Open & closing dates: 03/13/2023 to 03/27/2023
Salary: $57,118 – $89,835 per year
Pay scale & grade: GS 9 – 11

Duties

  • Conduct field inventories and monitoring, special activity plans, permit reviews, environmental analyses, development of mitigation options, and assessment of management alternatives with regard to vegetative resources, and soils.
  • Participates in range and stream assessments, and layout and implementation of field projects or studies, in collaboration with other disciplines.
  • Participates as a member of an interdisciplinary team, responsible for analyzing and evaluating monitoring data in Rangeland Health Assessments and the required National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) analysis.
  • Implements ecosystem plans by developing specific habitat improvement projects such as land treatments and water developments and monitoring their use.
    Collects data leading to evaluation and interpretation of inventory and study information along with information gathered from outside sources and incorporates the data or findings into project plans.

Requirements
Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Be sure to read the How to Apply and Required Documents Sections.
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
  • Direct Deposit Required.
  • Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
  • Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
  • An applicant appointed to this position must possess and maintain a valid state driver’s license while employed in this position.
  • Must be able to obtain certifications to safely operate Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV?s), and complete mandatory trainings.
  • May require completion of a one year probationary period.
  • If selected for this position you will need to complete the Federal Information Systems Security Awareness (FISSA) training prior to start date.

Qualifications
In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements – please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

Basic Education Requirement 
This position has a degree requirement: 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.

At the GS-09 Level:
Specialized Experience: I meet the basic education requirement AND I have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) in the Federal service. Specialized experience is further defined as collects vegetative monitoring data; assist with preparing monitoring plans; provide information for environmental impact statements/assessments; assists with preparation of ecosystem plans and developing specific habitat improvement projects; experience applying knowledge of biological practices, principles and techniques sufficient to assist in the recommendations of planning and implementing natural resource activities.
OR-
Education: 
I meet the basic education requirement AND completed 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master’s degree or master’s equivalent graduate degree in biological sciences or a directly related field.
-OR-
Combination of Education and Specialized Experience: I meet the basic education requirement AND possess an equivalent combination of the type and level of experience and education described above.

At the GS-11 Level:
Specialized Experience: I meet the basic education requirement AND I have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) in the federal service. Specialized experience is further defined as conducting field inventories and environmental analyses; collecting vegetative monitoring data; assisting in the development of monitoring plans, ecosystem plans, habitat improvement projects, land treatments or water developments; preparing standard data reports, project files, material estimates or labor needs; planning, organizing or conducting vegetation studies; ensuring compliance with natural resource management laws, regulations, policies and practices; assist in natural resource field inventories, field projects or studies.
OR-
Education:
 I meet the basic education requirement AND completed 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
-OR-
Combination of Education and Specialized Experience: I meet the basic education requirement AND possess an equivalent combination of the type and level of experience and education described above.

Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

Selective Placement Factors: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified:

  • Have a current, valid state driver’s license.
  • Obtain certifications to safely operate Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV’s) and complete associated mandatory trainings.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Physical Demands: Office work is performed in adequately lighted, heated, and air-conditioned office, requiring careful concentration for accurate data analysis and computer input. Field work requires some physical exertion such as long periods of walking, standing, crouching, or riding in or driving vehicles over rough, uneven, or rocky terrain. The work requires the ability to travel into the backcountry or front country on foot or by UTV’s, under a wide variety of climatic conditions and elevations. Required to lift and carry items up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment: Work is performed both in the office and at extended field camp (sites) under a variety of topographic and weather conditions. In the field there is exposure to extreme heat and cold, rough terrain, insects, snakes, and other hazards are common. Field work involves extended traveling by truck, and extensive walking over very rough, rocky, and wet terrain, while carrying equipment and tools. Occasionally the incumbent may have to travel by light fixed wing aircraft or helicopter or UTV’s to remote sites. The incumbent will carefully adhere to all safety procedures to minimize and mitigate hazards.

Education
This position falls under the General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series, 0401 Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) which requires that you have a degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position, or a combination of education and experience—courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

You MUST submit a copy of ALL your college transcripts or a list of ALL college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. Upon selection, official transcripts must be received prior to appointment. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

All selections and tentative offers of selection are contingent upon submission and verification of ‘official’ transcripts.

Additional information
Relocation/Recruitment Incentive: This position is offering a Relocation/Recruitment Incentive, 25% of the annual salary. To be eligible for a Relocation Incentive, you must be a current Federal Employee and the selectee must be employed with the Federal Government and the selectees current duty location is more than 50 miles from the duty location of this position. To be eligible for a Recruitment Incentive, selectee must not be employed by the Federal Government.

We expect to fill one (1) vacancy at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

This announcement is being advertised concurrently under number NV-Merit-23-11879333-KP, for status candidates and special hiring authority eligible. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

To Apply
For more information and to apply: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/712217500#hiring-paths