Job opening: Interdisciplinary Wetlands Conservationist, Soil Conservationist/ Soil Scientist
Salary: $72 553 - 113 047 per year
Relocation: YES
Published at: Mar 20 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
This position is the Compliance Coordinator assigned to the NRCS State Office. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a lead of the State Compliance Team and ensure that Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Compliance technical determinations are conducted in compliance with applicable laws.
THIS POSITION MAY BE FILLED AS: Wetland Conservationist, GS-0401-11/12 Soil Conservationist, GS-0457-11/12 Soil Scientist, GS-0470-11/12
Duties
Serves as a lead of the state Highly Erodible Land Wetland Compliance Specialist Team and ensure technical determination, activities, and reviews and in compliance with applicable laws.
Assists in development of Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Compliance policies and procedures.
Provide technical advice and assistance to professionals and administrative personnel in interpreting imagery, establishing history, and making technical determinations.
Provide technical expertise in appeals.
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.
- 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
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.
Time in grade:Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. (e.g. one year at the GS-11 grade level for consideration for the GS-12 grade level).
Basic Education Requirement: Degree: To qualify for the Soil Conservationist GS-0457: A degree in soil conservation or a 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
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.
Degree: To qualify for the Wetland Compliance GS-0401: A degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
A combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy.
Degree: To qualify for the Soil Scientist GS-0470: A degree 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
A 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 in above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered:
Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-11 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. This experience includes knowledge of the principles and theories of soil conservation, wetland biology, soil science, and other related sciences sufficient to evaluate complex environmental conditions. Examples of specialized experience include: Assisting in technical guidance. Assistance to groups and individuals on topics such as soil interpretations, erosion, wetland compliance polices and procedures; determines classification of land by review of soil, hydrology, composition of the wetland biology area, and other factors; provides technical expertise in highly erodible land, wetland conservation, and conservation compliance.
Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-12 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. This experience includes knowledge of the principles and theories of soil conservation, wetland biology, soil science, and other related sciences sufficient to evaluate complex environmental conditions. Examples of specialized experience include: providing technical guidance and directing to groups and individuals on topics such as soil interpretations, erosion, wetland compliance polices and procedures; determines classification of land by review of soil, hydrology, composition of the wetland biology area, and other factors; provides technical expertise in highly erodible land, wetland conservation, and conservation compliance.
Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-12 level.
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.
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. Applicants must, therefore, only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Applicants can verify accreditation via this link. All education claimed by applicants will be verified accordingly. Important: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Click on this
link for more information.
Contacts
- Address Natural Resources Conservation Service
1400 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20250
US
- Name: David Baird
- Phone: 000-000-0000
- Email: [email protected]
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