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Natural Resources Specialist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Two positions are available in the Eastern Region, one position within State and Private Forestry and Fire, and the other position in Renewable Resources.

Provide specialized and professional guidance, leadership, coordination, and program direction to integrate climate considerations into natural resource management.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Susan Ellsworth at susan.ellsworth@usda.gov and/or Stephen Kuennen at stephen.keunnen@usda.gov

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
02/16/2023 to 02/21/2023
Salary
$82,830 to - $98,496 per year

Salary wage as shown is for Rest of the U.S. For more information, refer to the Office of Personnel Management, Salary and Wages web page.

Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection
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 to attend meetings and or site visits.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
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-R9GVASTEM-0401-978531DH
Control number
706847200

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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  • Duties listed are at the full performance GS13 grade level.
  • Provide leadership and guidance to integrate climate change considerations into natural resource management activities, ensure resources are sustainably managed in accordance with science, best practices, and applicable federal and state laws.
  • Perform assignments that involve initiating, formulating, planning, and executing major studies, or continuing specialized projects to resolve natural resources issues and/or accomplish climate related program priorities.
  • Interpret broad legislation requirements to recommend changes to related existing policy and develop new policy guidelines for implementation.
  • Maintain professional relationships with other scientists or educators who are experts in related fields to stay abreast of the latest trends, innovations, and best practices in field of expertise.
  • Work with partners to develop strong and competitive projects.
  • Provide project management support and coordination for all aspects of a project.
  • Assist organization leadership in maintaining awareness of climate change, ecosystem services cooperative forestry programs and sustainability concerns with respect to achieving the agency mission.

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

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.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

For the GS-12: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience must include meeting the following statement: Developed and maintained working relationships with research institutions, agency/organization representatives, or other program delivery partners to address critical and emerging issues and/or accomplish climate-related program priorities.
And also must meet one or both of the following statements: Assisted senior subject matter experts in creating educational and planning resources designed to integrate climate change considerations into natural resource management; OR Provided support to senior subject matter experts to accomplish program responsibilities that included one or more of the following: climate program development, planning, budgeting, or identifying organizational needs to establish and meet climate priorities.

For the GS-13: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience must include meeting the following statement: Developed and maintained working relationships with research institutions, agency/organization representatives, or other program delivery partners to address critical and emerging issues and/or accomplish climate-related program priorities.
And also must meet one or both of the following statements: Led the development of educational and planning resources designed to integrate climate change considerations into natural resource management; OR Exercised program management responsibilities that included one or more of the following: climate program development, planning, budgeting, or identifying workforce and organizational needs to establish and meet climate priorities.

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 education requirement above.

Additional information

The incumbent of this position will need to be located within the Eastern Region. The final determination will be made by the selecting official at the time of the job offer. Salary is listed as RUS locality, however, final salary will be determined at the time of selection dependent on the duty location of the selectee. Map of Eastern Region: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/r9/about-region/offices

In the event the incumbent does not have a suitable home work environment, you will need to be located within the commuting distance of 49 miles from a Forest Service office or facility in the Eastern Region geographic footprint.

Two positions will be filled from this announcement and will serve as a Climate Adaptation Specialist to coordinate climate change activities within and across regional programs. One position is within the National Forest System (Renewable Resources) and the other within State, Private, and Tribal Forestry (Cooperative Forestry). Both positions will be tasked with program management within the corresponding deputy area and will have responsibilities for working across all deputy areas to address climate change issues.

The positions will work as team members within the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS), a collaborative partnership of Federal, forest industry, conservation, higher education, and tribal organizations led by the USDA Forest Service. NIACS is a nationally recognized program that develops synthesis products, fosters communication, pursues applied science, and provides technical assistance for climate adaptation and carbon management for the USDA Forest Service and regional partners.

This is to notify the public that the USDA, 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/.

Veterans' preference, category rating, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does NOT apply to this recruitment.

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.

This is a bargaining unit position represented by NFFE.

Forest Service daycare facilities/Government housing 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.


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/11846687

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