Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Natural Resource Specialist/Physical Scientist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
State & Private Forestry, Forest Health Protection
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is in the Forest Service, Washington Office, State, Private, Tribal Forestry (S&PF). Serves as a National Program Manager for forest health programs and collaborates with entomologists, pathologists, geneticists, silviculturists, botanists, forest health protection specialists.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact at Richard Cooksey or richard.cooksey@usda.gov.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/24/2023 to 08/31/2023
Salary
$112,368 to - $172,075 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13 - 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
23-WO-SPF-FH-12075981-DH-CT
Control number
745431100

This job is open to

Help

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.

Videos

Duties

Help
  • Duties are at Full Performance Level.
  • Ensure program and technical directives are consistent with governing laws, regulations, and policy.
  • Advise on funds, budget, human capital and other resources required for program accomplishment.
  • Participate in interagency efforts to streamline partnership instruments that apply broadly across all land management agencies.
  • Serve as the Forest Service representative on interagency task forces relating to program areas assigned.
  • Represent the Forest Service at conferences and various public, interagency, and congressional meetings.
  • Prepare technical and policy papers, speeches, reports, testimony, and various types of correspondences, including annual reporting of forest health conditions, accomplishments, and outcomes.
  • Communicate with various members of the public, private firms, organizational leaders, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) staff and Congressional staff.
  • Present briefings/presentations related to assigned programs.

Requirements

Help

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 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.

GS-1301:
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: 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 -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

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

Specialized Experience Requirement:

For the GS-13: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as a majority of the following: advise Directors with special problems relating to policy changes and additional proposals for program management; Planning support and developing resource data standards that will be used to develop analyses and information products; Provide leadership, scientific expertise, and/or support in research methods, and other scientific methods and techniques, and other resource planning and analysis technology and applications; Develop and implement analysis techniques and methods that can be used to investigate, analyze, review, plan, and advise on various program problems or conditions.

For the GS-14: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as a majority of the following: formulating program policies and guidance related to forest science, forestry, forest genetics or a similar program. Establishing guidelines for identifying appropriate program measures. Developing guidance papers or guidance documents for a similar program. Briefing agency teams and keeping leadership apprised of changing conditions and emerging issues that may impact the work of the team or individual program needs. Reviewing policy and planning program objectives to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. Completing system reviews, analyses, analytical reviews and reports to determine if objectives have been met.

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 requirement.

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.

Selections made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would be given a new appointment.

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 non-bargaining unit position.

Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.

Government Housing will not be available.

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


The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/

Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel Help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email SM.FS.asc_tos@usda.gov

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/12075981

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.