This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Competitive Service Positions to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. About the Position: Serves as a staff specialist primarily in the field of botany/biology/ecology, but with a broad working knowledge of the related fields of plant taxonomy and plant ecology within the Surveillance and Enforcement Section.

Duties

Plans, organizes, and coordinates work related to jurisdictional wetland determination requests and provides necessary staff services for the Regulatory Branch. Participates in the review, coordination, and monitoring of environmental aspects of simple permit decisions and the less complicated environmental aspects of violations. Identifying a comprehensive range of plant species and plant communities indicative of wetland versus non-wetland habitats throughout the district. Conducts investigations of simple violations of the Clean Water Act and Rivers and Harbors Act Reviews incoming jurisdictional determination requests to determine those which can be done in-house as opposed to those which will require on-site or field inspection.

Requirements

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• One-year probationary period may be required.
• Temporary travel (TDY) of 25% of the time may be required.
• May be required to possess and maintain a valid State motor vehicle operator's license based on site-specific, job-related requirements.
• Pre-employment Physical Examination and an annual examination thereafter to ensure the continued, required level of physical health and ability or fitness to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Basic Education Requirement: Biologist - 0401 Ecologist - 0408 Botanist - 0430 AND Minimum Qualifications for GS-07: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) identifying plant species and associations indicative of wetland versus non-wetland habitats; OR 2) interpreting the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations for projects; OR 3) conducting environmental assessments using knowledge of ecological processes. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05). OR Education: 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: biology, ecology, natural resource management, or botany. OR Superior Academic Achievement. In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above. Superior Academic Achievement is based on: (1) Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating 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; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR (3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achshonor.org/). OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages. Minimum Qualifications for GS-09: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) identifying plant species and associations indicative of wetland versus non-wetland habitats; AND 2) assisting in the preparation of wetland delineation maps; AND 3) assisting with Clean Water Act and Rivers and Harbors Act violations. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07). OR Education: 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: biology, ecology, natural resource management, or botany. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. Minimum Qualifications for GS-11: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) applying law, regulations and guidance to make jurisdictional determinations pursuant to the regulatory authority under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act; AND 2) delineating wetlands utilizing industry standards; AND 3) documenting and resolving violations of the Clean Water Act and Rivers and Harbors Act. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09). OR Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 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: biology, ecology, natural resource management, or botany. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. Qualification requirement: Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/

Contacts

• Address RG-W2R902 US ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT-NEW ORLEANS DO NOT MAIL New Orleans, LA 70118 US
• Name: Army Applicant Help Desk