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Tribal Relations Specialist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

These positions are located in the Eastern Region, Region 9, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

Serve as the Tribal Relations Specialist and point of contact for the American Indian Tribe(s) having an interest in the activities in the designated forest(s) relative to government-to-government trust responsibility.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Sitka Pencesitka.pence@usda.gov.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
10/17/2023 to 10/23/2023
Salary
$69,107 to - $107,680 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 11 - 12
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Florence, WI
Lakewood, WI
Laona, WI
Medford, WI
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
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
24-R9-P1SVA-12162492-DP-MR
Control number
754907400

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Duties

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  • Provide advice and recommendations regarding activities affecting American Indian tribal rights or trust resources.
  • Represent the agency in working with tribe(s), ensuring that the rights of Sovereign Indian Nations are fully respected and incorporated into building and maintaining relationships between the tribes and national forest.
  • Provide leadership to ensure the rights of Sovereign Indian Nations are fully respected.
  • Provide consultation that includes tribal protocol and policies regarding activities affecting American Indian tribal rights or trust resources.
  • Advise leadership of any procedural impediments that negatively impact the ability of the agency and its employees to effectively work with tribal governments.
  • Develop strategies to improve relationships between tribes and national forest.
  • Provide advice and guidance to staff who work in tribal affairs on appropriate interaction with Tribal Representatives to ensure the working relationship is respected and adhered to.
  • Provide group and one-on-one training pertaining to tribal relations.
  • Facilitate discussion of controversial topics and address difficult issues related to tribal relationships.

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.
  • Must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.

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.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

For the GS-11 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as experience working in a natural or cultural resources environment for or with a Federally recognized tribal government, Native American/Alaska Native tribal or inter-tribal organization or institution, or in a tribal community performing three or more of the following: Assisting in establishing and maintaining organizational relationships with Native American tribes; and/or Preparing documents such as briefings, summaries of tribal relations and consultation activities, and/or specific tribal concerns; and/or Coordinating tribal outreach efforts on behalf of an agency or tribe; and/or Assisting with tribal consultation and coordination for complex issues, projects, proposed activities and plans; and/or Serving as a point of contact and/or liaison with federal agencies or Native American organizations.

OR
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, if related;

OR
An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.).

For the GS-12 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as experience working in a natural or cultural resources environment for or with a Federally recognized tribal government, Native American/Alaska Native tribal or inter-tribal organization or institution, or in a tribal community performing three or more of the following: Assisting leadership with dispute resolution between tribes and/or government agencies; and/or Preparing briefing documents, summaries of tribal relations and consultation activities, and/or summaries of specific tribal concerns; and/or Coordinating tribal outreach efforts on behalf of an agency or tribe; and/or Providing consultation on tribal rights and concerns during development of plans, projects, programs and activities; and/or Serving as a point of contact and/or liaison with federal agencies or Native American organizations.

Education

See qualifications.

Additional information

The incumbent is required to operate a government vehicle on public highways and private roads therefore a valid state driver's license is required.

Positions may be filled at any listed grade level.

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.

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

Government Housing may be available.

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/12162492

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