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Supervisory Biological Scientist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position supports the Resource Monitoring and Assessment Program, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Team in the Pacific Northwest Research Station in Anchorage, AK.

The FIA program is charged with conducting a nationally-consistent, strategic annual forest inventory of the United States and its territories.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Dan Irvine at daniel.r.irvine@usda.gov

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
11/30/2021 to 12/09/2021
Salary
$72,299 to - $93,994 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Anchorage, AK
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - Occasional travel 7-8 times per year to other Forest Service offices or remote field locations to meet with cooperators.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
22-RES-11300177-DH-JS
Control number
623948600

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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  • Promote field crew safety including proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), aviation operations safety, safety briefings, etc.).
  • Coordinate the collection of data on forest type; stand size and stand age; land-use and ownership; natural and anthropogenic treatments and disturbances; tree attributes; shrubs and herbaceous vegetation; insects and disease; and soil hydrology.
  • Collaborate with information management staff to set-up, test, and fix errors with data collection software and hardware.
  • Develop, organize, and provide training to field staff to ensure quality data collection.
  • Conduct surveys to obtain information on the effects of land management operations, land use, natural disturbances, and climate change on forest health and tree species populations, biomass, growth, harvest, and mortality.
  • Participate on Forest Inventory and Analysis task teams to develop and implement forest inventory protocols and information management systems and promote data collection consistency.
  • Plan and organize studies, or projects for a natural resource program, including cost/benefit analyses, methods to be used, timing, and coordination of staff both internal and external to the organization.
  • Assure that safety and health hazard analysis and emergency action plans are completed as required.
  • Establish performance requirements, and communicate performance elements and expectations to employees.
  • Perform administrative and human resources management functions such as recommending promotion of employees, and participating in recruitment and hiring of applicants for vacant positions.
  • Collaborate with internal and external partners to facilitate successful implementation of the Forest Inventory and Analysis program in Alaska.

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.
  • Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If selected, must submit proof of vaccination or request a religious or reasonable accommodation.
  • Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.

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 university course descriptions as necessary.

Basic Education Requirement for 0401 Biological Science Series:

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 education in the amounts listed below.

Minimum Qualifications for GS-11:

GS 11 Level: One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09). To qualify at this grade level, your experience as documented in your resume must include all of the following:

  • Conducting studies on the effects of land management, land use, natural disturbance, or climate change on indicators of forest health or forest attributes such as biomass, growth, harvest, and mortality.
  • Communicating with others to coordinate or advise on work efforts or to resolve operating problems while working toward mutual goals.
  • Assisting with training field personnel to follow established guidelines in order to obtain multi-resource information.
  • Assisting with project management procedures, activities, and infrastructure, including prioritizing tasks, reviewing work and evaluating performance; and offering regular feedback.
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);

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.).

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.

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. If selected, current civil service employees will be given a new appointment.

Government Housing is not available.

Daycare facilities are not available.

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.

Salary will be adjusted to include a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA). Over the next several years, locality will be phased in and a gradually reducing COLA will continue to be paid after the three year phase in period. See the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/nonforeign-areas/#url=COLA-Rates for additional information.


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/

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/11300177

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