The position is the Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation Specialist assigned to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), State Office, and Soil Sciences Staff. The organization develops and implements natural resource development policies and protection for the state. The purpose of the position is to make highly erodible land (HEL) and wetland conservation (WC) technical determinations (PTD) and assist with reconsiderations and final technical determinations (FTD).

Duties

Make highly erodible land (HEL) and wetland conservation (WC) preliminary technical determinations (PTD) and assist with reconsiderations and final technical determinations (FTD). Serves to assists in making Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Compliance technical determinations, which are conducted in compliance with applicable laws, policies, and procedures. Provides technical advice and assistance to NRCS field, area, and state professional and administrative personnel in interpreting imagery, establishing history, and making technical determinations consistent. Makes wetland determinations following procedures as outlined by the state's local operating procedures. Works with NRCS officials to recommend action(s) to correct deficiencies and make suggested improvements in local policies, practices, and procedures in the areas of geography, soil conservation, soil science and natural resource management.

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.
• 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 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. BASIC REQUIREMENTS:- SEE REQUIREMENTS IN EDUCATION SECTION In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed in the Education Section, applicants must meet the 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-07 Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Assisting with site visits to review wetland areas as delineated on wetland maps, aerial photographs and charts to determine classification of land; Providing technical assistance on conservation planning that involves wetland restoration or conservation planning on highly erodible land; and Explaining basic natural resources conservation measures, plans, and objectives. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience) OR Education: Must possess one full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: geography, natural resources management, soil science, agriculture, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the position. (You MUST submit supporting academic transcripts.) OR Combination: Combination of the above-described education and specialized experience such that they total 100% when combined. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then determine your education as a percentage of the education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. (You MUST submit supporting academic transcripts.) OR Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): SAA at the baccalaureate level is fully qualifying for the GS-07 grade level. To qualify for SAA, you must have completed all requirements for a bachelor's degree in a program that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above, and meet ONE of the following: A grade point average of "B" (a GPA of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. A grade point average of "B+" (a GPA of 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. *Grade point averages are to be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9. Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. Membership in a national scholastic honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. **If more than 10 percent of your courses were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim must be based on class standing or membership in an honorary society. (MUST submit copies of transcripts) GS-09 Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Performing site visits to review wetland areas as delineated on wetland maps, aerial photographs and charts to determine classification of land; Providing technical assistance on conservation planning that involves wetland restoration or conservation planning on highly erodible land; and Correcting deficiencies and make suggested improvements in policies, practices, and procedures based on lessons learned in the areas of geography, soil conservation, soil science and natural resource management. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience) OR Education: Must possess a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: geography, natural resources management, soil science, agriculture, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the position. OR Combination: Combination of the above-described education and specialized experience such that they total 100% when combined. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then determine your education as a percentage of the education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. (Only graduate level education in excess of one year (18 semester hours) may be combined with specialized experience. You MUST submit supporting academic transcripts.) GS-11 Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Leading site visits to review wetland areas as delineated on wetland maps, aerial photographs and charts to determine classification of land; Providing technical assistance on conservation planning that involves wetland restoration or conservation planning on highly erodible land; Recommending changes to hydric soil lists to supervisor; and Identifying and correcting deficiencies and make suggested improvements in policies, practices, and procedures based on lessons learned in the areas of geography, soil conservation, soil science and natural resource management. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience) OR Education: Must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in geography, natural resources management, soil science, agriculture, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the position. (You MUST submit transcripts.) OR Combination: Must possess a combination of the above-described education and specialized experience such that they total 100% when combined. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then determine your education as a percentage of the education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. (Only graduate level education in excess of two years (36 semester hours) may be combined with specialized experience. You MUST submit transcripts.) 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.

Education

Basic Requirements: This is an interdisciplinary position and applicants must meet one of the followingeducational requirements stated below to meet the Basic Requirements under the series in which they apply for this position to be considered. (Must submit transcripts)

0150-Geography Series:

A Bachelor's or higher degree in geography; or related physical or social science such as geology, meteorology, economics, statistics, sociology, anthropology, political science, history, cartography, computer science, urban studies, or planning that included at least 24 semester hours in geography or related fields.

OR

A combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in geography, or a related field that included at least 24 semester hours in geography or related fields, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

0401-Natural Resources Management Series:

A Bachelor's or higher degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

A combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

0457-Soil Conservation:

A Bachelor's or higher degree in soil conservation or natural resource discipline such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, agricultural education, agricultural engineering or a closely related discipline that 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

A combination of education and experience: at least 30 semester hours in one or more of the disciplines as show in A above, including at least 12 semester hours in 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.

0457-Soil Science:

A Bachelor's or higher 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 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field. In addition to courses in the major and related fields, a typical college degree would have included courses that involved analysis, writing, critical thinking, research, etc. These courses would have provided an applicant with skills and abilities sufficient to perform progressively more responsible work in the occupation. Therefore, creditable experience should have demonstrated similarly appropriate skills or abilities needed to perform the work of the occupation.

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
• Email: [email protected]