Multiple positions located on the Northern Region, Region 1, Idaho Panhandle National Forest, with duty locations of Sandpoint, Orofino and White Bird, ID. This position serves as a Seed Orchard Manager and oversees multiple seed orchards in the Region. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Elizabeth Wood at [email protected].

Duties

The responsibilities below are listed at the full performance level. Serves as a Seed Orchard Manager and oversees multiple seed orchards in the Region. Responsible for coordinating and directing seed orchard management, seed and cone crop management, and grounds, facilities, and equipment maintenance, in order to produce high quality seed for the Region’s reforestation and restoration needs. Plans, organizes, and implements the cultivation of seed orchard trees to optimize survival and health through cultural activities such as weed control, pest control, fertilization, irrigation, and thinning/rouging. Evaluates effects of activities on seed orchard productivity. Plans, organizes, and implements the weed control program by scheduling mowing and herbicide operations in the most economic and efficient manner. Plans, organizes, and implements seed orchard integrated pest management programs in accordance with recommendations from Forest, Regional, and National pest management advisors. Plans and implements cultural practices to stimulate flower and seed production, and to protect seed crops from damage by pests and environmental agents. Schedules and implements pollen collection/processing and pollination work, including controlled pollination as part of a breeding program, and supplemental pollination for increasing seed production and genetic gain. Monitors and inventories seed orchard flower and cone production. Plans and implements cone harvests and harvests them at the optimum time. Performs supervisory duties 20% or less of the time.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or 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.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• 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.gov
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• New supervisor training must be completed within your first year.

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. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. Basic Requirement: GS-0401 Series Degree: 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 in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. -OR- Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major field of study that included 24 semester hours in course work in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. Related course work generally refers to courses that may be accepted as part of the program major. -OR- Combination of education and experience that included 24 semester hours in course work in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position, AND experience sufficient to demonstrate that I possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation that is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field needed to perform the work of the occupation. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-9 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level in the Federal Service; Examples of specialized experience include performing one or more of the following: Assisted with use of equipment, irrigation, and/or applying fertilizers and pesticides; Assisted with the planning, scheduling, and monitoring of seed orchard operations; Assisted with vegetative material collection including cones, pollen, and/or scion; and/or Assisted with monitoring insect and disease conditions and taking corrective measures using integrated pest management principles. -OR- A master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related; -OR- An appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. For the GS-11 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 level in the Federal Service Examples of specialized experience could include: Recommended priorities for an annual program of work and is responsible for it's implementation; Assessed and recommended maintenance of seed orchard facilities and equipment; Monitored conifer conditions for insect and disease presence; and/or Performed Seed Nursery functions such as pollen and cone collection, insect trapping, irrigation and/or application of fertilizers and pesticides. -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- An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.). Work Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning day, month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade if applicable; and description of duties performed. This information must be provided for each permanent, temporary, or seasonal appointment/work assignment or volunteer work and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate, or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position. 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. TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

See above for education that may be qualifying.

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]