This position is located in a Natural Resources Conservation Service State Office. The primary purpose of the position is to plan, schedule, implement, and execute outreach strategy for the state, aimed at targeting a diverse audience, including but not limited to new and beginning farmers, organic and transitioning to organic farmers, small and limited resource farmers, women, specialty crop producers, Hispanic producers, veterans, and other groups that are defined as traditionally underserved.

Duties

Establishes and maintains effective professional relationships with local groups and with area representatives of conservation organizations concerned with agricultural and environmental issues. Organizes and coordinates public participation activities with appropriate staff for conservation activities and programs. Designs strategies and procedures to obtain input and opinions from a variety of audiences which are used for policy decisions. Identifies potential problems or areas of friction and advises supervisor. Works with the supervisor, develops campaigns for resolving them. Assists in the development of success stories and features relative to activities of these groups and adapts these releases for use by available media outlets. Clearly defines messages, target audiences, types and modes of communication techniques. Tailors outreach to meet the needs of producers and diverse clientele and how to clearly and concisely communicate. Facilitates an open exchange of ideas. Assists community-based organizations, RC and D Councils, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and other groups. Develops concepts and strategies to clearly introduce and explain NRCS programs and policies. Prepares appropriate outreach materials and products, including but not limited to fact sheets, flyers, PowerPoint presentations, exhibits, brochures, video productions, talking points, etc. Fosters improved relationships with underserved audiences. Identifies and nurtures key liaisons within specific communities/ethnicities. Develops, implements, or tracks a statewide outreach plan. Coordinates project activities to encourage underserved participation in NRCS and USDA programs. Prepares and analyzes demographic data.

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 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-07 grade level for consideration for the GS-09 grade level). Applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement to be considered for the GS-09: To qualify for the GS-9 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. This experience must include experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience include: a. Communicating conservation programs and policies available to target audiences or underserved populations; b. Assisting in the development of agricultural conservation outreach activities and events as well as flyers, brochures, presentations, and other communication materials; and c. Maintaining working relationships with organizations, agencies, and other stakeholders to provide outreach information and data. OR Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: Two 2 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or master's or equivalent graduate degree (i.e., LLB, JD, LLM, PhD, etc.), from an accredited college or university with a major in human resources, social or behavioral sciences, or in such fields as business or public administration, political science, government, management, journalism, marketing, public affairs, or other fields related to the position such as agriculture, agricultural economics, farm, livestock, ranch management, or rural sociology. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. Applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement to be considered for the GS-11: To qualify for the GS-11 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. This experience must include experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience include: a. Experience applying outreach program principles and practices to implement, review, and evaluate conservation outreach initiatives; b. Managing and reporting on outreach programs and functions providing assistance to underserved communities; c. Proposing potential solutions that eliminate barriers to effective conservation outreach; d. Conducting trainings, meetings and/or consultations to encourage participation of target audiences or underserved populations in conservation programs; and e. Identifying and recommending conservation programs and services that can meet the needs of target audiences such as farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, or urban growers. Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience for the GS-11 level: three (3) year(s) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or LL.M., if related in human resources, social or behavioral sciences, or in such fields as business or public administration, political science, government, management, journalism, marketing, public affairs, or other fields related to the position such as agriculture, agricultural economics, farm, livestock, ranch management, or rural sociology. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/group-stds/gs-admin.asp. 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: Harley Morelock
• Phone: 419-807-8868
• Email: [email protected]