Natural Resources Conservation Service Logo
Position Title
Soil Conservationist/Agronomist
Agency
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Announcement Number
NRCS-21-11129788-MT-MP-AH Opens in new window
Open Period
Thursday, May 27, 2021 to Monday, June 14, 2021
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS CAREFULLY. Your answers will be used to determine your eligibility to apply to this job opportunity announcement. You will be considered under the eligibility option(s) to which you answer YES. Select YES to all eligibility options for which you want to be considered. If you respond NO to meeting the criteria for all the eligibilities, you will not be considered for the position(s) under this announcement.

NOTE: You must submit the required supporting documentation to receive consideration for EACH selected eligibility. Failure to provide the required documents will result in an ineligible rating and your application will be excluded from consideration.
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1.
Are you a current USDA employee who meets the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee, in which received official notice that your job is no longer needed or that you will lose your job by Reduction-in-Force (RIF)? If yes, confirm:

• you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy;  AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you 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.
 
 
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2. Are you a current or former permanent Farm Service Agency County employee?  (limit characters)
3. Have you registered for reemployment consideration AND meet one of the below: 

• Are you a current or former competitive service USDA employee who will be or was separated by Reduction-In-Force (RIF) and received a rating of satisfactory or above as your last annual performance rating? 
OR 
• Are you a former USDA competitive service employee who separated due to a compensable injury or disability?
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4. Are you a current USDA employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment? (limit characters)
5. Are you a USDA employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment AND you have held or currently hold a position on a permanent basis in the competitive service with the same or higher promotion potential of the position being advertised? (limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select all of the series you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one series. (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Your resume and the responses you provide to this assessment questionnaire will be used to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position. Your responses are subject to verification. Please review your responses for accuracy before you submit your application. Any experience claimed in your responses MUST be supported by information in your application. This information must be SPECIFIC, (i.e., duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments). Failure to provide this supporting documentation may result in receipt of a lower or ineligible rating. (limit characters)
1. Select the response that best describes your education and experience that meets the basic qualification requirements for the Soil Conservationist Series, 0457. You will be required to provide transcripts with your application to validate that you meet degree/coursework requirements.
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2. Select the response that best describes your education and experience that meets the basic qualification requirements for the Agronomy Series, 0471. You will be required to provide transcripts with your application to validate that you meet degree/coursework requirements.
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3. In addition to meeting the basic educational requirement, you must also meet specialized experience requirements. Please select one response from the choices shown below that corresponds to the level of specialized experience you fully possess. Your resume must contain evidence to support your responses.
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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)
4. Provide direct onsite assistance for soil health management systems to producers and landowners.
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5. Maintain environmental quality related to soil, water, animal, plant, air, and energy conservation issues, and improving productivity of food, feed, fiber, and fuel.
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6. Provide technical assistance to landowners, conservation partners, and other interested parties in all phases of soil health management systems.
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7. Provide technical assistance to landowners, conservation partners, and other interested parties leading to the conservation and efficient use of natural resources.
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8. Incorporate technologies with other disciplines such as soils, biology, recreation, economics, engineering, woodlands and plant materials, as related to resource management systems.
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9. Responsible for monitoring and evaluating the activities associated with these agreements and keeps state leadership informed.
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10. Encourage the efforts of business and industry related to the conservation of working lands
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11. Lead and/or participate in Conservation Practice Surveys and data collection to gather information on cover crops and crop residue management systems.
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12. Remains current on the latest technology related to soil health management systems, conservation technologies and other resource management systems.
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13. Provide leadership at the field and state level for conservation activities associated with soil health management systems and soil conservation on production agricultural lands.
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14. Works with public affairs and operations to report outcomes, success stories, and accomplishments.
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15. Promotes and educates on the benefits of soil health management systems by giving expert-level presentations at meetings, symposia, field days, etc.
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16. Provides one on one training, onsite assistance, preparation of job sheets and other technical materials as needed.
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17. Update and contribute to standards in the Field Office Technical Guide and other technical material.
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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)
18. Inform state leadership of training activities, related items in the State Training Plan, and outcomes.
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19. Communicates information related to technology and soil health management systems to field and state office staff, producers, land owners, educational organizations and other interested groups through meetings.
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20. Analyzes and comments on environmental issues and makes recommendations for transferring soil health management systems technology to the field.
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21. Analyze and comments on proposed and current soil health management systems policies, procedures and technical standards.
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22. Communicates information related to technology and soil health management systems to field and state office staff, producers, land owners, educational organizations and other interested groups through meetings.
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23. Provide training and guidance to others on the use and management of plant materials for conservation programs and activities to increase individuals' knowledge of the programs, activities, and issues.
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24. Work with other members of the state office technology staff, area staff, field staff, and producers to incorporate soil health management systems
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25. Your responses to the Announcement and Assessment Questionnaires, along with your resume and all supporting documentation are subject to evaluation and verification to ensure accuracy. Submitting false information or attempts to falsify information may be grounds for disqualifying you or for terminating you after you have been hired. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy.
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