National Park Service Logo
Position Title
Biologist (Plants)
Agency
National Park Service
Announcement Number
IM-1540-GRTE-20-10623693-ST Opens in new window
Open Period
Monday, December 9, 2019 to Saturday, December 28, 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)
2. 1. Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who has been issued orders for a permanent change of station (PCS)?  If yes, confirm you are indicated on the PCS orders; and that you:
  • have been married to the military member on or prior to the date of your spouse's PCS orders;
  • are relocating with your spouse to the new duty location; AND,
  • have not previously been appointed using this authority under these orders.
-OR-

2. Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired with a disability rating of 100 percent at the time of retirement or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired or separated from the Armed Forces and has a disability rating of 100 percent from the Department of Veterans Affairs?

-OR-

3. Are you the un-remarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while in active duty status?
For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources. 

To verify your eligibility for option 1 identified above, you must submit a copy of the PCS orders indicating you are authorized to relocate on those orders.

To verify your eligibility for options 2 and 3 identified above, you must submit the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15 and all supporting documentation identified on that document (e.g., Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service; death certificate and documentation identifying marital status at the time of death; disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service, etc..
(limit characters)
3. Are you a current or former 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; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
 
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center. 
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
(limit characters)
4. Were you employed overseas as an Appropriated Fund employee AND did you:
  • complete 52 weeks of creditable overseas service in an appropriated fund position(s) as a family member during the time you accompanied a sponsor officially assigned to an overseas area; AND,
  • receive a fully successful or better (or equivalent) performance rating; AND,
  • return to the United States to resume residence less than 3 years ago?
 
For more information, review USAJOBS Former Overseas Employees resources. 

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50, and performance appraisal.
(limit characters)
5. Do you meet one of the following Competitive Merit Promotion Eligibilities:
  • Current Federal or former employees with career or career- conditional appointments in the competitive service that hold, or have held a career or career-conditional position at a lower grade level as the position being announced; or,
  • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) eligibles
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation.  For example, a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your competitive status or a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service.  All required documentation will be outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement.
(limit characters)
6. Are you a former member of the Public Lands Corps (PLC) who has served the time required for completing a PLC project carried out on Federal land within the preceding 2 years (an individuals eligibility for NCE under this authority shall not exceed 2 years after completion of his/her last PLC project), and:

• Served as a qualified youth on an appropriate conservation project completing a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service that included at least 120 hours through the PLC (individuals must provide a copy of the "Certificate of Eligibility for NCE Hiring Based on PLC Service" and the complete PLC Participant Work Hours Verification Form with your application package in order to be considered under this hiring authority), and

• Meet OPM qualification standards and any other qualification requirement(s) stated in this vacancy announcement for the position in which you are applying.
(limit characters)
7. 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; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
 
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.  
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
(limit characters)
8. 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; and,
  • 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; and,
  • performed at an acceptable level of service during each period of service; and,
  • if no longer employed by the land management agency, have been separated for no more than two years, and departed that position in good standing.
 
To verify your eligibility, you must provide documentation for the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) eligibility, which includes ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH appointment as well as ALL performance evaluations, for each qualifying period of temporary employment claimed.
For more information, review Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA).
(limit characters)
9. Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past twelve months?
 
-OR-
 
Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past 36 months and are requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility due to your military service, status as a full-time student or other experience related to this position?
 
-OR-
 
Are you a current or former Peace Corps employee who has completed at least 36 months of continuous service and has been separated from the Peace Corps for less than three years?
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your description of service or other proof of non-competitive eligibility.  If you are a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who is requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility, please also provide the necessary documentation to support your request.
(limit characters)
10. Do you meet one of the following Non-Competitive Merit Promotion Eligibilities:
  • Disabled veteran receiving 30% or more disability compensation from the VA;
  • Transfer or reinstatement eligible:  current Federal or former employee with career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service that hold, or have previously held a career or career-conditional position at the same or higher grade level with the same or higher promotion potential as the position being announced; or,
  • Individual eligible under other non-competitive appointment authorities such as: Veterans Recruitment Authority; Military spouses under E.O. 13473; Certain former overseas employees; Present and former Peace Corps, Vista or Action volunteers; Former White House staff; Present and former Foreign Service officers and employees; Certain National Guard technicians; Schedule A; OPM Interchange Agreement and Other Miscellaneous Authorities.
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting.  For example, a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service; a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50); etc.  All required documentation will be outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement.
(limit characters)
11. Do you have a severe physical, psychiatric or mental disability that qualifies you for a Schedule A Disability appointment?
 
For more information, review USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities resources.  

To verify your eligibility, you must provide appropriate medical documentation, i.e., a letter signed by a licensed medical professional or licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist stating your condition and restriction
(limit characters)
12. Are you a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions AND you:
  • served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (Note: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility); OR,
  • are entitled to veterans' preference?
 
For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources. 
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service.
(limit characters)
13. Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions and you:
  • recently separated (within the past 3 years)
  • are a disabled veteran
  • served on active duty during a war, campaign or expedition OR
  • received an Armed Forces Service Medal
If eligible, submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. If claiming disability preference, provide the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
(limit characters)
Preferences
1. My performance is at an acceptable level and I am not serving under a formal Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) (limit characters)
Assessment 1
1. From the descriptions below, select one response that best describes how your background meets the basic education requirements for a Biologist, GS-0401-11 position. Read all responses before making your selection. MARK ONLY ONE RESPONSE. If you select more than one response, or leave this question blank you will be rated ineligible. If you do not meet these minimum qualifications, you will be considered not qualified and will not receive consideration for this position. (limit characters)
2. From the descriptions below, select one response that best describes how your background meets the specialized experience or education requirements for a Biologist, GS-0401-11 position. Read all responses before making your selection. MARK ONLY ONE RESPONSE. If you select more than one response, or leave this question blank, you will be rated ineligible. If you do not meet these specialized experience requirements, you will be considered not qualified and will not receive consideration for this position. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
3. Identify native and nonnative flora to genus, species, variety or subspecies using taxonomic keys and/or a dichotomous key. (limit characters)
4. Assess wetland or riparian functions and potential impacts to them from park projects. (limit characters)
5. Classify plant communities using established or novel vegetation classification system. (limit characters)
6. Collect native seeds and plant species for disturbed site revegetation and ecological restoration projects including locating local native wildland seed collection sites and determining etiming and phenology for native seed collection. (limit characters)
7. Develop ecologically appropriate native seed mixes for revegetation and ecological restoration of disturbed sites. (limit characters)
8. Survey large areas to locate and identify rare plants or nonnative invasive weed species (limit characters)
9. Use manual and mechanical tools to complete site preparation and seeding activities to remove nonnative vegetation and/or to revegetate and restore disturbed areas with native seed and plants. (limit characters)
10. Design, develop, test, and implement monitoring protocols to conduct long-term monitoring of vegetation. (limit characters)
11. Develop and implement vegetation monitoring protocols to evaluate effectiveness of invasive plants treatments, ecological restoration and/or revegetation projects. (limit characters)
12. For the preceding question, please provide a brief narrative response (35 characters max) to show where in your supporting documentation you gained this experience (Include title and dates of employment).Failure to support your response may result in the lowering of your overall rating..
(limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
13. Analyze native and nonnative vegetation and environmental data to assess status and trends of plant communities. (limit characters)
14. Establish invasive plant management treatment monitoring protocols that assess impacts on target and non-target species. (limit characters)
15. Identify research and data needs based on natural resource management program goals. (limit characters)
16. Develop digital data collection procedures using current technology for field data collection. (limit characters)
17. Perform data collection and compilation using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. (limit characters)
18. Use mapping software such as ArcMap or ArcPro to generate maps for illustrating natural resource occurance along with other geographic features. (limit characters)
19. Develop and maintain natural resource spatial and tabular databases. (limit characters)
20. Perform statistical analyses and graphics creation by coding (like R or Python) or using statistical software like Systat, PCOrd, SAS, or JMP to analyze and present vegetation data. (limit characters)
21. For the preceding question, please provide a brief narrative response (35 characters max) to show where in your supporting documentation you gained this experience (Include title and dates of employment).Failure to support your response may result in the lowering of your overall rating..
(limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
22. Plan and execute projects for disturbed site revegetation and ecological restoration including developing cost estimates, budgets, work plans and schedules. (limit characters)
23. For the preceding question, please provide a brief narrative response (35 characters max) to show where in your supporting documentation you gained this experience (Include title and dates of employment).Failure to support your response may result in the lowering of your overall rating..
(limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
24. Serve as a Contracting Officers Representative (COR) for revegetation and restoration projects conducted through contracts, as a point of contact on interagency agreements, or cooperative agreements, or performing a similar role in the private sector. (limit characters)
25. Prepare portions of environmental assessments (EAs) for projects in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. (limit characters)
26. Develop proposals and/or grant funding requests for vegetation and/or ecological restoration projects (limit characters)
27. Supervise employees, including preparing evaluation criteria and evaluating performance. (limit characters)
28. Participate in the recruitment, interviewing, and hiring of employees. (limit characters)
29. Provide instruction and/or oversight in ecological restoration or vegetation studies principles and techniques. Instruction may have been in plant identification, proper seed collection, soil stabilization, planting, and/or site protection. (limit characters)
30. Inspires, motivates and guides others toward goal accomplishment. (limit characters)
31. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal staff, such as Science and Resource Management staff, facilities managers, project managers, concessions specialists, and compliance specialists to coordinate budget, timelines, and resource mitigations. (limit characters)
32. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with cooperating or interested groups, individuals, agencies, and the public; and building consensus among diverse stakeholders. (limit characters)
33. For the preceding question, please provide a brief narrative response (35 characters max) to show where in your supporting documentation you gained this experience (Include title and dates of employment).Failure to support your response may result in the lowering of your overall rating..
(limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
34. Communicate natural resources findings, existing conditions, trends, and needs to diverse audiences (i.e. scientists, managers, staff, cooperators, and partners).

(limit characters)