You will serve as the State Resource Conservationist responsible for the formulating, recommending, and implementing policy and procedures applicable to resource conservation planning activities and various program activities. You will perform an active role in developing and implementing a comprehensive soil, water, and resource conservation program for the state.

Duties

Directs the development and operation of an effective resource conservation planning program. Provides state leadership for resource conservation planning activities. Participates in program appraisals and conducts functional appraisals of activities related to planning and the ecological sciences disciplines. Works out solutions to the more difficult problems, and improves conservation plans for submission to appropriate agencies for release. Formulates and recommends policies and procedures for hub personnel and inspects field work in the plant science phases, resource conservation planning, and follow-up activities. Oversees a staff consisting of positions made up of scientific specialists, technical and support staff of varied series and/or grade levels. Provides leadership in determining workload of the staff by conducting workload analysis, developing, and implementing work plans, and utilizing other management tools as needed to ensure effective operations.

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.
• Position has a Confidential Financial Disclosure (Form OGE-450) requirement. If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter.

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: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled (e.g., one year at the GS-12 grade level for consideration for the GS-13 grade level). Basic Requirements: Natural Resources Specialist Series 0401 Degree: Must have a Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. (You must submit transcripts.) or Combination of education and experience: Must have courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. (You must submit transcripts.) Soil Conservationist Series 0457 Degree: Must have a Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in soil conservation or related agricultural or natural resource discipline such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, agricultural education, or agricultural engineering. The study must have included 30 semester hours in a 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. (You must submit transcripts.) or Combination of Education and Experience: Must have at least 30 semester hours in one or more of the disciplines as shown in A above, including at least 12 semester hours in a 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. (You must submit transcripts.) 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: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level or higher in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: Providing technical leadership to execute various complex natural resource conservation programs; Providing direction to landowners and operators, both individually and in groups, to develop varied conservation plans; Representing the agency on county committees and task forces, and advising district committees at conservation district meetings; Providing expert management, training, and quality control services for resource conservation program in the context of areawide planning and development; AND Working with business plans, addressing priorities, goals and objectives. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience) Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-13 level. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: Professional and Scientific Positions 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 experiences, 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: Sheila Grass
• Phone: 602-280-8895
• Email: [email protected]