Clarification from the agency

See "Who May Apply" in the "Qualifications" section for more information on who is eligible to apply for this position.

• Post-secondary student positions are provided opportunities for development and training. Assignments become more responsible as incumbent increases knowledge and skills through work experience and academic training.
• Assignments at this level are designed to orient, train, and increase the incumbent's knowledge in the engineering sciences, to problems concerned with testing a wide variety of systems and equipment.
• Performs a variety of assignments selected to broaden skills and provide practical experience to prepare for progressively more complex assignments.
• Full performance duties typically involve creating, exploring, evaluating, designing, and sharing solutions and the validity of their predicted performance to resolve problems, conditions, and issues.

Conditions of employment

• Post-secondary students will initially be appointed to a term appointment in the competitive service for an initial period expected to last more than 1 year; may be extended up to 4 years.
• Some positions may require one or more of the following: valid driver's and/or boat license, drug testing, pre-employment physical, and/or wearing of personal protective equipment (I.e., uniform, hard hat, goggles, masks, gloves, etc.).
• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• A trial or probationary period may be required in accordance with agency policy.
• A post-secondary student appointment expires 120 days after completion of the designated academic course of study, unless the student is selected for noncompetitive conversion.
• In compliance with the preliminary nationwide injunction, the Department of the Army will take no action to enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to EO14043 on requiring COVID-19 vaccination for federal employees.
• Safer Federal Workforce Task Force guidance on other Federal agency safety protocols based on vaccination status?including guidance on protocols related to masking, distancing, travel, testing, and quarantine?remains in effect.
• Selections may be made at the GS-03, GS-04, GS-05, or GS-07 grade level and salary will be set based on the grade level and duty location at the time of selection.
• This is a developmental position up to the full performance level. Noncompetitive promotion to the full performance level is authorized.
• TERM appointments may be converted to permanent (career or career-conditional appointment) without further competition, as long as all requirements are met.
• May be non-competitively converted to a career/career-conditional appointment within 120 days of successful completion of academic program.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: To be eligible for consideration you must meet the definition of Post-Secondary Student as defined below:

Post-Secondary Student: a person who, (1) is currently enrolled in, and in good academic standing at, a full-time program at an institution of higher education; and (2) is making satisfactory progress towards receipt of a baccalaureate or graduate degree; and (3) has completed at least one year of the program.

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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).

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant education and experience.

Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

To qualify at the GS-03 grade level, applicants must have completed one full academic year of post-high school study relevant to the position/series.

To qualify at the GS-04 grade level, applicants must have completed two full academic years of post-high school study or have an associate's degree relevant to the position/series.

To qualify at the GS-05 grade level, applicants must have completed the following:
As a Community Planning (099) student trainee:
A). A bachelor's degree (or higher) in community planning; or related field such as urban affairs, architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, sociology, geography, economics, political science, or public administration that included at least 12 semester hours in the planning process, socioeconomic and physical elements of planning, urban and regional economic analysis, and development finance; OR
B). A combination of education and experience which includes courses equivalent to a major in one of the above disciplines, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the above disciplines of which at least 12 semester hours were in the planning process, and socioeconomic and physical elements of planning, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

As a Geography (0199) student trainee:
A). A bachelor's degree (or higher) 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
B). A combination of education and experience which includes courses equivalent to a major in geography, or a related field that included at least 24 semester hours in geography or related fields, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

As a Biology (0499) student trainee:
A). A bachelor's degree (or higher) in biological science, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related discipline appropriate to the position; OR
B). A combination of education and experience which includes course equivalent to a major shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

As an Engineering (0899) student trainee:
A). Applicants must meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for all Professional Engineering positions, to be fully qualified at the GS-05 grade level.

As a Geology (1399) student trainee:
A). A bachelor's degree (or higher) in geology, plus 20 additional semester hours in any combination of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological science, structural, chemical, civil, mining or petroleum engineering, computer science, planetary geology, comparative planetology, geophysics, meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, physical geography, marine geology, and cartography; OR
B). A combination of education and experience which includes course equivalent to a major shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

As a Mathematics/Statistics (1599) student trainee:
A). A bachelor's degree (or higher) in Mathematics, statistics, or actuarial science. The degree must be in a major field of study (at least at the baccalaureate level) that is appropriate for the position; OR
B). Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major field of study as shown in paragraph A above, plus additional education or appropriate experience.

To qualify at the GS-07 grade level, applicants must have completed the following:
As a Community Planning (099) student trainee:
A). One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service which includes assisting in the development and analysis of general planning formulation and evaluation processes (i.e., urban and regional study/report preparation, or environmental legislation); assisting with the preparation of formal community meetings with internal/external customers (i.e., Congressional, Federal, State, local agencies, and elected officials); OR
B). One full academic year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as urban affairs, architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, sociology, geography, economics, political science, or public administration.

As a Geography (0199) student trainee:
A). One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service which includes reviewing permit applications under established federal regulations such as land management regulations, the Clean Water Act, or state land use/resources programs to ensure completeness and clarity of proposed work description; participating in field investigations to collect data on aquatic resources or fish/wildlife habitat; and preparing reports utilizing/synthesizing data; OR
B). One full academic year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as geography.

As a Biology (0499) student trainee:
A). One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service which includes applying biological practices, principles and techniques sufficient to assist in the recommendations of planning and implementing environmental, recreational and natural resource management activities; OR
B). One full academic year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as biological science, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a related discipline/academic program.

As an Engineering (0899) student trainee:
A). One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service which includes searching technical reports to obtain information relating to projects; applying basic formulas to routine calculations; OR
B). One full academic year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as engineering. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.).

As a Geology (1399) student trainee:
A). One year of specialist experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service which includes compiling basic geological data (i.e., stratigraphic columns, fence diagrams, cross-sections, rose diagrams, structural contours and building GIS models) to contribute to reports on scientific data, conditions, and problems; OR
B). One full academic year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as geology, physical science. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.).

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If, after reviewing your résumé and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates.