Natural Resources Specialist

Summary This position serves as the Conservation Business Tools Specialist with responsibility to provide leadership, technology development, technology transfer, and technical assistance for use of NRCS business tools in the state. The incumbent provides statewide support for integrating these technologies into conservation planning and application activities using the Conservation Assessment and Ranking Tool (CART), Conservation Desktop, and other NRCS business tools for applicable NRCS programs. Responsibilities Draft and use maps, transfer to different scales, transfer map data to digital format, and manipulate spatial and attribute data in order to develop and produce accurate, useable maps. Coordinates with other technical staff to further the development of, use for, and access to natural resource data. Develops, coordinates, and guides implementation of GIS and other technology statewide to ensure consistency with state priorities, national direction in support of all programs and activities. Provides technical support, assistance and training to field and area staff in using NRCS Business Tools and to analyze geospatial data, make conservation planning decisions, and develop digital tools and products. Performs activities including basic data development, data analysis, quality control, quality assurance, and data management as necessary. Works closely with area specialists and conservation partner leaders to determine the most efficient methods for implementation of technology tools. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled (e.g. one year at the GS-7 grade level for consideration for the GS-9 grade level, and one year at the GS-9 grade level for consideration for the GS-11 grade level). Basic Education Requirement: Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered: Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-09 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the Federal GS-07 level or higher, which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience include: Utilizing technical tools, systems, and databases Conservation Assessment and Ranking Tool (CART), Conservation Desktop, Protracts, GIS/ArcGIS etc.) in support of conservation activities. Knowledge of a wide range of soil and water and other natural resource conservation planning concepts, principles, and techniques. OR Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: For the GS-09 level: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Master's degree or equivalent degree directly related to the position. OR Combination of Education and Experience: Combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-11 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the Federal GS-09 level or higher, which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience include: Working knowledge of a wide range of soil and water and other natural resource conservation planning concepts, principles, and techniques. Utilizing technical tools, systems, and databases (Conservation Assessment and Ranking Tool (CART), Conservation Desktop, Protracts, GIS/ArcGIS etc.) in support of conservation activities. Providing technical support and training to others on the use of electronic business tools related to conservation planning or implementation. OR Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: For the GS-11 level: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of Education and Experience: Combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Group-Standards 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. Education You must submit a copy of your college transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify all education requirements (i.e. substitution of education and/or basic education requirement). If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement. You must document all requirements on every vacancy; we cannot use previous determinations as a basis for rating. All required information must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and non-submission of all required documents/documentation will result in non-consideration. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. This information must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Non-submission of these documents will result in non-consideration. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Applicants must, therefore, only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation via this link. All education claimed by applicants will be verified accordingly. Important: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Click on this link for more information. Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP or RPL eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Physical Demands: The work is mostly sedentary. Operation of a computer keyboard and mouse for lengthy periods is required. There may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items such as books, small equipment, and driving an automobile. Field work requires normal physical exertion when participating in training or resource inventory activities for project verification activities. This involves walking over rough terrain in all types of weather. Work Environment: The work is primarily performed in an office setting and involves everyday risks and discomforts typical of offices and meeting rooms. Periodic travel is needed to review and assist in field operations and provide training where there may be exposure to extremes in temperature and precipitation. PLEASE NOTE: In the interest of filling these positions as efficiently as possible, we are requiring the following: If called for an interview, applicants must be available to interview within 3 business days of being contacted. If a tentative job offer is extended, selectee will have 2 business days in which to accept or decline. Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed. This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements. Current USDA policy includes telework for an 8 hour work day, 4 days per week; other flexibilities are possible dependent upon availability and/or the position and its associated duties. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.