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Forest Products Resource Specialist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located on a Forest Service unit administering the business administration and financial management phases of a Forest-wide resource products management and sales program.

For contact information for individual duty locations, please see the "Education" section.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
11/15/2023 to 11/28/2023
This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$37,696 to - $74,250 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 5 - 9
Locations
4 vacancies in the following locations:
Idaho Falls, ID
Helena, MT
Libby, MT
Missoula, MT
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel may be required for training, meetings, field work, and/or site visits.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
9
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-R1GV-12154862-G-PCW
Control number
760676500

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Duties

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  • Duties listed are at the full performance GS-09 level.
  • Responsible for the complete and detailed administrative review of planned timber sale, stewardship contract or agreement pre-sale package.
  • Responsible for the technical review of contract and agreements to ensure they are complete and technically accurate.
  • Assists in the technical administration of straightforward forest resource management contracts, agreements, and permits.
  • Provides subject matter expertise, direction, and training to the forest product business and financial management resource section.
  • Responsible for validating all post execution sale administration events and financial transactions.
  • Responsible for auditing the existing forest product financial system, checking for accuracy and the proper use of procedures.
  • Independently handles all routine accounting.
  • Routinely interacts with purchasers, contractors, partners, and permittees to interpret and explain all financial aspects of contract, agreement, and/or permit from preparation through closure.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered 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.gov
  • A Level I Forest Products Resource Specialist certification is required to meet basic eligibility for the GS-09 position. You must submit documentation prior to the announcement close.

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.

For the GS-05 level:

  • As a trainee, the duties and experience in this position will be applied to the requirements for certification as a Level I Forest Products Resource Specialist. A Level I Forest Products Resource Specialist certification must be obtained within one (1) year of reaching the GS-07 level.

For the GS-07 level:
  • A Level I Forest Products Resource Specialist certification is required for this position. Incumbents must complete the requirements for this certification within one (1) year of appointment to this position.

For the GS-09 level:
  • Incumbent must be a certified Level I Forest Products Resource Specialist in order to qualify for this GS level.
The following is required for Level I certification:

1. Thirty-two (32) hours of Forest or Region level Timber Information Manager training.
2. Twenty-four (24) hours of formal Timber Sale Financial Management training.
3. Twenty-four (24) hours of formal Basic Sale Administration training.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

For the GS-05 level: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as meeting one (1) or more of the following:
  • Processing and auditing data and information;
  • Automated systems;
  • Routine and recurring business tasks;
  • Reviewing financial, budget, or accounting documents to ensure accuracy and completeness;
  • Reviewing natural resource permits and related documentation; and/or
  • Maintaining administrative records, special uses, realty, or other natural resource programs.
-OR-

A four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree.

-OR-

An appropriate combination of education and specialized experience.

For the GS-07 Level: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to a GS-05 grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as meeting one (1) or more of the following:
  • Participated in the validation and issuance of monthly statements and billings;
  • Tracked financial collections and ensured they were processed appropriately in management databases;
  • Performed the work relating to the input, output, review and analysis, posting, and adjustments of accounts; and/or
  • Assisted as bid opener for contracts.
-OR-

One (1) full year of graduate level education in an accounting, business management, finance, or law field of study;

-OR-

An appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience;

-OR-

Superior Academic Achievement (to determine if you are eligible, go to: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp).

For the GS-09 Level: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to a GS-07 grade level in the Federal Service performing forest products support work. Specialized experience is defined as meeting one (1) or more of the following:
  • Provided technical support work in the financial aspects of contracts and agreement, appraisals and accounting, contract activities, and business management of executed contracts;
  • Interacted with purchasers, contractors, and permittees to interpret and explain all financial aspects of contract, agreement, and permit preparation; and/or
  • Participated in accountability reviews and financial audits of completed contracts or agreements.
-OR-

A master's or equivalent graduate degree or two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., in an accounting, business management, finance, or law field of study;

-OR-

An appropriate combination of specialized experience and education as described above (only graduate education in excess of eighteen (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.

In addition to the requirements above, you must be a certified Level I Forest Products Resource Specialist in order to qualify for the GS-09 position. Level 1 certificate must be attached to application for verification.

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.

TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

See above for education that may be qualifying for specific grade levels.

For contact information for the individual duty locations, please contact the following:

Region 1: Kootenai National Forest in Libby, MT:

Region 1: Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in Helena, MT: Region 1: Lolo National Forest in Missoula, MT: Region 4: Caribou-Targhee National Forest in Idaho Falls, ID:

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).

Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked. Non-pay status such as leave without pay is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited. Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met.

Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.

For more information on applying under special hiring authorities, explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website.

PROMOTION POTENTIAL: 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 neither implied or guaranteed.


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.

Forest Service daycare facilities may be available.

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 based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the competencies listed below:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Oral Communication
  • Technical Competence
  • Technology Application


Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

If you meet the qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities must meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. 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.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12154862

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