This position is located within a National Forest. The primary purpose of this position is to perform technical assistance to professional and technical personnel by performing a variety of recurring and moderately complex laboratory tests, and packages plant material and/or seeds using accepted practices in support of native seed needs for restoration and/or conservation.

Duties

Performs technical assignments involving techniques and practices used in the operation and maintenance of controlled environment greenhouses, bareroot fields for seedling production, and seed extractory facilities. Grows seedlings, prepares seed/media, sows, transplants, fertilizes, irrigates, controls insects and diseases, and maintains proper environmental conditions in greenhouse and bare root seed beds. Maintains accurate records for chemical applications, cultural treatments and seedling inventories. Assistants with forb and grass seed collection, conifer and native seed cleaning, dormant hardwood cutting collection, and associated data collection. Conducts seed processing, including seed extraction, finishing, testing, and packaging. Stores, inventories, and ships native plant material and/or seed. Uses accepted standardized practices/protocols and specialized equipment. Measures, observes, records, and develops reports on detailed biological data following established protocols using various recording methods. Documents this information in a detailed and professional manner. Assists in the development and documentation of experimental testing methods and techniques. Aids in the design of seed research case studies, often communicating with other partners. In conjunction with supervisor, serves as a crew member or crew lead during seed processing operations, using efficient communication, to meet quality standards and production goals ensuring that targets are met. Operates a variety of equipment, including seeders/sowing machines, transplanters, combines, brush machines, Missoula de-wingers, office clippers, eclipse machines, debearders, air separators, screens, data recorders and computers. May operate equipment of various sizes, including forklifts, pallet jacks, and utility vehicles.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.
• Must be 18 years of age.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-Verify.

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. GS-05: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-4 grade level; OR a bachelor's degree or 4 years of successfully completed education above high school (120 semester/180 quarter hours) with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics and at least 6 semester hours of courses must be directly related to the position to be filled.; OR combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (in excess of the first 60 semester/90 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. Examples of specialized experience include: Participating in plant-related projects by assisting with measurements, recording observations, and assisting with the collection of biological and vegetation specimens. 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. To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

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]