Soil Scientist

Summary

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 Management's (OPM) Direct Hire Authority for this occupation.

Duties

• Provide technical leadership for the Area Soil Resource activities and ensures that quantity and quality of the work performed meets National Cooperative Soil Survey standards
• Conduct investigations to determine soil suitability for special crops, highways, structures, etc.
• Furnishes technical assistance on soils interpretations for urban, industrial, resource maps, and other general interpretive maps for specific land uses.
• Collect soil samples for special projects.
• Write technical and nontechnical articles dealing with technical soil services and delivery.
• Prepare documentation including soil profile descriptions, records data, and compiles field notes.
• Assist District Conservationists in education and information activities related to the public uses and understanding of soils information.
• Serve as trainer to provide instruction to NRCS personnel and other Soil Services customers in soil characteristics, properties, and limitations; use of soils in making land management decisions; mapping techniques; and other related areas.

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