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Biological Scientist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located at a Forest Service Nursery/Seed Extractory.

You will be responsible for implementing seed operations and managing seed stores for reforestation and vegetation restoration activities.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Kayla Herriman by email at kayla.herriman@usda.gov.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
06/20/2023 to 06/26/2023
Salary
$57,118 to - $74,250 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Camino, CA
Foresthill, CA
Placerville, CA
Yreka, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel may be required for site visits and for meeting/training attendance.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
23-EHT-NUR-FS4268-9DP-KL
Control number
732301600

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Duties

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  • Provides managerial assistance for a complete array of seed extractory functions; Provides technical assistance to nurseries and other users of seed throughout the western United States.
  • Performs seed orchard work such as controlling weeds both chemically and manually, pruning and removing trees, replanting, identifying new stock, and protecting trees from insect and animal damage.
  • Digs drainage ditches and installs and operating irrigation systems.
  • Assists in planning, programming, budgeting, and periodic surveys to obtain data for use in current and long-range management of the seed processing operations at a nursery seed extractory.
  • Plans the receipt, unloading, and storage of all seed lots; as well as plans and directs proper storage procedures to prevent seed spoilage.
  • Oversees weighing, placement of seed containers, placement of seed lot identification in and on containers, and supervises placement of containers in the cold storage facility.
  • Oversees the drying, seed extractions, de-winging, counting, bagging, and identification of controlled-cross progeny cones received from the seed orchard.
  • Assesses and recommends maintenance of all physical facilities involved in the seed operations. Prepares reports and replies to correspondence concerning seed operations.
  • Coordinates with and maintains close informal working relationships with other seed orchard personnel in the Region, as well as Regional and Zone Geneticists and Forest level personnel concerned with seed and/or progeny seed and seedling operations.
  • Supervises up to 20% of the time - Provides technical and administrative supervision to subordinate and temporary employees.

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.

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.

Basic Requirement

GS-0401 Series:

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

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 the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform working 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-09 level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as meeting at least two of the following: Participating in the planning and scheduling of seed activities, such as seed extraction, sowing and propagation, in an extractory, nursery or greenhouse; Using appropriate propagation techniques to grow a wide variety of conifer and native plant crops; Tracking and maintaining information on individual crops and/or nursery/extractory activities and reporting that information to a database; Assisting a nursery horticulturist or seed extractory lead with routine assignments; and/or Monitoring biological plant development to adjust schedules as necessary.

OR

A master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related;

OR

An appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

See above for education that may be qualifying for this position.


HIRING EVENT INFORMATION:
This National Nursery and Genetics hiring effort is critical to accomplishing reforestation needs and successfully implementing the REPLANT Act across the National Forest System. This includes positions for multiple components of the reforestation pipeline. Positions filled through this event will contribute to reforestation and restoration work directly related to the agency's mission, working to promote healthy, diverse, and productive forests and grasslands across the nation.

Additional information

Salary range as shown is the locality pay area of Rest of U.S. (RUS). Pay rates vary depending on location and may be higher or lower than the amount shown. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information.

Final determination of duty station will be made by the selecting official at the time of job offer.


The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.

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. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered.

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/

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.

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

Supervisory: New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required new supervisory training program within one year of entry into a supervisory position.

Physical Demands: The work regularly requires some physical exertion such as long periods of standing; walking over rough, uneven, swampy, or rocky terrain; recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, or reaching; or recurring moving, lifting and carrying of moderately heavy items.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office and outdoor environment. Work is performed in buildings with high dust levels, refrigerated rooms with temperatures as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit and in buildings with high moisture conditions. Temperature and moisture extremes are encountered in the performance of outdoor work.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Employees are required to wear PPE while performing duties associated with their field of work.

We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.

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 in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. You will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Individuals with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or 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/11987622

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