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Natural Resources Specialist (State Grazing Specialist)

Employer
Air Force Institute of Technology
Location
Alexandria City, Virginia, US
Salary
Competitive
Closing date
Oct 15, 2022

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Sector
Academic / Research
Field
Conservation science
Discipline
Land Management
Salary Type
Salary
Employment Type
Full time
The COVID-19 vaccination requirement for federal employees pursuant to Executive Order 14043 does not currently apply. Some jobs, however, may be subject to agency- or job-specific vaccination requirements, so please review the job announcement for details. Click here for more information.

This position can be located in a NRCS State or Field Support Office and serves as the State Grazing Specialist on the Ecological Sciences or Technical Support staff. The incumbent assists the immediate staff, area offices, technical offices and field offices in all technical aspects of pasture, forage and livestock management. This position also provides technical support for managing plant communities especially within pastures and other grasslands.

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Yes-You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.

Applications will be accepted only from current permanent Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) employees with competitive status; and CTAP/RPL eligible candidates.
  • Provides statewide leadership, technical guidance and training on grazing, forage and livestock management related practices assigned for incorporation into conservation plans of operation for all programs and activities administered by the agency.
  • Development of standards and specifications, technical notes, informational materials, job sheets or implementation guides, proper grazing use related tools, and other programmatic technical information as needed for state wide distribution.
  • Maintains a working relationship with other agencies and organizations having livestock and grassland management related interests and keeps abreast of research data.
  • Serves as the grazing lead technical contact for key state and federal agencies, state universities, and various pasture, forage, and grassland related non government organizations.
  • Gathers, develops, and transfers information on existing and new range and pasture management for meeting grazing objectives, controlling undesirable brush and herbaceous species, conserving soil and water, and providing wildlife habitat.
  • Technologies include the establishment of predominantly grasses and forb, may include shrub and forest understory vegetation, through seeding or planting, and management of vegetation.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Basic Education Requirement:
Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR
Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered for the GS-12 level:

Specialized Experience to qualify for the GS-12 level: To qualify for the GS-12 grade level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level higher in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through federal service. This experience requires the knowledge of a wide range of principles, concepts, and theories sufficient to perform duties concerning the development and implementation of multiple-use rangeland management plans. Specialized experience is defined as experience leading, planning, and coordinating a range conservation and pasture management program; serving as technical advisor to private land livestock producers; and developing technical standards and specifications for resource conservation.

Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-12 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/0400/general-natural-resources-management-and-biological-sciences-series-0401/ .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.

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.
Additional information
  • Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.
  • Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP or RPL eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
  • Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
  • Physical Demands: The work requires regular and recurring prolonged walking over field terrain, and bending, lifting, stretching and climbing while utilizing survey instruments and equipment. Dexterity in the use of computers and drafting tools is necessary. Design preparation and computations require sitting and/or standing at the office location.
  • Work Environment: The work involves regular and recurring exposure to operating agricultural and construction equipment. Protective gear and clothing are necessary, including hard hats, boots, and gloves. All safety precautions are observed while working around equipment. The work often involves exposure to deep snow, ice, herbicide and chemical spray operations and severe cold. Adequate protective clothing is required to preserve health and safety. Use of farm biosecurity clothing, washes and procedures may be required.
  • PLEASE NOTE: In the interest of filling these positions as efficiently as possible, we are requiring the following:
    • If called for an interview, applicants must be available to interview within 3 business days of being contacted.
    • If a tentative job offer is extended, selectee will have 2 business days in which to accept or decline.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below:
  • Technical
  • Customer Service
Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities need only meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

Note: If after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11635802

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