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Natural Resources Specialist (Ecologist)

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.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement - The COVID-19 vaccination requirement for federal employees pursuant to Executive Order 14043 does not currently apply. Click here for more information.

This position is located in Winnemucca, NV. for information of the area visit City of Winnemucca.

This position is authorized a 10% incentive - see Additional Information Section.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
05/03/2023 to 06/01/2023
This job will close when we have received 25 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$57,118 to - $89,835 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Winnemucca, NV
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
NV-DEU-23-11943021-KP
Control number
723314300

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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  • Plans, organizes, and conducts vegetation studies for the purpose of allotment and vegetation treatment evaluations. Make recommendations based on findings.
  • Responsible for inventory and analysis of rangeland and minerals practices and making recommendations for avoidance, minimization of impact, and mitigation options.
  • Independently plan and carry out intensive investigations into complex Vegetation Restoration and Habitat Management Program areas.
  • Implement ecosystem plans by developing specific habitat improvement projects. Provide input to the Annual Work Plan process for vegetation and soils programs with monitoring and tracking progress completed throughout the year.
  • Serves as technical expert in permit review for rangelands, minerals projects, recreation, riparian, and other projects to ensure compliance with Federal requirements.
  • Provides support for Resource Management Plans, landscape and watershed analysis, proposed research, other permits or plans, and partnership activities to support the Bureau?s ecosystem management objectives.

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.
  • An applicant appointed to this position must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.
  • Must be able to obtain certifications to safely operate Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTVs), and complete mandatory trainings.
  • May require completion of a one year probationary period.
  • If selected for this position you will need to complete the Federal Information Systems Security Awareness (FISSA) training prior to start date.

Qualifications

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.

Basic Education Requirement This position has a degree requirement: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

At the GS-09 Level:
Specialized Experience: I meet the Basic Education Requirement (BER) AND I have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) in the Federal service. Specialized experience is further defined as complete field inventories to collect vegetative and soil data; assist with preparing and organizing monitoring plans; assist with preparation of ecosystem plans such as land treatments or developing habitat improvement projects; experience applying knowledge of biological practices, principles, and techniques sufficient to assist in the recommendations of planning and implementing natural resource activities.
-OR-
Education:
I meet the basic education requirement AND completed 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's equivalent graduate degree in biological sciences or a directly related field.
-OR-
Combination of Education and Specialized Experience: I meet the basic education requirement AND possess an equivalent combination of the type and level of experience and education described above.

At the GS-11 Level:
Specialized Experience: I meet the Basic Education Requirement (BER) and have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) in the federal service. Specialized experience is further defined as plan, organize, and conduct field projects, field inventories, and special activity plans; participating in natural resources monitoring program activities by making observations, gathering data, and reporting findings used in Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs); conduct and oversee the development of ecosystem plans, habitat improvement projects, land treatments or water developments; prepare standard data reports, project files, material estimates or labor needs; evaluate land use proposals and permit requests/renewals where the proposal may impact vegetation, watershed or soils; plan, organize and conduct vegetation and soil studies and recommend specific monitoring and mitigation plans; and confirm compliance with Federal natural resource management laws, regulations, policies and practices.
-OR-
Education:
I meet the basic education requirement AND completed 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
-OR-
Combination of Education and Specialized Experience: I meet the basic education requirement AND possess an equivalent combination of the type and level of experience and education described above.

Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

Selective Placement Factors: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified:

  • Have a current, valid state driver's license.
  • Obtain certifications to safely operate Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV's) and complete associated mandatory trainings.
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: Office work is performed in adequately lighted, heated, and air-conditioned office, requiring careful concentration for accurate data analysis and computer input. Field work requires some physical exertion such as long periods of walking, standing, crouching, or riding in or driving vehicles over rough, uneven, or rocky terrain. The work requires the ability to travel into the backcountry or front country on foot or by stock under a wide variety of climatic conditions and elevations. Required to lift and carry items up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment: Work is performed both in the office and at extended field camp (sites) under a variety of topographic and weather conditions. In the field there is exposure to extreme heat and cold, rough terrain, insects, snakes, and other hazards are common. Field work involves extended traveling by truck, and extensive walking over very rough, rocky, and wet terrain, while carrying equipment and tools. Occasionally the incumbent may have to travel by light fixed wing aircraft or helicopter or UTV's to remote sites. The incumbent will carefully adhere to all safety procedures to minimize and mitigate hazards.

Education

This position falls under the General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series, 0401 Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) which requires that you have a degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position, or a combination of education and experience---courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

This position has a positive education requirement. You MUST submit a copy of ALL your college transcripts or a list of ALL college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. Upon selection, official transcripts must be received prior to appointment. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

All selections and tentative offers of selection are contingent upon submission and verification of 'official' transcripts.

Additional information

Relocation/Recruitment Incentive: This position is offering a Relocation/Recruitment Incentive, 10% of the annual salary. To be eligible for a Relocation Incentive, you must be a current Federal Employee and the selectee must be employed with the Federal Government and the selectees current duty location is more than 50 miles from the duty location of this position. To be eligible for a Recruitment Incentive, selectee must not be employed by the Federal Government.

Certain incentives (such as Recruitment, Relocation or Student Loan Repayment) may be authorized to eligible selectees. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive or Student Loan Repayment.

We expect to fill one (1) vacancy at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

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.

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

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

This announcement is being advertised concurrently under number NV-Merit-23-11943022-KP for status candidates and special hiring authority eligible. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how your application materials reflect the qualification requirements of this position.

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:

  • Ecology
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Research
  • Technical Competence

In the evaluation process, due weight will be given to job related experience, education, training, incentive awards and performance appraisals. Applicants must have a performance rating of at least the equivalent of fully successful to be eligible for promotion or placement. Applicants may provide a copy of a performance appraisal of record dated within the last 18 months. If the applicant is unable to provide a performance appraisal of record dated within the last 18 months, the applicant may provide a written explanation as to why.

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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