As the State Resource Conservationist, the incumbent will formulate, recommend, and implement policy and procedures applicable to resource conservation planning activities and various program activities, and performs an active role in developing and implementing a comprehensive soil, water, and resource conservation program for the state.

Duties

Provides state leadership for the development, improvement, and maintenance of technical data, standards, guides, and manuals related to resource conservation planning, biology, recreation, plant technology, and resource development. Provides guidance and direction for the use of automated programs such as: Customer Service Toolkit, nutrient management planning, erosion prediction, grazing lands spatial analysis took, energy tools, and soil tillage intensity rating. Serves as a consultant and adviser to the State Conservationist and staff in developing state policy concerning resource conservation planning, management practice implementation and vegetative phases of conservation programs. Provides supervision to staff, which may include Rangeland Management Specialists, Agronomists, Foresters, Biologists and Soil Conservationist. Provide overall leadership of program activities, making work assignments, evaluating performance, interviewing candidates and making selections; determines training needs for direct reports and provides training to NRCS personnel. Serve as Chair of the State Technical Guide Committee. Represents NRCS on state and federal committees that set data standards and warehouse data. Develops and maintains close working relations with resource conservation planning, plant sciences, environment-related agencies and other natural resource related agencies and organizations in the state. Helps keep conservation district officials informed of NRCS programs in resource conservation planning and serves as primary POC with groups such as colleges and universities and other organizations to address their technical issues.

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.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Qualifications

All applicants must meet all qualifications such as the education requirement, the specialized experience requirement and the time in grade requirements listed below by the closing date of the announcement. Basic Education Requirement: Degree: soil conservation or related agricultural or natural resource discipline such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, agricultural education, agricultural engineering. The study must have included 30 semester hours in 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 Combination of Education and Experience: At least 30 semester hours in one or more of the disciplines as shown above, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soils and crops or plant science, plus appropriate experience or additional education comparable to a 4-year degree. 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. 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-13 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. The experience must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. For this position, specialized experience is defined as: Providing Technical leadership to carry out various types of complex natural resource conservation programs; providing direction to landowners and operators, individually and in groups to develop a variety of conservation plans; Representing the agency on county committees and/or task forces and at conservation district meetings and serves as an adviser to district committees; Provides expertise in program management, training and quality control for NRCS Farm Bill Programs, which may include the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), Agricultural Land Easement Program Conservation Stewardship Program, as well as Agricultural Management Assistance, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), and other programs as they are legislated to the technical and field offices; Conducting area reviews; and, providing training to the field staff for technical practices Evaluation of Education: Education that provided specialized knowledge and skills in soil and water conservation is more valuable than education that imparted broad but general knowledge and skills. Courses in soil fertility, soil chemistry, soil genesis, plant physiology, plant science, and field crops are examples of specialized courses that contribute toward meeting the required 12 semester hours as described above. Courses in the physical sciences or engineering such as geology, civil engineering, and hydrology also meet the soils, crops, or plant sciences course requirements where such courses included a complete introduction to the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils. Evaluation of Experience: Experience that included the application of techniques, principles, and methods from a variety of agricultural and natural resource fields is appropriate, given the interdisciplinary character of the soil conservation occupation. For example, experience gained in a specialized field such as soil science, forestry, or agronomy is as fully acceptable as experience directly obtained in soil conservation work. Experience Note: 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. 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-12 grade level for consideration for the GS-13 grade level.).

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: Shakita McLean
• Phone: 443-482-2774
• Email: [email protected]