Forest Service Logo
Position Title
Plant Pathologist
Agency
Forest Service
Announcement Number
19-10433022-G-APL Opens in new window
Open Period
Wednesday, February 27, 2019 to Monday, March 18, 2019
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans' Preference? (limit characters)
The following section is used to determine your eligibility for appointment in the Federal Government or Status for referral consideration. Please indicate by your responses all categories of eligibilities for which you would like to be considered. You will only be considered under eligibilities that you select. If you are not able to select at least one of the eligibilities below, you are not eligible to be considered for this position.

NOTE: You must submit the required documentation to verify EACH eligibility you select. Failure to provide the required documents will render you not eligible for consideration.

See instructions under the "Required Documents" and "How to Apply" tabs for submitting documentation.
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2. Are you a current federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:
  • you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy
  • your grade is equivalent to or below the grade level of the vacancy
  • the vacancy does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you're being separated; AND,
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent

For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center. 
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3. Are you a current Federal career or career-conditional permanent, competitive service employee who currently holds or previously held a lower grade with no promotion potential as the position being announced?

Promotion potential is the highest grade level of the job and it can be different from the entry grade on the announcement.  Example:  If you are in or previously held a GS-5 position with no promotion potential and the position being announced is a GS-6, answer "Yes".
 
If you answer "Yes", you must provide copies of your Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50s, which show the highest permanent grade or grades held, Tenure - block 24 must show a "1" or "2", AND Position Occupied - block 34 must show a "1".
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4. Are you a current Federal career or career-conditional permanent, competitive service employee who currently holds or previously held a position with equal or higher promotion potential as the position being announced?

Promotion potential is the highest grade level of the job and it can be different from the entry grade on the announcement.  Example:  If you are in or previously held a GS-5 position with promotion potential to the GS-6 and the position being announced is a GS-6, answer "Yes".  Example:  If you are in or previously held a GS-5 position with promotion potential to the GS-6 and the position being announced is a GS-7, answer "No".
 
If you answer "Yes", you must provide copies of your Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50s, which show the highest permanent grade or grades held, Tenure - block 24 must show a "1" or "2", AND Position Occupied - block 34 must show a "1".
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5. Permanent non-Federal County employees are eligible to compete as merit applicants when applying for a Federal position within the Department of Agriculture.  Are you a current permanent Farm Service Agency (FSA) County employee?
 
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6. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position?  If yes, confirm:
  • you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy
  • your grade is equivalent to or below the grade level of the vacancy
  • the vacancy does not have greater promotion potential than your current or last permanent position; AND, 
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center. 
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7. Are you a current or former employee of a land management agency (Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, or Bureau of Reclamation) who:
  • was originally hired to a time-limited position under a competitive appointment
  • served one or more time-limited appointments at a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years
  • performed at an acceptable level of service during each period of service; AND, 
  • if you are no longer employed by the land management agency, have you been separated for no more than two years and did you depart from that position in good standing? 
Note: Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better.  Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked.  Non-pay status (such as LWOP) is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited.  Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met.

If claiming eligibility under this authority, review the Required Documents for Hiring Authorities Quick Guide
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8. Are you a former Federal career or career-conditional permanent, competitive service employee who held a lower grade with no promotion potential as the position being announced?
 
Promotion potential is the highest grade level of the job and it can be different from the entry grade on the announcement.  Example:  If you are in or previously held a GS-5 position with no promotion potential and the position being announced is a GS-6, answer "Yes".

If you answer "Yes", you must provide copies of your Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50s, which show the highest permanent grade or grades held, Tenure - block 24 must show a "1" or "2", AND Position Occupied - block 34 must show a "1".  Note:  If you separated with a tenure of "2" and you are not a veterans' preference eligible, the time-limit for reinstatement is three years after the date of your separation.   
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9. Are you a former Federal career or career-conditional permanent, competitive service employee who held a position with equal or higher promotion potential as the position being announced?

Promotion potential is the highest grade level of the job and it can be different from the entry grade on the announcement.  Example:  If you are in or previously held a GS-5 position with promotion potential to the GS-6 and the position being announced is a GS-6, answer "Yes".  Example:  If you are in or previously held a GS-5 position with promotion potential to the GS-6 and the position being announced is a GS-7, answer "No".
 
If you answer "Yes", you must provide copies of your Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50s, which show the highest permanent grade or grades held, Tenure - block 24 must show a "1" or "2", AND Position Occupied - block 34 must show a "1".  Note:  If you separated with a tenure of "2" and you are not a veterans' preference eligible, the time-limit for reinstatement is three years after the date of your separation.
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10. Are you a veteran whose latest discharge from active duty was under honorable conditions (this means an honorable or general discharge) OR if you are currently on active duty, can you provide written certification of your expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted?

If yes, confirm you:
  • are a preference eligible (this includes those family members entitled to derived preference, i.e., spouse, widow, widower, parent); OR, 
  • served 3 or more years of continuous active duty service in the armed forces.  (NOTE: If you were released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility.)
For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans Resources.

If claiming eligibility under this authority, review the Required Documents for Hiring Authorities Quick Guide. 
 
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Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in this Plant Pathologist, GS-0434-13 position with the USDA Forest Service. (limit characters)
Your responses to the questions in the questionnaire and the information provided in your completed application will be evaluated to determine your qualifications for this position. PLEASE NOTE: You must attach all transcripts that document the required course work and/or degree completed listed below. Transcripts must show the college or university, semester or quarter hours earned, grade received, and date completed. If you do not submit specific course work information described below, your application will be rated not qualified for consideration. Your resume or application materials must support the answers you select. (limit characters)
Basic Requirements for Plant Pathology series (0434) (limit characters)
1. From the description below, select the response that best describes how your background meets the basic requirements for a Plant Pathologist position, GS-0434. (limit characters)
Specialized Experience Requirements for GS-13 level (limit characters)
2. From the descriptions below, select one response that best describes how your background meets the specialized experience requirements for the GS-13 grade level of this Plant Pathologist position.
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Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
3. Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities in plants.
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4. Write plant pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions to meet management needs and reporting requirements.
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5. Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of plant diseases.
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6. Monitor cooperative agreements and grants related to plant pathology for an organization or region.
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7. Provide coordination and liaison between your organization and customers or stakeholders regarding technical assistance, funded projects and special projects needs to meet program objectives.
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8. Integrate and coordinate with cooperators or customers to provide plant pathology related guidance for input into projects or documents such as management plans, vegetation management projects and environmental assessments.
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9. Provide information or recommendations to landowners regarding ways in which they can best use land, promote plant growth, or avoid or correct problems such as erosion.
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10. Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops.
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11. Provide technical assistance concerning forest pathogens to cooperators or customers. (limit characters)
12. Develop reports and publications such as disease conditions, forest pest leaflets, and other special publications to meet cooperators' needs. (limit characters)
13. Develop work plans, programs of work, staffing plans, budgets, policies, and/or guiding activities to accomplish program objectives.
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14. Formulate and establish policies, programs, and standards for plant pathology related issues such as insect and disease prevention, suppression and restoration projects.
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15. Develop pest management programs for an organization.
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16. Write guidelines related to plant pathology which are incorporated into resource project plans or other management documents.
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17. If any of your education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. Contacts for private organizations that specialize in this evaluation is located here: http://www.naces.org/members.htm. A fee is normally associated with this service. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
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18. Education is required for the job series advertised. You must submit a copy of your transcripts showing the basic education required for the series advertised. It may be necessary to attach transcripts from multiple institutions and/or to attach both undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
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19. If you are a current federal career or career conditional employee, you must provide copies of your Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50s, which show the highest permanent grade or grades held. Tenure--Block 24-- must show a "1" or "2", AND Position Occupied--Block 34--must show a "1". You must also attach your most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable.
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