Soil Scientist

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Basic Education Requirement: Degree: Soil science or a closely related discipline that included 30 semester hours or equivalent in biological, physical, or earth science, with a minimum of 15 semester hours in such subjects as soil genesis, pedology, soil chemistry, soil physics, and soil fertility.; OR Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major in soil science or a related discipline that included at least 30 semester hours in the biological, physical, or earth sciences. At least 15 of these semester hours must have been in the areas specified in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Applicants who meet one of the Basic Requirements listed above qualify for the GS-5 grade level. In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered for the GS-7 level: Specialized Experience for the GS-07 Level: To qualify for the GS-7 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as applying routine principles, concepts and methodology associated with soil science, gaining practical experience working directly with other soil scientists. OR Superior Academic Achievement in a bachelor’s degree curriculum directly related to the work of the position. To qualify for superior academic achievement, you must have ONE of the following: (1) standing in the upper third of your college class or major subdivision at the time you apply; (2) grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed, either (a) at the time of application or (b) during the last 2 years of your undergraduate curriculum; (3) B+ (3.5 on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed in a related discipline, either (a) at the time of application or (b) during the last 2 years of your undergraduate curriculum; OR (4) election to membership in one of the national honorary scholastic societies that meets the requirements of the Association of College Honor Society; OR Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: Successful completion of 1 year of graduate-level education in Soil Science or a related field of study; OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages Specialized Experience for the GS-09 Level: To qualify for the GS-9 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. This experience is defined as (1) Conducting standard soil resource inventories and watershed restoration needs inventories; (2) Collecting soil samples for laboratory analysis to determine physical, chemical, an morphological characteristics; (3) Classifying soil properties according to appropriate standards; (4) Assisting in writing watershed restoration plans, erosion control plans, soil resources improvement plans, soil management reports, soil survey reports; OR Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: Two full years of progressively high graduate education or Master’s or equivalent graduate degree in soil science or a related field; OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=GS-PROF 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Incumbent assists the area/zone or similar engineer and provides basic technical guidance in the overall planning, design, installation, and maintenance of the engineering phases of soils and water conservation practices. Direct Hire Authority: This position is being filled through the Office of Personnel Managements (OPM) Direct Hire Authority for this occupation.