This position serves as the National Director of Tribal Relations, providing leadership, guidance, and professional advisory services to the Chief, Associate Chief, and other senior leaders on matters related to Tribal consultation, government-to-government relations, and Federal Trust responsibilities, and is responsible for planning, developing, and evaluating Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) policies, initiatives, and high-profile Tribal efforts within the Agency.

Duties

Develop, advise, and integrate the agency's natural resources programs and policies as they impact the unique conditions, scientific challenges, management concepts, principles and practices of Federally recognized Tribal lands. Provides guidance and professional advisory services to senior officials in USDA's Farm Production and Conservation Mission Area, USDA's Office of Tribal Relations, and NRCS leadership. Develops, assembles and analyzes data, and designs a systemic approach to conducting reviews, studies, and addressing deficiencies; establishes priorities and areas of emphasis for Federally recognized Tribal lands. Responsible for partnership and collaborative efforts requiring the incumbent to plan and direct special studies/analyses of complex questions necessary for the evaluation and development of policies and standards. Serves as the senior policy and technical expert, analyst, and advisor to the Chief, NRCS, and other members of the senior executive team on all programs and policies as they relate to Federally recognized Tribal lands. Manages differing and conflicting technical and policy viewpoints from inter-Agency partners and external partnership groups and represents USDA's interests and priorities for Federally recognized Tribal lands with the scientific community. Plans the work to be accomplished by the staff, assign work to employees, and establish production or quality standards for the unit's work.

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.
• 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.
• IF APPLICABLE: 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-14 grade level for consideration for the GS-15 grade level). Basic Education Requirement: Degree: Biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major as shown 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-15 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. This experience must include: Experience in scientific principles, methods, theories, and concepts to serve as a recognized technical authority on creating solutions to emerging and innovative advancement in the field of natural resources as it relates to and impacts Federally recognized Tribal lands; Experience negotiating complex and sensitive natural resource issues as they pertain to Tribal lands; Experience in working to direct highly complex scientific and administrative programs and delegate authority appropriately; Plan and assess the impact of external influences; Use resources efficiently and effectively; and Resolve complex scientific and technical issues involving all aspects of assigned programs/projects. Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-15 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/#url=GS-PROF 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: James Hall
• Phone: 000-000-0000
• Email: [email protected]