Job Summary

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps America's farmers and ranchers conserve the Nation's soil, water, air and other natural resources. This is an interdisciplinary position that will be filled either as a Civil Engineer or an Agricultural Engineer. The final official title and series will be assigned based on the qualifications of the incumbent.

Major Duties

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and education, as defined below. Basic Education Requirement: Degree: professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; 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: (Please go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedulequalification-standards/0800/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdffor additional information.) AND Specialized Experience Requirement: To qualify for the GS-09, Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the federal service which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience include: planning, design, and construction of engineering phases of soil and water conservation practices and/or conducting quality assurance reviews of planned, designed, and constructed engineering projects to recommend ways to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of products or services provided to internal and external customers; OR Two full years of progressively high graduate education or Master's or equivalent graduate degree in engineering or related field; OR Possess a 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. To qualify for the GS-11, Applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through federal service, which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience include: providing technical engineering guidance on soil and water conservation issues affecting farmers, landowners, and other parties; and/or planning, designing, and coordinating the engineering phases of soil conservation practices and watershed flood protection programs; OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in engineering or a related field of study; OR Possess a 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. Note: The OPM Qualification Standards for this position can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-SeriesExperience 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.

Pay Range

$52,905.00 - $83,210.00

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