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Biological Scientist/Physical Scientist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is with the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute under the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station in Missoula, MT .

This employee provides analytical support to scientists for multi-agency development, implementation, and delivery of wilderness research and stewardship.

For additional information about this position, please contact Sean Parks at sean.parks@usda.gov

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/09/2023 to 08/18/2023
Salary
$82,830 to - $82,830 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Missoula, MT
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional overnight travel may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
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-RES-12080849-DHA-CC
Control number
741857500

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.

Duties

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  • Provide subject matter expertise to conduct and support science in bio/ecological systems, vegetation ecology, wildland fire/fuels, statistical analysis, and geospatial analysis.
  • Integrate research and methods from a range of disciplines such as ecology, physical sciences, or spatial analysis to resolve complex science or management problems.
  • Participate in regular communication and coordination with leadership and team members in Missoula and distributed across the United States.
  • Provide technology transfer of research results to a diverse array of project cooperators through publications, presentations, workshops, and consultations.
  • Analyze patterns in the distribution of plant or animal species, vegetation types, fuels, or similar bio/ecological components in relationship to successional dynamics, disturbance processes, and/or management actions.

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.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov

Qualifications

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 for the Biological Scientist Series (0401):
A. 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-
B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Basic Requirement for the Physical Scientist Series (1301):
A. Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.
-Or-
B. Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

For the GS-12: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE
Specialized experience at this level is defined as 4 out of the 5 listed below:

  1. Using GIS, remote sensing, and statistical analysis to map the distribution of plant or animal species, vegetation communities, fire/fuel, or similar bio/ecological characteristics.
  2. Analyzing patterns in the distribution of plant or animal species, vegetation types, fuels, or similar bio/ecological components in relationship to successional dynamics, disturbance processes, and/or management actions.
  3. Integrating research and methods from a range of disciplines such as ecology, physical sciences, or spatial analysis to resolve complex science or management problems.
  4. Managing large amounts of data in an organized and secure manner, which ensures long-term integrity of data and results based upon those data.
  5. Transferring information about complex scientific methods and data to a wide variety of individuals through written and oral communication.
Work Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning day, month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade if applicable; and description of duties performed. This information must be provided for each permanent, temporary or seasonal appointment/work assignment or volunteer work and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position.

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 required education.

Additional information

The 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/

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.

This is a bargaining unit position and is represented by either NFFE, AFGE, or NAGE.

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.

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/12080849

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