This position is that of Biologist located in a State office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The employee has overall responsibility for assisting in planning and coordinating biological activities and other planning applications throughout the state.

Duties

Provides direct assistance to landowners in the determination, restoration, enhancement, and creation of wetlands, especially as related to Farm Bill programs. Provides guidance to planners and landowners on implementation of swamp buster rules and regulations. Serves as the lead for the wetland compliance portion of Conservation Compliance under the Food Security Act, as amended. Provides leadership and coordinates activities in planning and conducting special wildlife, plant, or wetland studies, special investigations, and data gathering necessary for the development and refinement of standards. Makes field studies, demonstrations, and trials to determine efficiency and effectiveness of projects and practices in meeting overall wetland and wildlife habitat goals.

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 REQUIREMENTS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-9 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level. One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 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 Education Requirement: Must possess a bachelor's or higher degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Must possess a combination of education and experience. This includes courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A 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: 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-11: Must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Experience includes but is not limited to the following: 1) Providing biological wetlands management leadership and technical expertise to landowners and partners; 2) Designing, planning and coordinating wetlands biological activities at the county or watershed level; 3) Ensuring compliance with laws, regulations and departmental policies with respect to biological wetlands management; and 4) Implementing wetland resource management activities involving, invasive species, endangered and threatened species and wildlife. OR Must have successfully completed three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resources management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the work of the position. (Must submit transcripts). OR Must have a combination of experience and education as described above which when combined equals at least 100%. (Only graduate education in excess of two years or 36 semester hours may be combined with experience under this standard.) (Must submit transcripts). GS-12: Must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Experience includes but is not limited to the following: 1) Providing biological wetlands management leadership and technical expertise to landowners and partners; 2) Designing, planning and coordinating wetlands biological activities at the county or watershed level; 3) Ensuring compliance with laws, regulations and departmental policies with respect to biological wetlands management; 4) Implementing wetland resource management activities involving, invasive species, endangered and threatened species and wildlife; and 5) Conducting field studies, demonstrations, and trials to determine efficiency and effectiveness of projects and practices in meeting overall wetland and wildlife habitat goals. (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 If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed. Note: If after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

Contacts

• Address Natural Resources Conservation Service 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Midwest Services Branch
• Phone: 8164265706
• Email: [email protected]