This is a developmental position. The incumbent serves in an entry level position and is responsible for supporting higher graded specialist by interpreting regulations and guidelines pertaining to various Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) programs missions and goals.

Duties

Assists with reviews and analyses of NRCS functions/programs in support of the Management and Strategy activities. Utilizes program plans, operating budgets, and interviews to determine the continued effectiveness of plans, programs, and policies. Participates with higher level specialists in planning sessions and discussions of innovative ways to carry out assigned programs and new programs. Assists with researching and identifying program concepts and techniques. Monitors activities identified for special interest to keep leadership informed of developments through conferences and briefing papers. Participates in basic studies designed to analyze issues of effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity affecting administrative and business programs across designated program area to determine compliance with agency regulations and procedures. Assists higher graded specialist with planning, coordinating, and accomplishing studies which require skill in analysis and information gathering techniques. Performs management assistant duties to improve efficiency and effectiveness, and to provide information for records management and correspondence management. Provide support with collaborative grants and agreements, Memorandum of Understanding's, Conservation Innovation Grants, and interagency agreements. Communicates both written and verbal to internal and external customers in a clear, concise, and polite manner. Uses computer for work processing, spreadsheet, and database software (E.g. Conversation Desktop, Conservation Assessment Ranking Tool, and Document Management System).

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 specialized experience and/or education. Minimum Qualifications Requirement:GS-05: To qualify for the GS-05 you must possess three years of general experience, one year for which was equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service. General experience includes; Providing advice and support to management and program officials on the interpretation of regulations and guidelines and their application to problems. Duties involving management surveys, organization studies, management improvement, management counseling and attends meetings with management to discuss information relating to findings and conclusions. OR Education Substitution: Four-year course of study leading to a bachelors degree. OR Combination of the experience and the education described. Specialized Experience for GS-07:To qualify for the GS-07 grade level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the Federal GS-05 level or higher, that has equipped you with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. For this position, examples of specialized experience includes; providing advice and support to management and program officials on the interpretation of regulations and guidelines and their application to problems; Duties involving management surveys, organization studies, management improvement, management counseling and attends meetings with management to discuss information relating to findings and conclusions. OR Education Substitution: 1 year of graduate-level education in a related field. OR Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify for superior academic achievement, you must have ONE of the following: (1) standing in the upper third of your college class or major subdivision at the time you apply; (2) grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed, either (a) at the time of application or (b) during the last 2 years of your undergraduate curriculum; (3) B+ (3.5 on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed, either (a) at the time of application or (b) during the last 2 years of your undergraduate curriculum; OR (4) election to membership in one of the national honorary scholastic societies that meets the requirements of the Association of College Honor Society. OR Combination of specialized experience and education: Possess 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. Specialized Experience for the GS 09:To qualify for the GS-09 grade level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the Federal GS-07 level or higher, that has equipped you with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. For this position, examples of specialized experience include: Apply a wide range of principles, theories, processes of management with a high degree of resourcefulness, ingenuity and inventiveness to a variety of studies, investigations and assignments. Gather information, identifying and analyzing issues and developing recommendations to resolve problems of effectiveness and efficiency of work operations in a program support setting. OR Education Substitution: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.B., or J.D., if related. OR Combination of specialized experience and education: Possess 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: 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 transcripts to include course number, title, completion and grade. 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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 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.

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.

Failure to provide all of the required documents/information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Contacts

• Address Natural Resources Conservation Service 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Taquella Green
• Phone: 919-376-8838
• Email: [email protected]