This positions is located in the Eastern Region, Region 9, Hiawatha National Forest. Serve as the Tribal Relations Specialist and point of contact for the American Indian Tribe(s) having an interest in the activities in the designated forest(s) relative to government-to-government trust responsibility. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Chelsea Kallery at [email protected].

Duties

The duties are listed at the full performance level GS-12. Provide advice and recommendations regarding activities affecting American Indian tribal rights or trust resources. Represent the agency in working with tribe(s), ensuring that the rights of Sovereign Indian Nations are fully respected and incorporated into building and maintaining relationships between the tribes and national forest. Provide leadership to ensure the rights of Sovereign Indian Nations are fully respected. Provide consultation that includes tribal protocol and policies regarding activities affecting American Indian tribal rights or trust resources. Advise leadership of any procedural impediments that negatively impact the ability of the agency and its employees to effectively work with tribal governments. Develop strategies to improve relationships between tribes and national forest. Provide advice and guidance to staff who work in tribal affairs on appropriate interaction with Tribal Representatives to ensure the working relationship is respected and adhered to. Provide group and one-on-one training pertaining to tribal relations. Facilitate discussion of controversial topics and address difficult issues related to tribal relationships.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or 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.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• 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.gov
• Must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-11: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as two or more of the following: Assisted in establishing and maintaining organizational relationships with one or more federally recognized Tribe(s); and/or Assisted with facilitating, leading and advising on tribal consultation and coordination for complex issues, projects, proposed activities and plans; and/or Prepared briefing documents, summaries of tribal relations, consultation activities, and summaries of specific tribal concerns. OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, if related; OR An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.). For the GS-12: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as three or more of the following: Advised on tribal consultation and coordination for complex projects, land actions, and plans involving laws including but not limited to the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), American Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); and/or Assisted with the development and implementation of partnership opportunities, outreach and educational programs, Cooperative Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding with tribes and provided guidance on protocol; and/or Assisted management with dispute resolution with tribes. 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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

See Qualifications section for educational options.

Contacts

• Address USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT. Albuquerque, NM 87109 US
• Name: HRM Contact Center
• Phone: 1-877-372-7248 X2
• Email: [email protected]