This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Yankton Agency, Superintendent - Yankton Agency, Natural Resources in Wagner, South Dakota. This is a Bargaining Unit position, for more information see What are bargaining units? NOTE: TRAVEL AND RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE AUTHORIZED. ANY RELOCATION EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH REPORTING FOR DUTY WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SELECTED EMPLOYEE.

Duties

Responsible for developing conservation plans on agricultural and range land to protect the natural resources of Trust land under the jurisdiction of the Yankton Agency. Serves as a consultant on activities relating to the planning and application of soil and water conservation on the reservation. Discusses and explains conservation plans with lessees and potential lessees and beneficial land owners. Gathers data needed to produce fair market value lease rental appraisals for expiring leases on Trust tracts. Utilizes Global Positioning System (GPS) and satellite imagery to develop geographic and natural resources databases for the Agency and Tribes as needed. Reviews all field checks and compliance reports on Trust tracts and contacts lessees concerning conservation compliance issues. Conducts annual compliance checks to insure adherence to conservation stipulations and takes corrective action when conditions warrant. Responsible for drafting and typing correspondence related to leasing, conservation compliance, noxious weeds, and other areas as assigned. Responsible for assuring that natural resources management databases are accurate and up to date.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472). Form BIA -4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference.
• You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit
• You may be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
• A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
• If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
• Incidental Operator position. If you are required to operate a motor vehicle in order to properly carry out assigned duties, the 25 IAM 4 Motor Vehicle Safety Program Policy applies. A Link is provided in the Additional Information Section.

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for Professional and Scientific Positions, GS-0457) BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL GRADES: A. Degree: soil conservation or related agricultural or natural resource discipline such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, agricultural education, or agricultural engineering. The study must have included 30 semester hours in a natural resource or agricultural field, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soils and crops or plant science. Of the 12 semester hours, a minimum of 3 semester hours must have been in soils and 3 semester hours in crops or plant science, OR B. Combination of education and experience - at least 30 semester hours in one or more of the disciplines as shown in A above, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soils and crops or plant science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Of the 12 semester hours, a minimum of 3 semester hours must have been in soils and 3 semester hours in crops or plant science. ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: In addition to meeting the basic entry level qualification requirements, applicants must have the following: GS-09: In addition to the basic requirements, I have at least one year of full-time specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to at least the GS-7 level in the Federal Service (obtained in either the public or private sector). This experience must include: providing technical guidance and assistance with soil interpretations, erosion, control, and water quality recommendation to groups and individuals with planning responsibilities; use of soil survey data, surveying methods, types of surveying instruments, and installation of various soil and water conservation practices. OR EDUCATION: Two (2) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. GS-11: In addition to the basic requirements and the specialized experience at the lower level, I have at least one year of full-time specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to at least the GS-9 level in the Federal Service (obtained in either the public or private sector). This experience must include: work involving independently developing and applying conservation plans for land units in accordance with soil surveys, land capability, use charts, agronomy handbooks etc.; provide technical and scientific advice on the management and administration of related land use program; resolves technical problems to implement sound conservation plans and practices; evaluating local consideration, such as, environmental, vegetation, soils, drainage, and economics in developing and implementing conservation plans, and collects data from available resource. (Your resume must support this experience.) OR EDUCATION: Three (3) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. GRADUATE EDUCATION: Graduate education must be related to the occupation and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and is typically in or related to the position to be filled. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Merit Promotion candidates must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the announcement closing date. Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472). Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur in the same location within 90 days from the closing date.

Education

If you are qualifying based on your education, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education which shows 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: FOREIGN EDUCATION

Contacts

• Address BIA Center for Recruitment Anadarko P.O. Box 1487 Anadarko, OK 73005 US
• Name: BIA Human Resources
• Phone: 405-247-1600
• Email: [email protected]