This position is located in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Deputy Chief for Science and Technology, Ecological Sciences Division (ESD) at National Headquarters. The incumbent serves as the National Climate Resources Specialist and is the national discipline leader responsible for providing expertise on and integrating climate science into the natural resource and environmental program policies of NRCS.

Duties

Interfaces closely with other discipline leaders at NRCS National Headquarters as well as other Federal agencies and agricultural advocacy groups, environmental advocacy groups, cooperating State entities, state universities, and consultant organizations. Integrates the latest climate science, including strategies for adaptation to climate changes and mitigation of the causes of climate effects, to develop, coordinate, and implement NRCS new or revised policies, conservation practice standards, and supporting documents to maintain productive working farms and ranches without degrading the natural resources. Works with other NHQ national discipline leaders to integrate climate science resiliency, mitigation, and adaptation into other discipline's conservation practices and technical guidance as appropriate. Ensures technical guidance related to climate adaptation and mitigation is included in the National Handbook of Conservation Practices and incorporated in various training modules for use by NRCS field office staff and other service providers providing technical assistance and conservation planning to farmers. Develops planning criteria, assessment procedures, and key considerations for determining climate adaptation and mitigation-related resource concerns and components. Serve as a technical clearing house for climate adaptation and mitigation information to ensure advances in technology or process refinements and best practices are reflected in the technical assistance and training provided.

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.
• Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• 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

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-13 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-14 level. One year at the GS-14 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-15 level. (Please submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. No Award or General Adjustment SF-50's will be accepted). Time-in-grade requirements also apply to VEOA applicants having held a GS position in the past year. See addition information. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Basic Qualifications for the 401 series: Must have bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Must have a combination of education and experience which includes courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) Basic Qualifications for the 1301 series: Must have a bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in physical science, engineering, or mathematics which included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Must have a combination of education and experience which includes courses equivalent to one of the majors, as shown in A above, that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) 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-14: Must have at least one full-time year (12-months) of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-13 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties: 1) Developing conservation planning criteria, assessment procedures, and key considerations for determining climate adaptation and mitigation-related resource concerns; 2) Participating in the integration of climate science into state, regional, or national strategies and policies; AND 3) Partnering with other Agencies, States, and organizations to create awareness of or formulate strategies to advance climate issues; 4) Providing input for training strategies to address high priority issues, such as climate adaptation and mitigation; AND 5) Providing input and/or was on a Team drafting state, regional and/or national policy (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience.) GS-15: Must have at least one full-time year (12-months) of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-14 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties: 1) Developing conservation planning criteria, assessment procedures, and key considerations for determining climate adaptation and mitigation-related resource concerns; 2) Leading efforts to integrate climate science into agency strategies and policies; 3) Leading efforts with other Agencies, States, and organizations to create awareness of or formulate strategies to advance climate issues; 4) Facilitating training strategies to address high priority issues, such as climate adaptation and mitigation; AND 5) Drafting regional and/or national policy (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience.) (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience.) 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]