Civil Engineering Technicians work directly with farmers, ranchers, foresters, other Agriculture producers and landowners. The position is on the Area Engineering staff who survey and design conservation practices, oversee the installation, and ensure they meet NRCS standards and specifications resulting in on-the-ground practices that directly improve, conserve, or restore natural resources.

Duties

Provide civil engineering technician field assistance and develop final construction drawings for complex engineering structures, Perform computations for NRCS projects. Performs engineering surveys utilizing state-of-the-art global positioning system (GPS) technologies. Provides NRCS technical support and training leadership for computer-aided drafting and design software(CADD) users. Represents the Engineering Staff in carrying out training activities which include CADD, Civil 3D, and surveying using the global positioning system (GPS) survey grade hardware and software. Performs hydrologic and hydraulic computations such as determining sediment volumes, runoff curve number (RCN), time of concentration, weir flow, pipe flow, and open channel flow (water surface profiles) using NRCS engineering application software. Exercises judgment in selecting and applying standard methods of computation for quantities such as concrete, earth fill, and excavation. Employee makes recommendations to the Project Engineer (PE) or State Conservation Engineer (SCE) for required or recommended changes.

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-08 grade level for consideration for the GS-09 grade level and one year at the GS-09 grade level for consideration for the GS-10 grade level ). You must include an SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one) that supports meeting this requirement with your application package Applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered: Specialized Experience for the GS-09 level: To qualify for the GS-09 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-08 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. This experience must include Designing engineering practices; Preparing engineering drawings, computing quantities, inspecting applied projects; Preparing cost estimates and provides technical assistance on initial planning, design and construction inspection; OR Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience for the GS-09 level: 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: Engineering, or related discipline; OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of 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. Specialized Experience for the GS-10 level: To qualify for the GS-10 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: Utilizing advanced Computer Aided Design (CAD) design software and applications to develop final plans, models, and details for engineering/construction projects; Finalizing plans, models, and/or details for engineering/construction projects to ensure compliance with CAD standards; Reviewing cost estimates for projects in all phases of construction or operations. Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-10 level. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Group-Standards 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

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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: Leslie Kinsey
• Email: [email protected]