This position is located within the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), state area, or field office within the state of Maryland. The purpose of the position is to provide assistance to the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) assigned to the field office (FO) within the assigned Natural Resource Area; and to work with landowners to apply and maintain a number of conservation practices and review of financial assistance requests.

Duties

Gathers and compiles planning data on rural and/or urban sites, including physical features such as soil limitations, erosion, surface draining, and sedimentation under guidance of a supervisor or higher-graded specialist. Prepares basic natural resources conservation plans where soil survey information is available and precedent planning information is applicable to physical conditions such as topography and specific type of land unit. Provides technical support to the conservation planners in resource planning by utilizing applicable NRCS survey tools and planning software. Provides information to farmers, ranchers, and other rural residents on the kinds of assistance available from NRCS and other USDA agencies. Assists with public information activities providing NRCS guidance and policy for the application of practices.

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 close date of the announcement: 06/25/2024. NOTE TO APPLICANTS: The GS-0458 Soil Conservation Technician series is a technical position. Education is not a requirement for this position. However, this series does allow individuals without experience in this field to substitute education in lieu of experience. GS-07 To qualify at the GS-07 grade level, you must meet the following: Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Providing guidance on conservation program elements; Gathering and compiling data to evaluate and develop natural resource conservation plans; Preparing written materials such as reports, designs, presentations, and planning guides; and Using computer software such as Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word to compile reports, produce charts and graphs, and/or monitor project status. OR Substitution of Education in Lieu of Specialized Experience: Must have successfully completed at least one full year of graduate education from an accredited college or university leading to a master's degree with a major course of study in agriculture, forestry, range management, or another subject-matter field directly related to the position. OR Combination of Education and Experience: Must have a percentage of the graduate education and experience above which when combined totals 100% of the necessary education and experience to qualify for this position. (You MUST submit supporting academic transcripts.) GS-08 To qualify at the GS-08 grade level, you must meet ONE of the following: 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: Working with landowners on the application and maintenance of conservation practices; Gathering and compiling data to evaluate and develop natural resource conservation plans; Monitoring conservation plans with landowners and arrange on-site assistance in application; and Presenting materials such as reports, designs, presentations, and planning guides at various meetings and community events. OR Substitution of Education in Lieu of Specialized Experience: Must possess one and a half (1 1/2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree with a major course of study in agriculture, forestry, range management, or another subject-matter field directly related to the position. (You MUST submit supporting academic transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: 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 beyond the first year or 18 semester hours may be combined with specialized experience. You MUST submit supporting academic 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. 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

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]