GIS data; developing management alternatives that provide solutions to complex problems and preventing adverse impacts to Special Status Species (SSS) and natural plant communities; and writing clear and concise reports on field methodology research and current literature sources. OR Education: To qualify based on education you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or three (3) full years (54 semester hours) of graduate-level education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a related field of study. OR Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualification requirements for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the difficulty and complexity to do the work of this position. 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 by the closing date of the announcement. Physical Demands: The duties of this position involve both office and field work in roughly equal proportions. Office work is sedentary at a desk or in a meeting setting and requires substantial concentration. Field work involves driving highway and off-road vehicles and traversing rugged terrain on foot 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 incumbent may also be required to operate four-wheel drive vehicles and UTVs over primitive roads in isolated areas. Work Environment: Work is in two principal settings, consisting of about 60% in the office, and 40% in the field. The incumbent must remain flexible and be able to adjust work schedule to accommodate new or conflicting job requirements. Office work is performed in an office setting that normally involves everyday risks or discomforts. There is regular and recurring exposure to extreme weather conditions and to risks associated with field activities. Incumbent usually works alone in the field but may work with others to complete field studies and project evaluation. 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. The incumbent will adhere to all safety rules and regulations as prescribed in manuals/supplements or by the designated Safety Officer.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement which requires that you have a degree in botany; or basic plant science that includes at least 24 semester hours in botany, or a 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.

If using education to qualify, you must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. See Required Documents section for more information.

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]