PDF versionJob Summary
This position is in the Northern Region (Region 1) on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, in Helena or Great Falls, MT. Final duty location will be determined at the time of selection. The incumbent is responsible for providing expertise in soil science for the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Scott Nagel at (406)495-3723 or scott.nagel@usda.gov.
Major Duties
- Supplies soil related information and technical expertise to the land management planning process.
- Determines resource potentials, suggests alternative management practices, predicts the effect of each management alternative, and assesses the resource trade-offs required to build an optimum program.
- Makes assigned soil management investigations of soil management problem areas, analyzes this data, and makes recommendations which are used in preparing integrated plans for resource management activities on the Forest.
- Advises land managers of capabilities and limitations of soils for a variety of contemplated uses and activities (e.g., timber sales, watershed rehabilitation projects, transportation planning, or recreation development).
- Serves on interdisciplinary teams conducting environmental analyses of proposed projects.
- Provides soil related information needed to develop and maintain the Forest Land Management Plan, compartment examination prescriptions, and other project proposals and environmental analyses.
- Participates in the preparation of input to the annual and long range program and budget process by recommending priorities of soil projects.
- Conducts training of personnel in the use and application of exploratory soil surveys and irrigation suitability surveys
- Prepares technical papers and attends meetings of appropriate professional societies.
- Performs supervisory duties up to 20% of the time, including planning the work to be accomplished by the unit, assigning work to employees, and establishing production or quality standards for the unit's work.
Qualifications
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. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. Basic Requirement for Soil Science, 0470 Series: Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in soil science or a closely related discipline that included 30 semester hours or equivalent in biological, physical, or earth science, with a minimum of 15 semester hours in such subjects as soil genesis, pedology, soil chemistry, soil physics, and soil fertility. OR Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in soil science or a related discipline that included at least 30 semester hours in the biological, physical, or earth sciences. At least 15 of these semester hours must have been in the areas specified above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-11 level: Applicants must have 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (coursework directly related to position being filled); OR one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 level; OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.). Examples of specialized experience are: Collected, analyzed, and interpreted soils data for input into environmental reports; Participated as a member of an interdisciplinary team for natural resource/land management planning; Conducted field reconnaissance to prepare detailed soil surveys including field examination, description, classification, and mapping of soils; Managed soils projects, to include evaluating, developing, implementing, and monitoring projects; Provided written soils input into NEPA and other technical planning documents for natural resource management projects 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, knowledge, and skills 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. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Pay Range
$64,009.00 - $83,210.00