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Regional Pesticide and Invasive Plant Specialist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Positions will be filled in the Alaska Region, Pacific Northwest Region, and Southwest Region. See the Additional Information section for duty location details, and point of contact and pay rate information.

This vacancy is limited to the first 75 applications received and will close at 11:59pm ET on the day we receive the 75th application or at 11:59pm ET on the closing date of this announcement, whichever comes first.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
02/02/2023 to 02/07/2023
This job will close when we have received 75 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$82,830 to - $98,496 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Forest Service Locations
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—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses or a relocation or recruitment incentive in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
23-R10GVA-401-12-13-INV-DH
Control number
703973100

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.

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Duties

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  • Serves as the recognized authority for the regional pesticide and invasive plant management programs within the Region.
  • Provides expert advice to all program areas regarding the management of invasive plants (both native and non-native).
  • Periodically reviews and provides field units with information regarding project plans and procedures for monitoring the beneficial and adverse effect of pesticides applications.
  • Inspects operational pesticide projects and pesticide storage and disposal procedures for compliance with regulations and guidelines.
  • Provides direction, input, and review of environmental documents for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) sufficiency when pesticides or invasive plants are involved.
  • Maintains a Regional information center of all pesticides used with the Regions and provides up-to-date information to all Regional Office staffs and resource managers .
  • Manages the SPFTR invasive plant grant program to states within the region, and works with state, private, tribal, and other federal partners to facilitate the management of invasive plants at the landscape level, and data.
  • Serves as the primary contact person for coordination with NFS staff around issues related to pesticides and invasive plants in the Regional office.

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.

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 Requirement:GS-0401:

  1. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

    or

  2. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.

Specialized Experience

Requirement:
For the GS-12: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service defined as one or more of the following:
  • Planning and conducting training on pesticide use and pesticide user certification;
  • Administering various noxious weed grants with various cooperators such as county weed associations, state, Department of Agriculture personnel, and other non-government organizations;
  • Providing advisory planning and technical guidance on environmental projects and programs; OR
  • Assisting as a representative in pesticide and invasive plant program management; reviewed environmental documents for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) sufficiency when pesticides are involved.

For the GS-13: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service defined as one or more of the following:
  • Reviewing project plans and procedures for monitoring pesticide applications;
  • Providing advice and technical leadership to National Forests and Grasslands for training in safe pesticide use, and pesticide project planning and implementation;
  • Serving as a representative in pesticide and invasive plant program management;
  • Reviewing environmental documents for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) sufficiency when pesticides are involved;
  • Assisting with public information and education efforts to gain public understanding and acceptance of planned pest management programs; OR
  • Working with partners to deliver an invasive/pesticide program on state and private lands.
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 requirements.

Additional information

Duty Location Information and Point of Contact (POC):
Alaska Region - Duty location is negotiable for locations with a Forest Service office in Region 10. POC: Michael Shephard at michael.shephard@usda.gov
Pacific Northwest Region - Duty location is negotiable for locations with a Forest Service office in Region 6. . POC: Karl Dalla Rosa at karl.dallarosa@usda.gov
Southwest Region - Duty location is negotiable for locations with a Forest Service office in or adjacent to Region 3. POC: Andy Graves at andrew.graves@usda.gov

These positions will be located at a Forest Service office, final determination of the duty station(s) will be made by the selecting official at the time of the job offer. To see where these Forest Service Offices are located click here. Select each region to see the different locations.

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

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. Current civil service employees would be given a new appointment.

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed.

Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.

Forest Service daycare facilities may be available.

Government Housing is 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.

This position is not eligible for telework.

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/11814875

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