This position is located in a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service state, area, or field office. The Soil Conservation Technician will 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 under the provision of federal, state, and possibly local agriculture programs.

Duties

Assists in conducting field investigations, surveys, and assembly of data needed in the development of conservation practices for structural solutions to problems with water quality, erosion, drainage, and irrigation. Works with landowners on the application and maintenance of conservation practices common to the work unit area. Independently explains cost-share payment procedures to the landowner/producer. Schedules follow up with landowners or operators to check progress of conservation practices that are under construction. Gathers and compiles planning data on rural and/or urban sites, including physical features under guidance of a supervisor or higher-graded specialist for evaluation and development of natural resources conservation plans. Provides information to farmers, ranchers and other rural residents on the kinds of assistance available from NRCS and other USDA agencies, including nature of programs and how and where to apply for assistance.

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.
• Physical Demands: Requires regular and recurring prolonged walks over field terrain bending, lifting and stretching when setting up survey instruments and equipment.
• Work Environment: Involves regular and recurring exposure to agricultural and construction type equipment while in operation; exposure to heat, snow, and ice as well as herbicide and chemical spray operations.
• The employee exercises caution and maintains all safety requirements when exposed to dangerous objects, chemicals, and extreme temperatures.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement. 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-05 Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Assisting staff with data collection related to natural resources; Speaking with members of the public to provide information about conservation topics; and Completing basic surveying tasks. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience) OR Education: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (a) with major study in forestry, range management, agriculture, or a subject-matter field directly related to the position, or (b) that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. No more than 6 semester hours in mathematics is creditable. (You must submit transcripts.) OR Combination: You must have a percentage of the education and experience which when combined totals 100% of the necessary education and experience to qualify for this position. When combining education with experience, first determine total qualifying education as a percentage of the education required; then determine experience as a percentage of the experience required; finally, add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (You must submit transcripts.) GS-06 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 collecting data for conservation plans such as soil erosion, surface drainage, and sedimentation; Speaking to members of the public about conservation topics at events; Meeting with landowners to provide information about conservation programs; and Assisting staff with drafting maps to be used in conservation plans. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience) OR Education: Must have completed at least a one year of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as soil and water conservation. (You must submit transcripts.) OR Combination: You must have a percentage of the education and experience which when combined totals 100% of the necessary education and experience to qualify for this position. When combining education with experience, first determine total qualifying education as a percentage of the education required; then determine experience as a percentage of the experience required; finally, add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (You must submit transcripts.) GS-07 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: Assisting with developing conservation plans by compiling data for physical features such as soil erosion, surface drainage, and sedimentation; Making presentations about conservation topics to groups at various public events; Meeting with landowners to review complete conservation plans; and Aiding in conservation planning by assisting with maps and recording soil survey data to be used in plans. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience) OR Education: Must have completed at least a one year of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as soil and water conservation. (You must submit transcripts.) OR Combination: You must have a percentage of the education and experience which when combined totals 100% of the necessary education and experience to qualify for this position. When combining education with experience, first determine total qualifying education as a percentage of the education required; then determine experience as a percentage of the experience required; finally, add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (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. 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]