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 resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning day, month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade if applicable; and description of duties performed. This information must be provided for each permanent, temporary or seasonal appointment, work assignment, or volunteer work and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position.

Basic Requirement:
GS-0401:
Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university 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
Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major field of study that included 24 semester hours in course work in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. Related course work generally refers to courses that may be accepted as part of the program major.
OR
Combination of education and experience that included 24 semester hours in course work in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position, AND experience sufficient to demonstrate that I possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation that is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field needed to perform the work of the occupation.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.

Minimum Qualifications Requirements:
For the GS-05: No specialized experience required. Applicants who meet the basic requirements described in the basic requirements are fully qualified for the GS-5 level.

For the GS-07: At least one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as all of the following:
--Assisting with the management of ecological monitoring projects (including building schedules, logistical planning, and execution of work);
--Collecting forestry, botanical, and geographic measurements, obtaining data on tree growth, forest type, stand size and stand age;
--Producing routine reports and summaries of field visits, interpreting standard procedures, and ensuring that data collection is accurate, repeatable and in compliance with established protocol.
OR
One full year of graduate level education directly related to the work of the position. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work in fields such as forestry, forest ecology, botany, biology, ecology.
OR
An appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as defined above
OR
Superior Academic Achievement: Go to this site to determine if you are eligible: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

For the GS-09: At least one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as having 3 out of 4 of the following:
--Managing forest inventory or resource monitoring projects (including, development of flexible work plans that include anticipated workforce needs, time and cost estimates);
--Analyzing forest inventory monitoring data for accuracy and compliance with established protocol; utilizing field observations, aerial imagery, and historical site information for land use classification;
--Serving as subject matter expert in forest inventory field data collection to answer questions about methods and findings and to train others; and communicating with state, federal, tribal, and/or private organizations to enlist cooperation and support in research activities;
--Experience overseeing employees includes: establishing expectations; making recommendations for performance standards and measures; and identifying/providing developmental training as necessary.
OR
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. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work in fields such as forestry, forest ecology, botany, biology, ecology.
OR
An appropriate combination of specialized experience and education and education described above. Only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify for this grade level. Your education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

NOTICE OF WORKING CONDITIONS: The work is performed primarily in a field environment including steep slopes, thick brush, and remote locations. Field work often requires moderate to strenuous physical exertion, including walking, bending, and climbing, in rugged terrain, under adverse conditions, for long periods of time while carrying moderate loads of 45 pounds or more. On and off trail hiking, driving, and navigating are required. Work in the forest environment involves considerable risk of falls due to uneven terrain, risk of insect bites, contact with poisonous plants, etc. Temperatures may range from very hot and dry to very cold and extremely wet. Car camping and backpacking will be required.

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.

TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT (GS-7 and GS-9 only) If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in mail service, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

• Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) supervisor's phone number and whether or not the supervisor may be contacted for a reference check; 5) other qualifications.
• If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit: a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

• Current and former Federal employees: 1) Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing that you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND 2) Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. Do not submit a performance plan.
• Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
• Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Eligible Applicants: please review the Required Documents for Hiring Authorities Quick Guide on the Forest Service website.
• Current permanent FSA County employees: most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action, (SF-50 or equivalent) showing your highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) per above.
• VEOA Veterans: please review the Required Documents for Hiring Authorities Quick Guide on the Forest Service website.
• If claiming eligibility under a special hiring authority not listed above, please review the Required Documents for Hiring Authorities Quick Guide on the Forest Service website.