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Natural Resources Program Manager (Biologist/Physical Scientist)

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

For questions regarding the duties or location of this position, please contact Katherine Frauen at katherine_frauen@nps.gov or 608-590-8570.

This announcement is also open to Federal employees and those with special hiring authorities under announcement number MW-1544-IATR-24-12195510-ST.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
11/15/2023 to 11/30/2023
Salary
$46,696 to - $74,250 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 9
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Cross Plains, WI
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
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
9
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
MW-1544-IATR-24-12195509-DE
Control number
760587800

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Duties

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This position, a full-time, Natural Resource Manager, is an outstanding opportunity for a candidate with skills in Geospatial technologies, biological sciences, ecology, or other environmental sciences. Employee will serve as the Natural Resource Manager of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (NST). The position is in Cross Plains, Wisconsin, is supervised by the Trail Manager for the Ice Age NST, with office space in a newly renovated building situated on NPS Property along the Ice Ace Age NST route. The NPS property is located within and makes up some acreage of the larger Cross Plains Ice Age National Scientific Reserve and State Park.

The Ice Age NST is a premier recreational footpath that generally follows the edge of the last glacial advance in Wisconsin. The Ice Age NST is administered and managed in partnership between the National Park Service (NPS), Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), and Ice Age Trail Alliance (IATA). When completed, the Ice Age NST will meander for approximately 1,200 miles through Wisconsin, from Potawatomi State Park in Door County to Interstate State Park in Polk County. Today, approximately 700 miles of the Ice Age NST have been constructed and are open for use. The Ice Age NST preserves outstanding landscapes and landscape features, resulting from continental glaciation. The NPS is responsible for overall administration, NEPA, planning, compliance, interpretation, volunteer program and signage of the Ice Age NST.

Responsibilities:

  • Carry out provisions of the National Trails System Act (P.L. 90-543, as amended) pertaining to the geospatial aspect of planning and administering of the Ice Age NST.
  • Administers all functions related to ArcGIS, technical support, and collecting data with GPS while proposing creative ways to use technology to advance development of the trail and advanced interpretation
  • Create presentations of findings and effectively communicate situation or project to other interested parties, partners, and members of the public
  • Develop project workplans and implementation strategies leading to the accomplishment of restoration efforts, trail development, mitigation actions, and participate as a member of the planning and interdisciplinary team
  • Interprets variables, trends, correlations, and interrelationships between data and conditions of work projects and provides reports to managers and interested parties
  • Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and teamwork mentality that fosters the commitment to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and supports the goals established with partners
Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties.
  • You may be required to work overtime.
  • If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 3 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
  • Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/30/2023-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 or GS-09 grade level, you must possess one of the Individual Occupational Requirements for the GS-0401 or GS-1301 series AND the minimum qualifications by the closing date of the announcement:

Basic Requirements for Biologist, GS-0401
EDUCATION: Successfully completed a full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelors or higher degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. YOU MUST PROVIDE TRANSCRIPTS.
OR
Combination of education and experience which included courses equivalent to a major as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Basic Requirements for Physical Scientist, GS-1301
EDUCATION: Successfully completed a full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelors or higher degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. YOU MUST PROVIDE TRANSCRIPTS.
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 ONE OF THE BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS, you must meet one of the following:

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include the following: 1) assist in monitoring and reporting on the condition of air and water resources; 2) provide field data reports that identify resource issues or potential problems while conducting natural and cultural resource projects; 3) participate in the development and implementation of mitigation work project plans. You must include month/year to month/year and hours worked per week for each work entry on your resume.
OR
EDUCATION: At least one full year of graduate-level education that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered an academic year of graduate study. You must include transcripts.
OR
COMBINATION:
An equivalent combination of education and experience listed above. For example, six months of the specialized experience described above (50% of the experience requirement), and 9 semester hours of related graduate level college study in an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education) would be qualifying. You must include month/year to month/year and hours worked per week for each work entry on your resume. You must include transcripts.
OR
EDUCATION - SAA: Completion of a bachelor's degree in a field that demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities to do the work AND Superior Academic Achievement as evidenced by one of the three following methods: (1) I am in the upper third of my graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR (2) I have a GPA 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum, or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in my major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR (3) I am a member in one of the national scholastic honor societies.You must submit proof of bachelor's degree and how you meet one of these criteria.

To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include the following: 1) monitoring and reporting on the condition of air and water resources; 2) identify air and water resource issues for correcting work projects; 3) utilize automated systems to prepare reports and illustrations for restoration work projects; 4) provide responses to inquiries on resource management strategies and programs. You must include month/year to month/year and hours worked per week for each work entry on your resume.
OR
EDUCATION: At least 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered an academic year of graduate study. You must include transcripts.
OR
COMBINATION:
An equivalent combination of education and experience listed above. Please note, only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. For example, I have six months of the specialized experience described above (50% of the experience requirement), and 27 semester hours of directly related graduate level college study in an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level). You must include month/year to month/year and hours worked per week for each work entry on your resume. You must include transcripts.

QUALITY RANKING FACTOR: This position will utilize appropriate GIS technology on the job to develop project maps, collect geospatial data, and generate reports. Past work experience using GIS will enhance performance in this position. Applicants who possess such experience may be ranked above those who do not, but will not be rated ineligible solely for failure to possess such experience. This experience must be documented in your resume to receive credit.

Volunteer Experience: 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

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Additional information

Open to the first 50 applicants or until 11/30/2023 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.

Physical Demands: The work requires some physical exertion such as long periods of standing; walking over rough, uneven or rocky surfaces; recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching or similar activities; and recurring lifting or moderately heavy items.

Working Conditions: Work is performed both indoors and occasionally outdoors with moderate risks.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

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 based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

  • Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
  • Communications and Media
  • Ecology
  • Geospatial Information Systems
  • Information Resources Strategy and Planning
  • Manages and Organizes Information
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Problem Solving
  • Project Management
  • Public Planning
  • Teamwork


In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessments, including a panel resume review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.

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