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Biological Scientist/Physical Scientist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position supports USDA Forest Service, Research and Development, Sustainable Forest Management Research as the National Program Leader for Wildland Fire and Fuels Research. This employee is an authority in the field of wildland fire and fuels research and is responsible for a range of leadership activities.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Toral Patel-Weynand at toral.patel-weynand@usda.gov or 202-605-0878.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
12/22/2020 to 01/28/2021
Salary
$121,316 to - $170,800 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14 - 15
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Entitlements for payment of basic moving expenses, as required and to the extent allowed by the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) 302-3.101, are authorized for eligible applicants changing duty station when the change meets the distance tests as provided in FTR 302-1.1 and 302-2.6. In addition, the following relocation benefits are available: Temporary quarters.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
15
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
21-RES-10982842-DHP-APL
Control number
587814300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy. Selections made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the civil service.

Duties

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  • Duties list are at the full performance level.
  • Responsible for strategic national program development and planning.
  • Assesses the adequacy of existing activities for Wildland Fire and Fuels Research.
  • Formulates and justifies program budget requests; tracks program performance and reviews accomplishments of field units; responds to inquiries about the program?s budget and performance.
  • Recommends priorities among projects for Wildland Fire and Fuels Research and coordinates program plans and activities within and across the mission areas of the Forest Service.
  • Provides authoritative professional, scientific, or technical advice to the Chief and Deputy Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment, and to senior executives of other USDA agencies.
  • Analyzes how program accomplishments are meeting clients? needs; proposes adjustments to increase service to clients; and identifies and proposes ways to eliminate duplication and redundancy in programs.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide university course descriptions as necessary.
This is an interdisciplinary position. To qualify, you must meet the Basic Education Requirement for one of the series below.

Basic Education Requirements for Biological Scientist (0401) series. For a detailed explanation of qualifying education and experience, visit: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/IORs/gs0400/0401.htm
Degree: successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
--OR--
A combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major described above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Basic Education Requirements for Physical Scientist (1301) series. For a detailed explanation of qualifying education and experience, review the information in the vacancy announcement or visit: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/IORs/gs1300/1301.htm.
Degree: successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.
--OR--
Combination of education and experience: 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, you must also possess experience in the amounts listed below. Graduate level education alone is not qualifying for the grades advertised.

Specialized Experience Requirements for the GS-14 level.
At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. To qualify at this grade level, this specialized experience must include all the following:
--Conducting wildland fire and fuels research and aiding in the development of strategic research plans;
--Directing long-term research projects of regional or national scope;
--Serving as a recognized expert in the field of wildland fire and fuels with a record of publication;
--Leading natural resource research projects and building coalitions to achieve timely and high-quality results to advance science, and the management of scientific research.

Specialized Experience Requirements for the GS-15 level.
At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service. To qualify at this grade level, this specialized experience must include all the following:
--Serving as a recognized expert in the field of wildland fire and fuels with a record of publication;
--Serving as a consultant and advisor to policy and decision makers as a recognized authority in wildland fire and fuels research;
--Providing strategic network leadership to establish natural resources research program vision and build coalitions locally and nationwide; AND
--Building strategic alliances with other agencies and organizations to enhance delivery of programs, science, and information related to forest management.

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

There is no substitution of education for specialized experience.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors.

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed.

Government Housing is not available

Daycare facilities are not available


This position is eligible for telework and other flexible work arrangements.

How you will be evaluated

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

This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, 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.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10982842

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