This position is located on the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests with a duty location of Mendon, VT. This position is located in a Forest Service unit. The incumbent serves as a fully operating professional Soil Scientist. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact John Sinclair at [email protected] or 802-747-6704.

Duties

Interpret soil data for use in multiple-use land management planning. Provide technical expertise for environmental projects that involve complex and conflicting goals and requirements. Conduct environmental analyses for proposed projects as part of a team to predict effect of alternatives and recommend alternative management practices. Provide written soils input into National Environmental Policy Act and other technical planning documents for various forest program areas where a proposed action may impact soil stability, productivity, and/or soil resources. Monitor ongoing natural resource projects to evaluate the effects of management practices on the soil. Collect and analyze soils data to formulate integrated planning recommendations for resource management activities. Advise land managers of capabilities and limitations of soils for a variety of contemplated uses and activities (e.g., timber sales, watershed rehabilitation projects, transportation planning, or recreation development). Consult with other resource specialists to assess the impact of proposed programs and projects on protection and management of soils. Participate in the preparation of a long-range program and budget process by recommending priorities of soil projects. Serve as a member of a team where differences of professional opinions exist and positive outcomes were achieved. Foster an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.

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
• 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-0470 Series: 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 soil science or a closely related discipline that included 30 semester hours or equivalent in biological, physical, or earth science, with a minimum of 15 semester hours in such subjects as soil genesis, pedology, soil chemistry, soil physics, and soil fertility. OR Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in soil science or a related discipline that included at least 30 semester hours in the biological, physical, or earth sciences. At least 15 of these semester hours must have been in the areas specified above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. 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-11 grade level: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Collected, analyzed, and interpreted soils data for input into environmental reports; Participated as a member of an interdisciplinary team for natural resource/land management planning; Conducted field reconnaissance to prepare detailed soil surveys including field examination, description, classification, and mapping of soils; Managed soils projects, to include evaluating, developing, implementing, and monitoring projects; Provided written soils input into NEPA and other technical planning documents for natural resource management projects OR Applicants must have 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.). 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 for the specific grade level.

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]