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Supervisory Biologist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Forest Service is using a Direct Hire Authority to fill this position. For Information on the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority, please visit https://www.opm.gov/policydata-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/

This position is located at the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS), in Ogden, UT.

For additional information about this position, please contact Maryfaith Snyder at 801-725-0134 or maryfaith.snyder@usda.gov

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open date: 02/23/2021
Closed date: 03/01/2021
Location
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$64,649 - $77,488 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-Time
Travel Required
50% or less - Occasional, overnight travel to attend professional meetings and field travel to train staff and monitor Quality Control work.
Appointment type
Permanent
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Other
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
21-RES-11021983-DHAP-DK
Control number
592876100

This job is open to

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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.

Duties

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  • Prepares short- and long-range training plans.
  • Orders and manages training equipment.
  • Instructs federal, state, and other partner field personnel in proper data entry and editing.
  • Maintains contact with other FIA field units and state coordinators to exchange information on training approaches.
  • Serves as technical expert and trains employees in the protocols established in the Forest Inventory and Analysis National Core Field Guide.
  • Supervisory and/or Managerial Responsibilities (25% of the time or more)

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.
  • USDA employees are required face masks and maintaining physical distance while on-duty and while on-site.
  • Note: If you are unable to wear a mask properly, accommodations, adaptations and alternatives will be considered in accordance with existing USDA and Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC)
  • Work requires intermittent physical exertions such as walking over rough terrain or waling up and down steps while inspecting field sites.
  • Expect occasional exposure to discomfort and/or risk of encountering extreme heat, cold or hazardous work situations.
  • Employees are required to use protective equipment including boots, gloves, safety goggles, and a hard hat when performing field activities.

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 Education Requirement for Biology Series (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 graduate level education in the amounts listed below.

General/Specialized Experience (HR/SME) GS-11 At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in federal service including all of the following:

  • Writing training plans specifically related to vegetation (forest or ecological) inventory and analysis
  • Training field personnel in proper forest inventory data entry and editing.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of forest inventory techniques and make recommendations for changes to processes.
--OR--

3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (with coursework directly related to position being filled which is forest inventory and analysis);

--OR--

An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education described above. Only that coursework beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D., is creditable at this grade level.

General/Specialized Experience (HR/SME) GS-12 At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the Gs-11 level in federal service including all of the following:
  • Writing short-and long-range training plans tailored to varying geographic conditions and specifically related to vegetation (forest or ecological) inventory analysis
  • Training employees in the protocols established in the Forest Inventory and Analysis Field Procedures Guide and developing modified techniques and methods for obtaining results
  • Performing administrative and human resources management functions for a work group including providing advice on administrative and work matters; and assuring compliance with safety regulations
--OR--

A conferred Ph.D. in one or more research areas directly related to the work of the position as described above which must include fields such as: forest biology, forest ecology, quantitative silviculture, disturbance ecology.

NOTE: Degrees in Zoology, Wildlife Biology, Marine Biology, and Microbiology are NOT qualifying as a substitution of education for experience for this position. The education must have had a focus on forest ecology/biology, vegetation management.

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.

Pay rates vary depending on location, the salary shown is for the Rest of the U.S. See OPM.gov for additional information on pay rates.

Forest Service daycare facilities may be available.

Government Housing is not available

Daycare facilities are not available


This position is eligible for telework and other flexible work arrangements.

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/11021983

Forest Service

A career with the Forest Service will challenge you to manage and care for more than 193 million acres of our nation's most magnificent lands, conduct research through a network of forest and range experiment stations and the Forest Products Laboratory, and provide assistance to State and private forestry agencies.

It's an awesome responsibility - but the rewards are as limitless as the views.

Agency contact information

HRM Contact Center
Phone
1-877-372-7248 X2
Email
SM.FS.FSJobs@usda.gov
Address
USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center
DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
Albuquerque, NM 87109
US

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