The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the Litigation team lead within the Ecosystem Management Coordination staff. The incumbent will serve as senior advisor for a program or specialty area that involves the formulation, programming and guidance of projects or continuing programs of great difficulty, significance, and critical importance. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Andrea Pahlevanpour at [email protected].

Duties

Independently, or as team lead, works with Regions, Washington Office staff units, and USDA, Office of General Counsel, and Department of Justice attorneys on specific activities related to integrated natural resource management and litigation. Provides technical support to assure compliance with the National Forest Management Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, other appropriate statues, regulations, and agency policy. Develops and implements program monitoring and assessment tools including the Project Appeals and Litigation System (PALs). Performs assigned natural resource management litigation coordination tasks, including gathering and integrating data which may influence organization policy and leading case assessments with the Office of General Counsel and Department of Justice. Develops and uses natural resources litigation databases to formulate recommendations to superiors. Performs analysis of existing data and collection for accuracy and appropriateness, and supplements data to complete. Serves as principal contact for members of other federal land management agencies, news media, user groups, local and national elected officials, and others who have an interest in litigation affecting the Forest Service. Makes work contacts that are highly complex, demanding, and critical to program accomplishment. Evaluates legal documents, comments, and inquiries from federal, state, or local officials, public agencies, commercial interests, consulting firms and private individuals. Prepares well-researched and logically organized presentations related to work assignments. Evaluates proposed natural resource management policies and regulations to determine their consistency with laws and regulations. Recommends long-range program plans, goals, objectives, and milestones, which serve as the basis for substantive changes in the organization. Prepares reports and/or written analyses regarding Forest Service litigation on difficult or complex matters. Provides expert advice and guidance on broad projects and programs with national impact.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service 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.
• Subject to one-year supervisory probationary period (unless prior service is creditable).
• New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required new supervisory training program before the end of their probationary period.

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. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-14: One-year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as 2 or more of the following: Work with Regions, Washington Office staff units, and USDA, Office of General Counsel, and Department of Justice attorneys on specific activities related to integrated natural resource management and litigation; As necessary, develop, review, implement, and/or obtain the necessary concurrences/approvals for the establishment of procedures, algorithms, and requirements for assigned natural resource management and litigation assignments; Develop and implement the results from program monitoring and assessment tools including the Project Appeals and Litigation System (PALs); Provide assistance on broad projects and programs with national impact, which requires extensive interpretation for many different and unrelated program processes and methods, such as interpretations of original legislative or judicial intent and advice on revisions to existing policies and programs to meet requirements. 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.

Education

Education not utilized in the evaluation process for this position.

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]