Natural Resource Specialist

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-12 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 level. One year at the GS-13 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-14 level. (Please submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. No Award or General Adjustment SF-50’s will be accepted). Time-in-grade requirements also apply to VEOA applicants having held a GS position in the past year. See addition information. Basic Requirements: Degree: Bachelor’s or higher degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. (You must submit transcripts.) OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown 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. In addition to courses in the major and related fields, a typical college degree would have included courses that involved analysis, writing, critical thinking, research, etc. These courses would have provided an applicant with skills and abilities sufficient to perform progressively more responsible work in the occupation. Therefore, creditable experience should have demonstrated similarly appropriate skills or abilities needed to perform the work of the occupation. (You must submit transcripts.) In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: GS-13: Must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Coordinating data analytic efforts to identify improvements in organization, processes, and data collection; gathering natural resources and other data to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation accomplishments for use in program management; preparing technical responses to be used in the decision making process for senior level policy makers; AND preparing written reports and oral presentations for agency leaders and conservation partners. GS-14: Must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: developing and leading data analytic efforts to identify improvements in organization, processes, and data collection; gathering natural resources and other data to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation accomplishments for use in program management; leading and authoring technical responses to be used in the decision making process for senior level policy makers; developing oral presentations, written reports, and other publications for internal use and external release; AND providing leadership with advice on resource conservation priorities and planning policy positions. Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-13 and 14 levels. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience.) 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). 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.
This position is located in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Office of the Deputy Chief for Programs, Easement Programs Division, Implementation and Stewardship Branch. The incumbent provides leadership assisting in developing and maintaining Agency-wide policies and procedures for easement stewardship such as, restoration planning, monitoring, enforcement, and post-closing modificaitons.