The incumbent provides technical leadership and program direction for forestry related resource assessments, conservation and watershed planning activities, and the development, planning, contracting, and application of the woodland resource management systems based on NRCS conservation planning principles in an assigned geographical area.

Duties

Serve as a technical expert on current forest establishment, management, and harvest techniques in the assigned region. Advises on forestry related research data and reports for use in the development of program policy and guidance. Collects data for revisions to forestland related Soil Survey databases and assists in preparation and review of final information for the assigned region. Develops and implements training needed by NRCS field personnel and partners for woodland related resource assessments. Participates in area wide planning activities, and attends partner meetings of watershed teams, district, county, regional and state planning groups. Works with land users and producers, collects technical data to plan, design and apply conservation systems and practices that implement area-wide conservation planning policy within the assigned region. Develops and implements conservation plans related to woodland planning and utilization of financial assistance program funding to install forestry related practices in the assigned region.

Requirements

• This position is designated for random drug testing under Departmental Regulation DR 4430-7922-2 dated April 2011. This position must complete and pass Pre-Employment Drug Testing before entrance on duty (EOD).
• This position requires passing a course in bear safety and firearm handling skills on an annual basis, and the legal ability to carry a firearm.
• 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: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade. (e.g. one year at the GS-09 grade level for consideration for the GS-11 grade level) OR (e.g. one year at the GS-11 grade level for consideration for the GS-12 grade level). Basic Education Requirement: Degree: forestry; or a related subject-matter field that included a total of at least 30 semester hours in any combination of biological, physical, or mathematical sciences or engineering, of which at least 24 semester hours of course work was in forestry. The curriculum must have been sufficiently diversified to include courses in each of the following areas: Management of Renewable Resources -- study of the science and art of managing renewable resources to attain desired results. Examples of creditable courses in this area include silviculture, forest management operations, timber management, wildland fire science or fire management, utilization of forest resources, forest regulation, recreational land management, watershed management, and wildlife or range habitat management. Forest Biology -- study of the classification, distribution, characteristics, and identification of forest vegetation, and the interrelationships of living organisms to the forest environment. Examples of creditable courses in this area include dendrology, forest ecology, silvics, forest genetics, wood structure and properties, forest soils, forest entomology, and forest pathology. Forest Resource Measurements and Inventory -- sampling, inventory, measurement, and analysis techniques as applied to a variety of forest resources. Examples of creditable courses include forest biometrics, forest mensuration, forest valuation, statistical analysis of forest resource data, renewable natural resources inventories and analysis, and photogrammetry or remote sensing. OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in forestry, or at least 30 semester hours in any combination of biological, physical, or mathematical sciences or engineering, of which at least 24 semester hours were in forestry. The requirements for diversification of the 24 semester hours in forestry are the same 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: 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 must include work that involved data management using computer-based software; collecting and analyzing scientific data such as soils and vegetation; and interpreting this data to address landscape conservation issues. Examples of specialized experience include: Assist in the development of protocols and methodologies for the systematic inventory and classification of plant communities within the framework of existing and ongoing soil surveys and other inventory activities; and/or Develop ecological site descriptions, using databases such as Ecological Site Information System (ESIS) and National Soil Information Systems (NASIS); and/or Work in an interdisciplinary setting with other technical disciplines to analyze and address resource management issues on private, non-commercial forest lands. OR Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience for the GS-11 level: three year(s) of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph. D degree or Ph. D or equivalent doctoral degree in forestry, or any combination of biological, physical, or mathematical sciences or engineering; OR Combination of Education and Experience: 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. 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 must include work that involved data management using computer-based software; collecting and analyzing scientific data, such as soils and vegetation, and interpreting this data to address landscape conservation issues. Examples of specialized experience include: Develop complex protocols and methodologies for the systematic inventory and classification of plant communities within the framework of existing and ongoing soil surveys and other inventory activities; and/or Provide technical leadership on the development of ecological site descriptions, using databases such as Ecological Site Information System (ESIS) and National Soil Information Systems (NASIS); and/or Collecting new data or synthesize existing data to develop woodland, farmstead, feedlot and field windbreak management prescriptions and/or conservation plans on private, non-commercial forest lands; and/or Work in an interdisciplinary setting with other technical disciplines to analyze and participate in the implementation of resource management issues on private, non-commercial forest lands. Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-12 level. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/forestry-series-0460/ 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: Deaundria Banks
• Email: [email protected]