Perform uncomplicated field and laboratory work in support of one or several parks' vegetation and fire monitoring programs. The duties performed by the incumbent are typically associated with and supportive of professional work. The GS-6 position is intended to report to a specialist or resources manager in the same or a related field. The GS-5 position is intended to report to a specialist or resources manager in the same or a related field, typically through a higher-graded lead position.
Summary
Perform uncomplicated field and laboratory work in support of one or several parks' vegetation and fire monitoring programs. The duties performed by the incumbent are typically associated with and supportive of professional work. The GS-6 position is intended to report to a specialist or resources manager in the same or a related field. The GS-5 position is intended to report to a specialist or resources manager in the same or a related field, typically through a higher-graded lead position.
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-Time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 8 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
Appointment type
Temporary - 1039 hours/The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for is April-October , but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: April 2020
GS-5 Position serves as a member of a field crew that performs community vegetation sampling to assess the effects of prescribed burning at National Park Service units in the Northern Great Plains ecoregion including parks in South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming. Establishes and monitors plots in a variety of fuel/vegetation types. Sampling includes identifying plants to the species level, recording various biological attributes, measuring fuel loading, and collecting / processing live and dead fuel moisture samples. Employee uses maps, compass, and GPS to locate and install permanent plots. Enters natural resource field data into a personal computer using FFI, Ecological Monitoring Utilities. Catalogs, labels, and stores plant materials collected during the season. Prepares fuel loading samples and processes fire weather, behavior and effects data.
GS-6 Position serves as an assistant lead monitor of a field crew that performs community vegetation sampling to assess the effects of prescribed burning at National Park Service units in the Northern Great Plains ecoregion including parks in South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming. Establishes and monitors plots in a variety of fuel/vegetation types. Sampling includes identifying plants to the species level, recording various biological attributes, measuring fuel loading, and collecting / processing live and dead fuel moisture samples. Employee uses maps, compass, and GPS to locate and install permanent plots. Enters natural resource field data into a computer using FFI, Ecological Monitoring Utilities. Catalogs, labels, and stores plant materials collected during the season. Prepares fuel loading samples and processes fire weather, behavior and effects data. As assigned, may temporarily lead crew in the accomplishment of the above-mentioned duties. Monitor crew work progress and verify that assignments are completed.
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 may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, you may be required to 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 discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license.
You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
Government housing may be available.
Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-02/19/2020-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.
To qualify for this position at the GS-5 and/or GS-6 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
GS-05
EXPERIENCE: Possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. For this position specialized experience is experience such as establishing vegetation monitoring plots; monitoring plots and making field observations of resource conditions; collating and reporting live and dead fuel loadings, fuel moistures, and fire behavior and weather data relating to spread rate, flame length, and other fire prescription elements. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of at least the GS-04 grade level in the federal service. You must provide hours worked. -OR-
EDUCATION: Have four years of education above high school (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with major study (or 24 semester hours of progressively-higher level course work) in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, forestry, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics which included at least 6 semester hours of courses in a field of study directly related to the position to be filled (for example, biology, botany, forestry, or fire science).You must include transcripts. -OR-
Combination: Have an equivalent combination of education and experience. NOTE: Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to 1 year of specialized experience. For example, I have 6 months of the specialized experience described in A above (50% of the experience requirement), and 3 years of college study from an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education) which included at least 12 semester hours of related coursework as specified in B above (50% of the related coursework required), 3 semester hours of which was related to the work of this position. You must include transcripts and provide hours worked.
GS-6
EXPERIENCE: Have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in Federal service that is directly related to the position to be filled that involved fire management technical support functions such as fire monitoring and vegetation management that has equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the GS-06. (Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: establishing vegetation monitoring plots; monitoring plots and making field observations of resource conditions; collating and reporting live and dead fuel loadings, fuel moistures, and fire behavior and weather data relating to spread rate, flame length, and other fire prescription elements; collects and organizes field data using standardized data collection procedures and equipment. Develop parameters to monitor vegetation, soil, air quality and other factors. You must provide hours worked.
EDUCATION: Have successfully completed one-year (18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours) of graduate study concentrated in a field that is directly related to the work of this position, such as in plant sciences, ecology, botany, natural resource monitoring/management, agriculture, forestry, fire science, or other directly-related subject matter. You must include transcripts. Combination: I have an equivalent combination of education and experience. For example, I have 6 months of the specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement), and 9 semester hours or 14 quarter hours of graduate study from an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education. You must include transcripts and provide hours worked
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.
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.
Additional information
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
Individuals selected under this vacancy announcement are eligible for the possibility of extensions or rehire in subsequent service years.
Physical Demands: In addition to working in an office/laboratory setting, the work involves walking, running, climbing, and backpacking with a load over rough terrain, sometimes for extended periods; lifting moderately heavy items; bending and stooping for long periods; and working under occasionally inclement (cold, hot, snow, wind) weather conditions.
Working Conditions: Work is performed in an office, laboratory, and in the field. Fieldwork includes exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, biting insects, wild animals, high pollen levels, dermatitis-causing plants, and poisonous snakes. Incumbent may be required to fly in helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, and may be required to work in actual fire situations, ·which can be hazardous.
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. Opens in a new windowLearn 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 you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.
Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:
Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
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. Opens in a new windowLearn 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.
The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 02/19/2020:
Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, dates specified in month and year format, 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. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
A complete Occupational Questionnaire
Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as:
If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, orMother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.
Documentation that you meet Selective Factors.
College transcripts, if qualifying based on education.
Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above 89 on the rating criteria for this position.
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.
Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
To apply for this position: You must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 02/19/2020. WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES.
Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to login or create an account.
Prompted to Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application."
Select documents you want included in this application.
Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed.
Select if you want to include your demographic information.
After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site."
Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application.
Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown.
Upload any missing required documents or optional documents.
Review and Submit Application.
While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position.
You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement.
To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job.
Note: When you click Update Application, you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. So it is important that you select all documents you want to use in the re-application.
Wind Cave National Park
26611 US Hwy 385
Hot Springs, SD 57747
US
Next steps
Once the Occupational Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.
IMPORTANT: Effective May 26, 2018, please note that a temporary seasonal employee can only maintain his or her non-competitive rehire eligibility if he or she works no more than a combined total of 1,039 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their service year. Accordingly, noncompetitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b ][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision ( which is defined as the National Park Service). .
If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months, and have already worked the maximum 1,039 hours during the last 12 months, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1,039 hours will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility. The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1,039 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1,039 hours.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 02/19/2020:
Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, dates specified in month and year format, 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. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
A complete Occupational Questionnaire
Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as:
If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, orMother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.
Documentation that you meet Selective Factors.
College transcripts, if qualifying based on education.
Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above 89 on the rating criteria for this position.
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.
Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
To apply for this position: You must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 02/19/2020. WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES.
Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to login or create an account.
Prompted to Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application."
Select documents you want included in this application.
Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed.
Select if you want to include your demographic information.
After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site."
Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application.
Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown.
Upload any missing required documents or optional documents.
Review and Submit Application.
While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position.
You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement.
To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job.
Note: When you click Update Application, you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. So it is important that you select all documents you want to use in the re-application.
Wind Cave National Park
26611 US Hwy 385
Hot Springs, SD 57747
US
Next steps
Once the Occupational Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.
IMPORTANT: Effective May 26, 2018, please note that a temporary seasonal employee can only maintain his or her non-competitive rehire eligibility if he or she works no more than a combined total of 1,039 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their service year. Accordingly, noncompetitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b ][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision ( which is defined as the National Park Service). .
If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months, and have already worked the maximum 1,039 hours during the last 12 months, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1,039 hours will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility. The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1,039 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1,039 hours.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
