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GEOSPATIAL ECOLOGIST/ GEOGRAPHER/ ECOLOGIST

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Montana/ Dakotas State Office
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource.

This position is located in Billings or Missoula, MT. Information about Billings and Missoula and the surrounding area can be found at https://www.billingschamber.com/ or https://www.missoulachamber.com/

We expect to fill one vacancy/vacancies at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.






Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
09/21/2020 to 10/05/2020
Salary
$76,721 to - $99,741 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Billings, MT
Missoula, MT
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—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
MTMP-20-10917217-EFP
Control number
579313400

Duties

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  • Serve as a consultant and advisor regarding geospatial and ecological modeling and analysis that supports a range of natural resources planning and science activities for the Montana/ Dakotas State Office.
  • Initiate, formulate, plan, and execute a variety of geospatial assessments and projects that analyze and model natural and human-induced processes and biological and physical components of ecosystems at a variety of temporal and spatial scales.
  • Analyze and evaluate current geospatial practices and future needs at the state and/or regional level and recommend appropriate resource management strategies to address those needs.
  • Support the integration of broad, regional, and/or landscape scale assessments and data into everyday BLM land management decision making.
  • Represent the Bureau at management and professional conferences and other events for the purpose of exchanging information, presenting technical and policy information, and advancing advocacy for public lands stewardship.
  • Ensure that geospatial program activities are consistent with national policies and priorities, as well as any applicable laws or regulations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Be sure to read the How to Apply and Required Documents Sections.
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
  • Direct Deposit Required.
  • Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
  • Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
  • This position requires procurement duties. If selected for this position, you will be required to complete a Procurement Integrity Certification, OF-333 prior to appointment.
  • May require a one year probationary period.

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

In addition to meeting the education requirement, you must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization as indicated by the following examples: Serve as a consultant and advisor regarding geospatial and ecological modeling and analysis that supports a range of natural resources planning and science activities over a wide geographic area (e.g. state or region); Promote and implement an integrated training program to teach basic and complex skills in geospatial and ecological modeling and analysis; Initiate, formulate, plan, and execute a variety of geospatial assessments and projects that analyze and model natural and human-induced processes and biological and physical components of ecosystems at a variety of temporal and spatial scales; Use quantitative geospatial analysis techniques to predict effects of planned or natural changes in ecological systems; Analyze and evaluate current geospatial practices and future needs at the state and/or regional level and recommend appropriate resource management strategies to address those needs.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade requirement in accordance with 5 CFR 300.604. If you are a current Federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level.

Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary, requiring long periods of sitting in one position, intense concentration, and working for several hours at a time. Occasionally there may be some physical exertion such as walking; hiking; standing; bending; lifting; carrying of items; driving or riding in an automobile; etc.

Work Environment: Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate controlled office. Occasional travel may be -required. The incumbent will adhere to all safety rules and regulations as prescribed in manuals/supplements or designated by the Safety Officer.

Education

0150 Series: Degree in geography; or related physical or social science such as geology, meteorology, economics, statistics, sociology, anthropology, political science, history, cartography, computer science, urban studies, or planning that included at least 24 semester hours in geography or related fields.or Combination of education and experience in courses equivalent to a major in geography, or a related field that included at least 24 semester hours in geography or related fields, geology, meteorology, economics, statistics, sociology, anthropology, political science, history, cartography, computer science, urban studies, or planning, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

0401 Series: Degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. or A combination of education and experience in courses equivalent to a major in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

0408 Series: Degree in biology, or a related field of science underlying ecological research that included at least 30 semester hours in basic and applied biological sciences. These hours must have included at least 9 semester hours in ecology, and 12 semester hours in physical and mathematical sciences.

You must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. If your degree is from a Foreign Institution See Foreign Education.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program(ICTAP): CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at CTAP or ICTAP. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found well qualified for this vacancy. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form.

CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they receive a minimum score of 90 based on the rating criteria used for this position.

SELECTIVE SERVICE: Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System at https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx

Tax Law Impact for PCS: On 22-Dec-2017, Public Law 115-97 - the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 suspended qualified moving expense deductions along with the exclusion for employer reimbursements and payments of moving expenses effective 01-Jan-2018 for tax years 2018 through 2025. The law made taxable certain reimbursements and other payments, including driving mileage, airfare and lodging expenses, en-route travel to the new duty station, and temporary storage of those items. The Federal Travel Regulation Bulletin (FTR) 18-05 issued by General Services Administration (GSA) has authorized agencies to use the Withholding Tax Allowance (WTA) and Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) to pay for "substantially all" of the increased tax liability resulting from the "2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" for certain eligible individuals. For additional information on WTA/RITA allowances and eligibilities, please visit:
https://www.gsa.gov/policy-regulations/regulations/federal-travel-regulation-ftr/i1182168#i1180710

The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis. The selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

This announcement is being advertised concurrently under number MTDE-20-10917216-EFP, which is open to all qualified persons. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

.If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document, you do not have in electronic form; view the following link for information regarding an Alternative Application

How you will be evaluated

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

Resumes must show relevant experience and other information. Your resume must list your education and work experience including the dates (mm/yyyy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week and optional salary information. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. Visit the USAJOBS Help Center for more information on What should I include in my federal resume?

Your resume will be used to validate your responses to the assessment tool(s). Failure to provide required information will result in loss of eligibility. You are welcome to submit an optional cover letter.

You will be evaluated based on how your application materials reflect the qualification requirements of this position.

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online questionnaire will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. The best qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be contacted for an interview.

Your answers to the online questionnaire will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:
Data Interpretation
Planning and Evaluating
Technology Application

In the evaluation process, due weight will be given to job related experience, education, training, incentive awards and performance appraisals. Applicants must have a performance rating of at least the equivalent of fully successful to be eligible for promotion or placement. Applicants may provide a copy of a performance appraisal of record dated within the last 18 months. If the applicant is unable to provide a performance appraisal of record dated within the last 18 months, the applicant may provide a written explanation as to why.

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