This position will serve as the Watershed Branch Chief and is located within the Conservation Planning Division to direct the Watershed Program. The incumbent will provide national leadership to develop and recommend policy and direct implementation of policy and procedures for consistent application across the Watershed Programs. The duty station location for this position will be determined at the time of selection from the duty station location options listed.

Duties

Define the future direction of the agency by providing highly complex analyses and reviews of natural resource conservation treatment needs and accomplishments that are critical for policy and decision making. Collaborates with peers across Federal agencies and other organizations to monitor approaches to and developments in outcomes measurement, share lessons learned, and identify research needs. Develops/ oversees a portfolio of assessment projects that ensures Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) leadership has timely and accurate outcomes information necessary to inform and maximize the benefits of future conservation investments. Directs and responds quickly and accurately to short deadlines from both internal and external US Department of Agriculture (USDA) customers to address and support the resolution of high level and high impact policy and program issues.

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/.
• 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.
• 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: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-14 grade level for consideration for the GS-15 grade level). Basic Education Requirement: Degree: Must have Bachelor's degree or higher degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position (You must submit transcripts) OR Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field. In addition to courses in the major and related fields, a typical college degree would have included courses that involved analysis, writing, critical thinking, research, etc. These courses would have provided an applicant with skills and abilities sufficient to perform progressively more responsible work in the occupation. Therefore, creditable experience should have demonstrated similarly appropriate skills or abilities needed to perform the work of the occupation. (You must submit 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: 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 that has equipped you with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. This experience must include performing the following duties: Collaborating with staff to coordinate work related to natural resources management conservation programs; Making recommendations to leadership regarding natural resource concerns; Developing employees on administrative matters by providing advice and instruction on assigned work; Analyzing natural resources management policies to recommend changes needed promote national consistency and efficiency; and Evaluating performance of subordinates by conducting performance appraisals. Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-15 level. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: 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: Shannon Brown
• Phone: 111-111-1111
• Email: [email protected]