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Botanist

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource.

For additional information about the BLM, please visit Our website.

For information about the Oregon State Office, visit our website.

For information about the Portland area, visit Travel Portland.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
06/04/2019 to 06/17/2019
Salary
$79,407 to - $103,232 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Portland, OR
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - Frequent travel throughout the geographic region to various state and field offices, and sometimes the Washington D.C. Office will be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Travel and relocation expenses will be paid consistent with the Federal Travel Regulation, Chapter 302, and Departmental policy. The use of a relocation service company and home marketing incentive will not be offered.
Appointment type
Permanent - This is a permanent appointment.
Work schedule
Full-time - Work Schedule is Full Time.
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
OR Merit-2019-0145
Control number
535452500

Duties

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This position leads the Plant Conservation and Restoration Program, which includes threatened, endangered, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sensitive plant species, for the BLM OR/WA State Office in Portland, OR. The State Botanist is responsible for performing duties involving professional knowledge of the theory, principles, practices, and techniques of plant taxonomy and field identification of plants, especially as related to the flora of the Pacific Northwest and northern Great Basin in Oregon, and Washington, and professional knowledge of the methods, techniques, and relationships underlying the science of botany, including plant propagation, ecology, geography and other basic plant sciences.

Major Duties

This position serves as the Plant Conservation & Restoration Program leader for BLM in Oregon and Washington. The incumbent translates and communicates national direction to formulate and recommend policies and program direction at the regional or state level, which includes threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant species, to ensure the program is meeting both

Department of Interior (DOI) and BLM national, regional, and state priorities, strategies and Initiatives.

Provides leadership, oversight, coordination, and ensures consistency of restoration/conservation activities and programs, including native plant materials collection and development, with other BLM program needs; including special land use designations such as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern and Research Natural Areas.

The specialist organizes, participates, and serves as primary contact for the BLM with other state and federal agencies, state natural heritage programs, environmental and conservation groups, industry representatives, universities, and other stakeholders interested in plant conservation, restoration, and native plant material development.

Responsible for assisting in developing, tracking, and monitoring the budget and accomplishments for the program including progress toward AWP targets. Makes recommendations to management where adjustments are needed.

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Physical Demands:The work combines office duties with occasional field duties. Office duties are largely sedentary. Field duties will consist of site visits, some of which will require walking and hiking in irregular terrains and varied climatic conditions.

Work Environment: The work environment will consist primarily of an office environment, with some office duties conducted in a meeting setting. Extremes of cold and heat could occur during field duties or during travel. Field duties may require hiking and/or vehicle travel into remote locations in all seasons.  Incumbent will adhere to all safety rules and regulations as prescribed in manuals/supplements or by the designated field officer.

Requirements

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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 Land;
  • Direct Deposit Required;
  • Background Investigation Required.

Basic requirements: Degree: botany; or basic plant science that included at least 24 semester hours in botany OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in botany or basic plant science that included at least 24 semester hours in botany, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

You will need to clearly state your undergraduate/graduate degree(s) and submit your college transcripts or a listing of your college courses that includes hours and grades.

Qualifications

In addition to meeting the basic requirements above, you must also meet the following Specialized Experience Requirements:  

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement - please be sure to include this information in your resume. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade (GS-11) of the position to be filled. This experience would utilize professional knowledge of the theories, principles, techniques and terminology of plant taxonomy and the identification of plants, and the ability to apply this knowledge as necessary to operate as a technical expert. Examples: providing technical advice on habitat management plans, inventory and monitoring techniques, recommendations on viable population size, plant identification, plant ecology.  Evaluation of impacts on plants and their habitats by planned projects, and suggestions for mitigating measures.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.  Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade requirement.

Additional information

SELECTIVE SERVICE:  Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.  To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System website.

May require completion of a 1 year probationary period.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP):  CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at CTAP or ICTAP.  If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found well qualified for this vacancy. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form.

CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they receive a minimum score of 90 based on the rating criteria used for this position.

Reemployment Priority List (RPL): The RPL is the mechanism agencies use to give reemployment consideration to their former competitive service employees separated by a RIF or who have fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than one year.  If you are currently on a Reemployment Priority List, you may be given priority consideration.

Telework: The Bureau of Land Management has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Government facilities are required to provide a smoke free environment for their employees. Smoking will be permitted only in designated areas.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Upon receipt of your complete application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements.  Your rating will be based on your responses to the Job Specific Questionnaire and the information stated in your resume. If qualified, your score may range from 70-100 points.    In addition, interviews may be conducted for this position.  The interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis or may be scored.  The job specific questions relate to the following knowledge, skills and abilities required to do the work of this position.

1) Professional knowledge of the theory, principles, practices and techniques of plant taxonomy and field identification of plants.

2) Professional knowledge of the methods, techniques, and relationships underlying the science of botany, including plant propagation, ecology, geography, and other basic plant sciences.

3) Professional knowledge of applicable laws, executive orders, regulations, and BLM and Department of Interior policies and procedures.

4) Professional knowledge and experience in communication skills.

5) Extensive knowledge and experience in BLM's budgeting processes.


To preview questions please click here.

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