This position is located in the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), State Conservationist Office. The State Conservationist is responsible for overseeing the provision of state-wide soil, water, and natural resource conservation stewardship including establishment of state-specific policy, standards, practices and procedures to address and resolve natural resource concerns.
In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts. This is an interdisciplinary position and may be filled in any of the job series listed below. Basic Requirement: GS-0401 Series: 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. GS-0801 Series: Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree be in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) http://main.abet.org/aps/accreditedprogramsearch.aspx; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR Combination of Education and Experience: college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: Professional registration or licensure Written Test Specified academic courses Related curriculum For more detailed information on the 800 series please click Individual Occupational Requirements for Professional Engineering Positions. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education listed below. Specialized Experience Requirement For the GS-14 grade level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Defines clear performance goals and objectives aligned with agency direction and program mission; AND Establishes standard operating procedures (SOP's) for critical operations that includes clear assignment of roles and responsibilities, timelines and resources required; AND Oversees analyses of conservation problems and formulation of technically balanced programs and plans of action to resolve problems; AND Coordinates activities and resolves issues with area technical staff related to soil erosion, water quality, conservation operations, watershed flood prevention and protection, soil survey implementation, agricultural waste management, natural resources inventory, municipal, industrial and agricultural water supply and other environmental soil and water conservation concerns. For the GS-15 grade level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Revises existing conservation practice standards, activities, and technical guidance to incorporate new or emerging technologies and methods and to remove obsolete criteria and considerations; AND Through partnerships, apply principles of natural and social sciences to coordinate conservation strategies, expand frameworks, and adapt or establish new protocols for addressing diverse natural resource challenges; AND Responsible for coordinating appropriate activities and issues with State technical staff as it relates to conservation practices; AND Develops and establishes guidelines for State-specific strategic planning implementation which results in the establishment of immediate and long-range objectives. 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. Time-in-Grade Requirement: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. You must meet this requirement by the closing date of this announcement.
Defines clear performance goals and objectives aligned with agency direction and program mission.
Supervises the work of area and field office staff, including up to 100 administrative, technical and supervisory staff.
Ensures conservationists and engineers utilize current science-based tools and incorporate innovative technology into conservation practice standards and business tools.
Service programs with other Federal agencies, State and local government officials, public and private agencies, and other groups and individuals.