Supervisory Resource Conservationist

Summary

This position is located in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The purpose this position is to formulate, recommend, and implement policy and procedures applicable to resource conservation planning activities and various program activities, and performs an active role in developing and implementing a comprehensive soil, water, and resource conservation program for the state. USDA employees: Please refer to the Next Steps section.

Duties

• Directs the development and operation of an effective resource conservation planning program.
• Directs resource conservation planning, biology, and plant technology state specialists and coordinates their activities to assist the field staff in the Implementation of a comprehensive conservation program.
• Provides state leadership for the development, Improvement, and maintenance of technical data, standards, guides, and manuals related to resource conservation planning, biology, recreation, plant technology, and resource development.
• Develops, as applicable, needed supplements to the National Planning Procedures Handbook to effectively provide hub and work unit office guidance in developing plans, inventories, and evaluations to individuals, groups, and units of government.
• Formulates and recommends policies and procedures for hub personnel and Inspects field work in the plant science phases, resource conservation planning, and follow-up activities.
• Assists the STC with development and implementation of the State Business Plan to secure a balanced natural resources conservation program.
• Providing overall leadership of program activities, making work assignments, evaluating performance, Interviewing candidates and making selections, determines training needs.
• Manages available staff resources by preparing long and short range schedules for staff activities, preparing and monitoring budgets and funding requests, organizing work, and controlling work products.
• Provides supervision to GS12 staff specialists and leadership of all technical aspects for conservation planning, making work assignments, evaluating performance and determine training needs.
• Hears and resolves employee complaints and grievances, reviews disciplinary cases, gives advice, counsel, or instructions to employees on technical and administrative issues.
• Provides supervision to staff of GS-12 specialists, which may Include Rangeland Management Specialists, Agronomists, Foresters, Biologists and Soil Conservationists.

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. If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts. Basic Requirement: GS-0457: Degree: soil conservation or related agricultural or natural resource discipline such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, agricultural education, or agricultural engineering. The study must have included 30 semester hours in a natural resource or agricultural field, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soils and crops or plant science. Of the 12 semester hours, a minimum of 3 semester hours must have been in soils and 3 semester hours in crops or plant science. OR Combination of education and experience: at least 30 semester hours in one or more of the disciplines as shown in A above, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soils and crops or plant science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Of the 12 semester hours, a minimum of 3 semester hours must have been in soils and 3 semester hours in crops or plant science. 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-13 grade level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service. The experience must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. For this position, specialized experience is defined as: Providing technical leadership to carry out various types of complex natural resource conservation programs; Providing direction to landowners and operators, individually and in groups to develop a variety of conservation plans; Representing the agency on county committees and/or task forces and at conservation district meetings and serves as an adviser to district committees; Provides expertise in program management, training and quality control for NRCS Farm Bill Programs, which may include the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), Agricultural Land Easement Program Conservation Stewardship Program, as well as Agricultural Management Assistance, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), and other programs as they are legislated to the technical and field offices; Conducting area reviews; and, providing training to the field staff for technical practices 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. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the oppor…

Education

There is no education substitution at the GS-13 grade level. College Transcript: If qualifying based on education, you must submit a copy of your college transcript with course number and department (i.e., Bio 101, Math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours, and grade earned. 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 to ensure proper evaluation. Your education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be credited toward qualifications. You may verify accreditation by visiting the U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs website. We will verify your education accordingly. Foreign Education: You must submit verification that education completed in a foreign institution, was recognized by an accreditation body accepted by the U.S. Department of Education. You must include a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. Your transcripts must be in English or include an English translation. You may submit an unofficial copy of your transcript at the initial phase of the application process. However, if selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Please refer to the "How to Apply" section for instructions on submitting transcripts.