Clarification from the agency

Recent graduate who has, within the previous two years, completed a qualifying Associate's, Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate, professional, vocational or technical degree or certificate program. Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree due to military service obligation have up to six years after degree completion to apply.

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• Duties listed are at the GL-07 performance level.
• Patrol public lands, to include recreation areas, timber sale actives, and other resource use activities, to enforce and prevent violations.
• Detect and enforce criminal law offenses including, but not limited to: timber theft, wildland arson, livestock trespass, archeological resource protection, and drug control laws that affect law enforcement operations.
• Assists in conducting preliminary investigations of illegal or suspicious activities, including interviewing and interrogating witnesses and suspects to obtain information.
• Prepares investigative reports, coordinates findings with law enforcement supervisors, and testifies in hearings and trials.
• Provide support in identifying, arresting, and transporting suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.

Conditions of employment

Must be at least 21 years of age.
Must be a U.S. Citizen or National at the time of conversion to a competitive service appointment.
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
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.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
This is a drug testing designated position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
This position requires initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996.
Obtain and use a government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable) and are required to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
Physical Requirement- Position is subject to successful completion of multiple pre-employment physical efficiency battery assessments.
Medical requirement- Position is subject to successful completion of pre-employment medical examination.
Conditional Offer Suitability Assessment- This authorization for release of information is part of the E.O. 14074.
There may be additional Conditions of Employment not listed here; however applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer is made.

Qualifications

You are required to meet the eligibility requirements of the Recent Graduate program, as described below in order to be considered for this position. You must meet all the eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

RECENT GRADUATES PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible, you must meet one of the following requirements:

An individual must have obtained an associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree, or a certificate from a qualifying educational institution, or have completed a qualifying career or technical education program within the previous 2 years.

If you are a current student who is in the process of completing your degree, academic documentation must accompany your application package to validate your upcoming graduation date (you must complete all degree requirements within nine months of the application closing date to be considered a Recent Graduate); OR

Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have as much as six years after degree completion to apply.

You must possess the qualifications requirements identified below to be considered qualified for this position. Your application or resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

SPECIAL POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Physical Demands: Due to the physical and vigorous requirements of this position, the incumbent must meet the established medical and physical standards/requirements set forth by USDA as it's considered essential to perform the duties of this position, The work requires a person with good physical health and stamina to work under pressure, along with the ability to lift and carry heavy objects and have the physical agility and dexterity. Ability to operate specialized motorized equipment such as motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, boats and snowmobiles may be required.

Maximum Entry Age: The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian law enforcement [or firefighter, if applicable] experience or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in the loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement.

Lautenberg Amendment: This position is covered by the 1996 Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968. A person convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence are not eligible for the position. False or fraudulent information provided by candidates is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment (Title 18 USC Section 1001).

Firearms Requirement: The incumbent is required to carry a firearm while performing duties of this position so they must meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlines in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. The incumbent must qualify semiannually with all weapons issued by the USDA and maintain proficiency.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT:
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.

For the GL-05: You must have must have three years of progressively responsible experience, one year of which was equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level. General experience is defined as 3 or more of the following: 1. Performing routine administrative and field support tasks that required following established procedures, such as reviewing basic regulations and policies to understand work requirements and assisting with simple assignments under close supervision. 2. Assisting higher-graded staff with basic investigative support duties including observing scenes, helping gather straightforward facts, and preparing draft notes or portions of reports while learning proper documentation practices. 3. Conducting basic research on regulations and directives to resolve routine questions and preparing draft notes or portions of reports, seeking supervisory assistance when instructions were incomplete or situations were unfamiliar. 4. Engaging with the public to explain procedures and regulations, gathered preliminary information from witnesses or complainants, and coordinated with supervisors and partner agencies as directed to support mission objectives. 5. Participating in required training and applying learned procedures to assigned tasks and recognizing when guidance was needed and requested assistance appropriately when encountering unfamiliar work situations.
OR Bachelor's degree or 4 years of successfully completed education above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree;
OR Appropriate combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

For the GL-07: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as 3 or more of the following: 1. Assisting in conducting misdemeanor investigations by helping secure crime scenes, collecting basic physical and documentary evidence, interviewing witnesses under guidance, and drafting portions of investigative reports using established investigative methods. 2. Performing entry level patrol duties to prevent, detect, and report violations of Federal laws and regulations related to natural resources, property, employees, and public use; issued warnings as directed and referred non routine or complex violations to higher graded officers. 3. Supporting enforcement operations-including search warrant execution, arrests, and prisoner transport-by completing assigned tasks such as custody documentation, evidence handling support, and maintaining scene control in compliance with Forest Service law enforcement policies. 4. Researching regulations, directives, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to resolve routine questions and applied guidance to developmental assignments; sought supervisory input when encountering unfamiliar conditions or potentially sensitive resource protection issues. 5. Interacting with forest users, witnesses, and partner agencies by explaining rules and procedures, collecting preliminary information, and assisting with coordination during multi-agency operations and public safety activities.
OR One full year of graduate level education;
OR Superior Academic Achievement (go to this site to determine if you are eligible: General Schedule Qualification Policies). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Please note that Superior Academic Achievement can only be applied if you have graduated or completed (or expect to complete within 9 months) all the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

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
• Flexibility
• Interpersonal Skills
• Self Management

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 eligibility requirements of the Recent Graduate program and the minimum qualification requirements of the position, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Qualified individuals with veteran's preference are listed ahead of individuals who do not have veteran's preference.

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/13052656