Overview
Open & closing dates
10/01/2020 to 10/16/2020
Salary
$38,921 to $68,777 per year
This job is open to
- Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
- Federal employees who meet the definition of a “surplus” or “displaced” employee.
- Internal to an agency
- Current federal employees of this agency.
- Clarification from the agency
- Current permanent USDA-ARS employees with competitive status and USDA CTAP/RPL eligible
Duties Summary
This position is located in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Field Organization in Wapato, WA
The incumbent will be responsible for working with biochemical experiments or research projects related to plants or insects; collecting or evaluating plant or insect samples; operating or maintaining laboratory or field equipment; and keeping records of scientific information.
Responsibilities
- Collect, prepare, and analyze plant samples, plant pathogens, insect samples, and insect pathogens,
- Prepare solutions and reagents for use in the laboratory, field, or greenhouse.
- Participate in research experiments or projects in laboratory, field, or greenhouse environments.
- Adapt, modify or develop new techniques and/or procedures to satisfy the needs of the research project.
- Maintain, calibrate and modify complex/specialized equipment and automated systems used for test and evaluation procedures in support of insect or plant research.
- Travel Required
- Occasional travel – You may be expected to travel for this position.
Time in grade: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade
Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are:
At the GS-06:
Qualifying experience for GS-06 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-05 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience assisting in a biochemical experiment or research project related to plants or insects; collecting or evaluating plant or insect samples; operating or maintaining laboratory or field equipment; and keeping records of scientific information.
OR
Education: One full year of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master’s or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include Crop science, Agronomy, Plant pathology, Soil science, Agricultural Science, Plant Sciences, Biology, Botany, Plant Physiology, Horticulture, Entomology or Chemistry
OR
A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above.
At the GS-07:
Qualifying experience for GS-07 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-06 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience participating in a biochemical experiment or research project related to plants or insects; collecting or evaluating plant or insect samples; operating or maintaining laboratory or field equipment; and keeping records of scientific information.
OR
Education: One full year of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master’s or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include Crop science, Agronomy, Plant pathology, Soil science, Agricultural Science, Plant Sciences, Biology, Botany, Plant Physiology, Horticulture, Entomology or Chemistry
OR
A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above.
At the GS-08:
Qualifying experience for GS-08 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience participating in a biochemical experiment or research project related to plants or insects; collecting or evaluating plant or insect samples; operating or maintaining laboratory or field equipment; and compiling scientific information for report preparation.
OR
Education: Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education or a Master’s degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include Crop science, Agronomy, Plant pathology, Soil science, Agricultural Science, Plant Sciences, Biology, Botany, Plant Physiology, Horticulture, Entomology or Chemistry
OR
A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above.
At the GS-09:
Qualifying experience for GS-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-08 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience conducting a biochemical experiment or research project related to plants or insects; collecting or evaluating plant or insect samples; operating or maintaining laboratory or field equipment; and preparing scientific information to be included in manuscripts or preparing reports.
OR
Education: Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education or a Master’s degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include Crop science, Agronomy, Plant pathology, Soil science, Agricultural Science, Plant Sciences, Biology, Botany, Plant Physiology, Horticulture, Entomology or Chemistry
OR
A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above.
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.
Additional information
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), 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.
Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.
How You Will Be Evaluated
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:
- Applies Technology to Tasks
- Biology
- Research
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.
Required Documents
The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
Resume that includes:
1)personal information such as name, address, contact information;
2)education;
3)detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable);
4)other qualifications.
If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
Current Federal employees:
Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND
Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute.
Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP or RPL priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How to Apply
Apply here: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/580620100
Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. – 4:00p.m., Monday – Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement to be entered into the system prior to its closing.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact the Agency Contact to request this.
To begin, click “Apply” and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents.
NOTE: If a document is resubmitted, it replaces the previous submission, which means the previous document is no longer available to the Human Resources Office. If you are adding to, rather than replacing a previous submission, you must upload both the old document and the new document. You must verify that uploaded documents from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency’s staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency’s staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Applicants may combine all like required documents (e.g. SF-50s or veteran docs) into one or more files and scan for uploading into the application. Each file must not exceed 3MB. Grouping like documents into files will simplify the application process. Documents must be in one of the following formats: GIF, JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG, RTF, or Word (DOC or DOCX). Uploaded documents may not require a password, digital signature, or other encryption to open.
Agency contact information
Matthew Knoche
Phone
7032599377