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Natural Resource Specialist (Sage Grouse)

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
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 the California Bureau of Land Management, Northern California District. The duty location will be Alturas, CA or Cedarville, CA. Information about the surrounding area can be found at Alturas and Cedarville.

We expect to fill 1 vacancy 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
01/18/2023 to 02/15/2023
This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$46,696 to - $89,835 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 11
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Alturas, CA
Cedarville, CA
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
Yes—Travel and relocation expenses will be paid consistent with the Federal Travel Regulation, Chapter 302, and Departmental policy. Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. See "Other" section for additional information on 2017 Tax Cuts as related to PCS.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CADE-23-11807542-JB
Control number
700697200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens - No previous Federal Service is required. CTAP and ICTAP candidates in the local commuting area.

Duties

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  • Identifies potential hazards to Sage Grouse and Sagebrush Obligate Species through review of existing range improvements.
  • Assists with the implementation and monitoring of management plans designed to improve or expand wildlife habitat.
  • Works with wildlife biologists and botanists on activities designed for the recovery of federally listed species and their habitats and similar activities related to sensitive species.
  • Provides Sage Grouse and Sagebrush Obligate Species management input and evaluates the impact to plans or actions proposed by other resource activities.
  • Performs habitat field inventories by setting objectives and goals, developing monitoring plans, and analyzing data for inclusion in planning documents.
  • Identifies restoration projects that involve site stabilization and revegetation.
  • Prepares Environmental Assessments (EAs) on proposed rangeland and wildlife habitat management projects that include problem site restoration, Allotment Management Plans (AMPs), and other cases or projects.
  • Works as part of a team to conduct field surveys to inventory and monitor the status and condition of native animal and plant species and their habitats.
  • Works with agency botanists and rangeland management specialists to inventory, monitor and identify invasive species.
  • Works with local groups to promote and sustain cooperative Sage Grouse and Sagebrush Obligate Species conservation interest and volunteerism.
  • Serve as initial point of contact for individual and local groups on Sage Grouse and Sagebrush Obligate Species habitat matters.
  • Collects, compiles, updates, analyzes, and displays GIS data for input into planning documents, reports, and other materials.
  • Routinely uses automated data processing (ADP) hardware and software to support accomplishment of assigned duties.
  • Collects, enters, directs, updates, and maintains habitat monitoring, species occurrence information, and other Sage Grouse and Sagebrush Obligate Species data.

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.
  • May require a one year probationary period.
  • This is a Bargaining Unit position.
  • An applicant appointed to this position must possess (or obtain within 30 days of entrance on duty) and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.

Qualifications

This position has an individual occupational requirement, please read the education section to ensure you meet these requirements.

In addition to meeting the individual occupational requirement,
you must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level. 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.

To qualify for the GS-7, you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty to the GS-5. Examples of specialized experience include: Performing a broad range of resource inventories and studies. Experience evaluating habitats and collecting vegetation data. Conducting avian surveys and nest monitoring. Knowledge and ability to analyze data and effects on Sage Brush Obligate species habitats. Ability to use a GPS unit for navigation and data collection. Experience utilizing automated data systems to enter, update, and maintain scientific data. OR 1 year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement OR A combination of education and specialized experience. OR Superior Academic Achievement (See OPM's General Policies, Application of Qualification Standards Section 4.f.) S.A.A. must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled.

To qualify for the GS-9, you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty to the GS-7. Examples of specialized experience include: Professional knowledge of natural resource
management to perform work associated with the implementation, monitoring, mitigation, and
planning activities to conserve sage grouse and its habitats. Analyzing and interpreting data for use in resource management plans. Utilizing automated equipment (hardware/software), data systems, and applications to enter, update, and maintain habitat monitoring, species occurrence information and data. OR 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree OR A combination of education and specialized experience. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience.

To qualify for the GS-11, you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty to the GS-9. Examples of specialized experience include: Professional knowledge of theories, principles, and concepts of wildlife biology and terrestrial habitat management to develop plans and carry out investigations into Sage Grouse and Sagebrush Obligate species. Assisting in the development of monitoring plans, gathering, and analyzing data for inclusion in planning documents, drafting Sage Grouse and Sagebrush Obligate Species portions of land use plans. Implementing Sage Grouse and Sagebrush Obligate Species management portions of allotment evaluations, multiple use decisions, mine plans, and land exchanges. Experience using a variety of analytical tools, software (GIS), and monitoring data systems to identify, design, coordinate and/or implement wildlife habitat improvement projects in a sage steppe environment. OR 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OR A combination of education and specialized experience. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with 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.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Physical Demands: Position required a combination of office and fieldwork. Office work may require periods of sitting and intense concentration. Fieldwork may involve operating 4x4 vehicles, walking, standing, or driving through rough, uneven, or rocky terrain.

Work Environment: Majority of work is completed in the field. May require working under adverse environmental conditions such as extreme heat or cold, high winds, and dust. Incumbent may be required to wear a BLM uniform as appropriate for various aspects of the job.

Education

This position has an individual occupation requirement that must be met. To be considered you must meet one of the below criteria:

  1. A degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
  2. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
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. See Required Documents section for more information.

Additional information

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP

Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service

Tax Law Impact for PCS: Moving expenses reimbursement is a taxable benefit. However, the Federal Travel Regulation 18-05 issued by General Services Administration has authorized agencies to use the Withholding Tax Allowance and Relocation Income Tax Allowance to pay for "substantially all" of the increased tax liability resulting from the "2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" for certain eligible individuals.

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 CAMP-23-11807543-JB, for status candidates and special hiring authority eligible at the GS-11 level. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

BLM may use certain incentives, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract high quality applicants.

The COVID-19 vaccination requirement for federal employees pursuant to Executive Order 14043 does not currently apply. Click here for more information. To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

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.

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. Qualified applicants will be placed in one of three predefined categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified and Qualified. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Candidates placed in the Best Qualified category 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: Conservation Biology, Partnering, Restoration Ecology, and Technology Application
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 the following additional assessment: Subject Matter Expert Resume Panel Review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.

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