This position is located in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Ohio State Office. Serving as a Resource Conservationist under the Assistant State Conservationist for Programs on the Programs staff and is responsible for conservation programs, policies, and procedures to provide technical advice and management leadership to implement programs and facilitate attainment of agency performance goals.

Duties

Prioritize and manage funds, time and resources needed to achieve the goals set for Farm Bill programs, conservation compliance, program quality assurance, natural resource conservation planning, and other needs of the state office and field offices. Provide guidance, training, and assistance to field and state office staff in all aspects of natural resource conservation program implementation that includes Farm Bill (CIG/RCPP) programs, conservation compliance, and program quality assurance. Contribute to policy development and formulates state procedures for all aspects of natural resource conservation program implementation activities including Farm Bill program assistance, conservation compliance and program quality assurance. Develop technical guidance and information to solve resource problems relating to natural resource conservation program implementation, including field office technical guide (FOTG) materials, technical notes, job sheets and payment schedules. Inform the supervisor of significant progress or difficulties encountered in accomplishing program objectives and alert the supervisor when a sensitive issue appears.

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.

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: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-09 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level. One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. (Please submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. No Award or General Adjustment SF-50's will be accepted). BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This is an interdisciplinary position and applicants must meet one of the following educational or education and experience requirements stated below to meet the Basic Requirements under the series in which they apply for this position to be considered. (You must submit supporting academic transcripts.) For the Natural Resource Specialist (0401)-A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR B. Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) For the Soil Conservationist (0457) -Degree: 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; (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of education and experience: at least 30 semester hours in one or more of the disciplines as shown in 1 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. (Note: You must attach a copy of your 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: 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 in which you are applying: Specialized Experience at the GS-11: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service that included: Providing technical guidance and assistance to groups and individuals on topics such as erosion control measures, water quality improvements, Farm Bill programs; and conservation program payments; Reviewing funding and/or contracting documents to ensure payments are paid in accordance with conservation policy and regulations; AND Serving as a consultant regarding conservation payment process for staff or landowners. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience) 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: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, soil conservation or related agricultural or natural resource discipline such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, agricultural education, or agricultural engineering. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) 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. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) Specialized Experience at the GS-12: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service that included: Evaluating the performance of soil and water conservation programs sufficient to develop, propose, and recommend significant program innovations or changes in conservation program criteria; Implementing conservation programs, funding eligibility, funding procedures and contract management according to issued guidance, policies and procedures; analyzing and evaluating area soil and water resources and environmental conditions adversely affecting agricultural production, areas used for residential and commercial purposes, and conditions contributing to soil erosion and surface or ground water pollution, AND advising community and rural organizations and groups on developing conventional conservation plans and interpreting soil survey data and needed erosion control measures. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience) EDUCATIONAL SUBSTITUTION: There is no educational substitution for the GS-12. 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. 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: Darleen Vaterlaus
• Phone: 503-273-2427
• Email: [email protected]