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Entomologist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Northern Region, Region 1 with the State and Private Forest, located in Coeur d' Alene ID.

This position provides professional and technical assistance on the identification, monitoring, and management of forest insects.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Gina Davis at 208-714-1173, gina.davis@usda.gov

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/15/2021 to 04/19/2021
Salary
$53,433 to - $53,433 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Coeur d'Alene, ID
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - Multi-day overnight travel will be required during some weeks of the field season. Camping is an option for overnight travel.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
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-R1SVMAR-11081858-DP-REH
Control number
598295600

Duties

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  • Duties listed are at the full performance level.
  • Exercises scientific judgment to conceive and conduct evaluations, often in collaboration with research, to gain additional knowledge of the effects of specific insects on environments, control techniques, or survey methodologies.
  • Designs and prepares plans that are targeted to meet technical objectives.
  • Collects, process, and analyze field data to recommend actions.
  • Prepares technical reports and manuscripts that are technically adequate and have sound conclusions and recommendations.
  • Provides technical assistance that is relevant to internal and external partners.
  • Prepares guidelines for internal and external partners evaluating infestations and outlining current, effective, environmentally safe, and economically sound pest management alternatives that are consistent with land management objectives.
  • Organizes, plans, and conduct forest insect-related training programs, presentations, or seminars for various Federal, State, and private individuals.

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 course descriptions as necessary.

Basic Requirements GS-0414

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 entomology; or a related discipline of the biological or physical sciences that included at least 16 semester hours in entomology.

OR

Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major that included course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Evaluation of Education: Applicants with major fields of study in biology, zoology, or invertebrate zoology may fully meet the basic educational requirements if their academic preparation included substantive instruction (including appropriate laboratory and field work) in basic general entomology, taxonomy, physiology, ecology, general and organic chemistry, general physics, and mathematics or statistics that provided some training in the analysis of variables.

AND

Applicants must be able to distinguish one or more chromatic colors. This physical requirement is necessary for proper interpretation and identification of insects and organisms, and for aerial survey detection from airplane overflights and interpretation of remotely sensed products.

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

For the GS-09 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level; 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; OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

Must meet 3 of the following examples of specialized experience:

  • Participated in identifying and providing control recommendations for forest insect pest populations.
  • Oversaw field data collection of forest insect pests.
  • Performed routine surveys in forest entomology.
  • Participated in forest insect prevention and/or suppression projects to reduce the adverse effects of a pest.
For the GS-11 level: You must have must have 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (coursework directly related to position being filled); OR one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 level; OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.).

Must met 3 of the following examples of specialized experience:
  • Conducted evaluation surveys to determine the status of forest insects.
  • Completed analysis of insect-related forest health conditions.
  • Assisted with the development of appropriate forest health protection management alternatives.
  • Participated in forest insect detection, evaluation, prevention, and control projects.
For the GS-12 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level.

Must meet ALL the following examples of specialized experience:
  • Providing support for the analysis of insect-related forest health conditions and development of appropriate forest health protection management alternatives; AND
  • Serving as advisor in forest health protection, i.e., supporting projects in forest insect detection, evaluation, prevention, and control; AND
  • Assisting with the development and presentation of forest health training programs for cooperators such as federal, state, tribal or private land managers.
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

See above for education that may be qualifying for the specific grade level.

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. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered.

The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.

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.

This is a bargaining unit designated position.

Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.

Government housing is not available.

This agency offers alternative and flexible work schedules.

This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination will be made at the time of job offer.

How you will be evaluated

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

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

You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. You will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Individuals with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or 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/11081858

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