Natural Resources Specialist

Pathways Recent Graduate Applicants must have completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution. 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. (You MUST provide copies of your unofficial/official Transcripts with a Confer/Completion Date. Failure to provide this documentation will result in an ineligibility rating). In order to qualify, you must meet the Basic Education Requirement **AND** the Minimum Qualifications requirement (specialized experience and/or education) described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience. If qualifying based on education, a copy of your unofficial transcripts must be provided with your application. Basic Requirement GS-0401: Successfully completed a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a Bachelor’s degree (or higher) with a major study in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to this position. OR, A combination of education and experience in courses equivalent to a major course of study, as shown in statement A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field. **AND** MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level in which you are applying: Specialized Experience GS-07 : Applicants must have at least one full full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing at least 3 of the following duties: (1) collecting natural resource data for reports; (2) assisting senior specialists in the development and maintenance of resource management plans; (3) serving on an interdisciplinary team to collaborate with other specialist; (4) assisting with reviewing land planning documents for meeting regulatory requirements. OR, Education GS-07: Successfully completed at least one year of graduate education from an accredited college or university in a field directly related to the work of the position (i.e. biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry). OR, Combination of Specialized Experience and Education GS-07: An equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate level education described above, when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. OR, Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) GS-07: Successfully completed all of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for this position, from an accredited college or university, AND meet one of the requirements for Superior Academic Achievement based on the following: (1) (class standing (upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.); OR (2) grade-point average (3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on the official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as computed based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR, (3) election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. Specialized Experience GS-09 : Applicants must have at least one full full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing at least 3 of the following duties: (1) interpreting planning documents and NEPA laws, regulations, policies, and guidance for specific land and resource management programs or projects; (2) coordinating identification of inventory and data collection needed to conduct natural resource management planning; (3) resolving protests or appeals related to public land uses or natural resource management projects; (4) evaluating land planning documents for meeting regulatory requirements. OR, Education GS-09: Successfully completed at least two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master’s degree or completed a master’s or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited college or university in a field directly related to the work of the position. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position (i.e. biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry). OR, Combination of Specialized Experience and Education GS-09: An equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate level education described above, when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement. Please note only graduate education in excess of one year (18 semester hours) may be used to qualify under this option. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Volunteer Experience: 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. You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as “varies”.
These positions are located in the Colorado State Office in Meeker, Colorado. Recent Graduates who satisfactorily complete the Pathways Recent Graduates Program and meet all eligibility requirements for conversion may be non-competitively converted to a Term or Permanent appointment in the competitive service.