Overview

  • Accepting applications
  • Open & closing dates

     01/21/2021 to 02/04/2021

    This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
  • Service

    Competitive

  • Pay scale & grade

    GS 9 – 12

  • Salary

    $58,585 to $110,452 per year

  • Appointment type

    Permanent

  • Work schedule

    Full-Time

Apply here: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/589947000

Duties

Summary

The position is in the Planning Division of the Denver Service Center, providing planning and compliance services across the national park system. The incumbent serves as a project specialist, helping park staff, in collaboration with the public, to develop strategies for supporting and managing visitor use. Candidates should have a passion for visitor use management and socioeconomics, along with integrating best practices for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion into projects.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The major duties of the Outdoor Recreation Planner position include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Performs a wide range of duties related to planning and functions as a planning project specialist involved in the preparation of a variety of planning projects and studies and related environmental documents.
  • Provides technical advice to other project managers and planning team members on outdoor recreation planning, problem solving, public involvement, and environmental compliance.
  • Performs as a project specialist on interdisciplinary teams of planning professionals and collaborates with the public to prepare a variety of planning projects and studies.
  • Accountable for the quality of technical analysis and related planning documents and ensures the delivery of assigned key project tasks and related planning services in accordance with project agreements and annual production goals.
  • Seeks and utilizes best practices, data, and a diversity of input to analyze and make recommendations to support sound planning decisions.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Open to the first 100 applicants or until 02/04/2021; whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

Travel Required

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

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver’s license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator’s License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver’s licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
  • You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
  • If you are a new employee in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 3 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-02/04/2021-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.
For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

You must meet one of the following Basic Requirements in order to be eligible for this position:

  • Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study — outdoor recreation planning or a related field such as: sociology, forestry, landscape architecture, economics, biological science, park administration, earth science, natural resource management and conservation, civil engineering, urban planning, or recreation. Applicants who qualify on the basis of graduate work in related disciplines must have one or more courses in outdoor recreation.

-OR-

  • Specialized Experience: Experience that demonstrated the ability to plan and coordinate the use of land, water, and related resources for recreation and conservation purposes. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:
    • Ability to deal with people of differing backgrounds and behavioral patterns.
    • Analysis and evaluation of outdoor recreation interests, habits, and needs of diversified groups, and the means for meeting those needs.
    • Evaluation of land or water areas for their recreation and related potential use, such as wildlife reserve.
    • Preparation or review of plans and programs for natural resource utilization and recreation area development.
    • Solution of administrative, intergovernmental, socioeconomic, and other problems involved in providing adequate recreation opportunities while preserving, restoring, and enhancing the quality of the outdoor environment.

-AND-

To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess ALL of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

  • EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience must include all of the following: 1) Support preparation of sections of planning projects and studies (e.g. general management plans, special resource studies, heritage area plans, wilderness studies or visitor use management plans) and related environmental documents (e.g. environmental assessments and impact statements); 2) Analyze, evaluate and coordinate matters involving recreation planning; 3) Support preparation of technical research scopes, budgets, schedules in consultation with the technical lead and project manager.

-OR-

  • EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least a 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.. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

  • Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. You must include transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must possess ALL of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

  • EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience must include all of the following: 1) Prepare sections of planning projects and studies (e.g. general management plans, special resource studies, heritage area plans, wilderness studies or visitor use management plans) and related environmental documents (e.g. environmental assessments and impact statements); 2) Analyze, evaluate and coordinate matters involving recreation planning; 3) Assist program coordinator or technical specialist to prepare technical research scopes, budgets, and schedules.

-OR-

  • EDUCATION: Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.M., if related.

-OR-

  • Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. You must include transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level, you must possess ALL of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

  • EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience must include all of the following: 1) Serve as technical lead on core elements of planning projects and studies (e.g. general management plans, special resource studies, heritage area plans, wilderness studies or visitor use management plans) and related environmental documents (e.g. environmental assessments and impact statements); 2) Guide a project in the technical planning processes and analysis techniques related to outdoor recreation planning; 3) Prepare technical research scopes, budgets, schedules and mentor less experienced staff to ensure planning deliverables remain on track; 4) Develop approaches to resolve conflicts associated with complex and diverse circumstances arising from continuous changes in programs, policies guidelines, technology and/or contentious issues or complicated political situations.

There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 grade level of this announcement.

Volunteer Experience: 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 include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as “varies”. Experience listed as full-time will be credited at 40 hours per week.

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

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.