This position is located in Northeast Regional Office, in the Natural Resources Stewardship and Science Division.
The Coastal Ecologist provides a challenging and rewarding opportunity to assist parks and programs with meeting their needs for sound science. You will have the satisfaction of knowing the information collected assists natural and cultural resource decision making in park- based and landscape level management.
Summary
This position is located in Northeast Regional Office, in the Natural Resources Stewardship and Science Division.
The Coastal Ecologist provides a challenging and rewarding opportunity to assist parks and programs with meeting their needs for sound science. You will have the satisfaction of knowing the information collected assists natural and cultural resource decision making in park- based and landscape level management.
You will serve as a technical specialist for coastal ecology to the Northeast Region. Supervision is provided by a senior member of the NER Natural Resources Division and will be duty located at the University of Rhode Island.
Serves as staff specialist to park and Regional Office managers on coastal/marine resource programs and issues providing technical assistance on coastal/marine ecology.
The coastal ecologist is responsible for program development and implementation.
You will apply a systems approach to the study and analysis of coastal/marine ecosystems and other water resource program activities, including wetlands ecology, aquatic ecology, watershed management, and water quality monitoring.
You will provide technical guidance on the application of ecological principles to parks in the preparation, revision, and updating of management plans and compliance, and assists parks and Regional Office staff in the evaluation and coordination of management, monitoring, inventory, and research programs and strategies with park units and other stakeholders.
Less than FPL: Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.
Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
Direct Deposit: Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
Driving: 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.
Probationary Period: If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
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.
Government Charge Card: You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS: To be eligible for this position, you must possess the qualifying specialized experience and/or education as described in the occupational/assessment questionnaire and as outlined below.
BASIC REQUIREMENT:
Ecologist, GS-0408: Successful completion of a full 4-year course in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in biology or in a related field of science underlying ecological research that included at least 30 semester hours in basic and applied biological sciences. These hours must have included at least 9 semester hours in ecology and 12 semester hours in physical and mathematical sciences.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
To Qualify at the GS-11:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service. Specialized Experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.
Specialized experience for the GS-11 is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to experience: assisting in planning and executing natural resource programs, studies, or surveys; utilizing established qualitative and quantitative techniques to analyze scientific data; assisting with the preparation or tracking of project plans and resource needs; and/or maintaining cooperative relationships with external groups and individuals to complete natural resource projects; and drafting reports for review by higher level scientists. You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
I have successfully completed at least three full years of graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in a field directly related this position. One year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) is considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full- time graduate study. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
I do not have the full amount of experience listed in A and I do not have the full amount of graduate education listed in B above; however, I have an equivalent amount of such experience and graduate education. (To compute, first, determine your experience as a percentage of the experience required in A; then determine your graduate education as a percentage of the education required in B. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100%). You must include transcripts.
To Qualify at the GS-12:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service. Specialized Experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.
Specialized experience for the GS-12 is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to experience: planning, executing, and managing natural resource programs, studies, or surveys; utilizing established qualitative and quantitative techniques to analyze scientific data; involved in the development/preparation and tracking of project plans and resource needs; and/or developing cooperative relationships with external groups and individuals to complete natural resource projects, and drafting reports for review by higher level scientists. You must include hours per week 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.
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".
Education
POSITIVE EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:
For positions requiring positive education requirements or if you are using education to meet all or part of the qualification requirements, 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. Or other documentation to support your educational claims that include a list of all your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course.
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.
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.
Physical Demands: The position may require strenuous physical activity including periods of standing, walking, climbing, and lifting and carrying heavy objects. Some activities wlll occur in physically dangerous areas or settings. Documentary research and report writing work is sedentary, which entails the ability to concentrate and write for long periods of time.
Working Conditions: Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in all types of weather. Assignments may be performed in potentially hazardous areas including steep slopes, rocky terrain caves, rue-lines, wetlands, and forests. Flying in fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters is possible.
The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
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 Occupational Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Occupational Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions may 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 09/21/2018:
Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year format, and, indicate hours worked per week. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
A complete Occupational Questionnaire- PLEASE NOTE: You will not be considered for any eligibility you do not select.
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.
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 above85 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.
Note: Please ensure that your resume contains your full name, address, phone number, employment information such as employer name andlocation; from and to dates (or to present for current position), which includes the month, year, and hours worked per week for each description of experience, with pay plan/grade, if applicable education and training, etc. Failing to include the employment information listed above may affect your eligibility for this position. Please ensure your resume/employment history includes all the information listed above. We encourage you to use the USAJobs Resume Builder. You will not receive credit for experience that does not indicate the exact hours worked per week or is listed as "varies". Part-time hours are prorated. Your description of experience and education must be able to support any claim for qualifying for this position. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We may not make any assumptions regarding your experience. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response. To view a sample resume visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Sample_Resume
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 09/21/2018. 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.
Northeast Regional Office
1234 Market Street 20th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
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.
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 09/21/2018:
Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year format, and, indicate hours worked per week. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
A complete Occupational Questionnaire- PLEASE NOTE: You will not be considered for any eligibility you do not select.
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.
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 above85 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.
Note: Please ensure that your resume contains your full name, address, phone number, employment information such as employer name andlocation; from and to dates (or to present for current position), which includes the month, year, and hours worked per week for each description of experience, with pay plan/grade, if applicable education and training, etc. Failing to include the employment information listed above may affect your eligibility for this position. Please ensure your resume/employment history includes all the information listed above. We encourage you to use the USAJobs Resume Builder. You will not receive credit for experience that does not indicate the exact hours worked per week or is listed as "varies". Part-time hours are prorated. Your description of experience and education must be able to support any claim for qualifying for this position. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We may not make any assumptions regarding your experience. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response. To view a sample resume visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Sample_Resume
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 09/21/2018. 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.
Northeast Regional Office
1234 Market Street 20th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
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.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
