Forest Service Logo
Position Title
Rangeland Management Specialist
Agency
Forest Service
Announcement Number
21-R1SVAPR-11149820-G-RH Opens in new window
Open Period
Tuesday, July 20, 2021 to Friday, July 30, 2021
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)
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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2.
Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions (this means an honorable or general discharge) AND you either:
• retired from active military service with a disability rating of 30 percent or more; OR 
• rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) since 1991 or later to include disability determinations from a branch of the Armed Forces at any time, as having a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more. 

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
 
 
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3.
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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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.
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5.
Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces on active duty?

-OR-

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-

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.
 
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6. Are you a current or former permanent Farm Service Agency County employee?  (limit characters)
7. Are you a current Federal employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment?  (limit characters)
8. Are you a Federal 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)
9. Have you completed at least 1 year of continuous service immediately before separation from one or more nontemporary Foreign Service appointments; AND, your separation from a Foreign Service career-type appointment occurred in the last 3 years (individuals entitled to veteran's preference do not need to meet this 3-year requirement)?
-OR-
Have you completed at least 3 years of substantially continuous service under one or more nontemporary appointments in the Foreign Service immediately before separation from an unlimited, career-type appointment in that Service?
-OR-
Are you a current career or limited non-career appointee in the Foreign Service with at least 48 months of continuous service and a most recent performance rating of satisfactory or better? 
-OR-
Are you a former career or limited non-career appointee in the Foreign Service with at least 48 months of continuous service, the most recent performance rating of satisfactory or better, and no more than a one year break in service since your qualifying appointment?

NOTE:  If you are a current Foreign Service employee curtailment of an overseas assignment remains subject to the provisions and processes specified in the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) and/or collective bargaining agreements.
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10.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than USDA? 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 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.
 
 
(limit characters)
11.
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 is claiming eligibility under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act and: 

• 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 single break in service of two or more years; and,
• performed at an acceptable level 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 whose most recent separation was for reasons other than misconduct or performance.
  
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.
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12.
Are you a current Excepted Service employee of a Federal Agency that has a valid interchange agreement with the Office of Personnel Management?

 For more information, review  Interchange Agreements with Other Merit Systems.
 
-OR-
 
 Are you a current:

• Postal Career Service Employee;

• Postal Rate Commission Employee;

• Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employee; or,

• Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employee?

For more information, review Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated By U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
 
 
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13. Are you a Peace Corps Volunteer or AmeriCorps VISTA Alumni who completed your service within the past 12 months; OR,

Are you a Peace Corps Volunteer or AmeriCorps VISTA Alumni who completed your service within the past 36 months AND you are requesting an extension of your non-competitive appointment eligibility due to your military service; study at a recognized institution of higher learning; or involvement in another activity, which the hiring agency may view warrants extension?  OR,

 Are you a current or former Peace Corps employee who completed at least 36 months of continuous service without a break in service of 3 days or more AND has been separated from the Peace Corps for less than three years?
(limit characters)
14.
Do you have a severe intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability that qualifies you for a Schedule A Disability appointment?

For more information, review USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities resources.
 
 
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15. Have you completed a qualifying conservation project(s) with the US Forest Service?  If yes, confirm that you meet the following:
  • you received a Public Land Corps - Certificate of Eligibility for Noncompetitive Hiring Status
  • you were between 16 and 30 years old (inclusive) when the certification of eligibility was signed
  • you completed a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service on appropriate conservation projects that included at least 120 hours on Public Lands Corps projects; AND,
  • you are within the two-year eligibility period from the date the certification was signed.
(limit characters)
16. 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?
(limit characters)
17.
Are you a former Federal career or career-conditional employee AND

• has reinstatement eligibility; AND 
• has not held a position on a permanent basis in the competitive service with the same or higher promotion potential of the position being advertised?
(limit characters)
18.
Are you a former Federal career or career-conditional employee AND  

• has reinstatement eligibility; AND 
• has held a position on a permanent basis in the competitive service with the same or higher promotion potential of the position being advertised?
(limit characters)
19. Are you a former Resource Assistant with the US Forest Service?  If yes, confirm that you meet the following:
  • you received a Certificate of Eligibility for Noncompetitive Hiring Status Based on Resource Assistants Program
  • you successfully completed a minimum of 960 hours of full- or part-time work, not to exceed 3,500 hours over a two-year period
  • you earned an undergraduate (associate or bachelor) or graduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education; AND, 
  • you are within the two-year eligibility period from the date the certification was signed.
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20.
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,
• eligible for veterans' preference?

Note: If you are currently on active duty you may be considered under the two provisions above provided you submit  a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. 

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
 
 
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21.
Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions AND you:

• recently separated (within the past 3 years); OR,
• are a disabled veteran; OR,
• served on active duty during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized; OR,
• received an Armed Forces Service Medal (includes the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal)for participation in a military operation?

Note: If you are currently on active duty you may be considered under the two provisions above provided you submit  a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. 

 For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
 
 
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Preferences
1. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in this Rangeland Management Specialist, GS-0454-9 position with the USDA Forest Service. 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. (limit characters)
This section will be used to determine if you possess the education and specialized experience needed to qualify for this position. Transcripts are required if qualifying based on education. (limit characters)
1. From the statements below, select the response that best describes your education and/or experience as it pertains to meeting the Basic Requirements for the Rangeland Management Series 0454. Please select only one response.
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2. From the statements below, select the response that best describes the experience and/or education you possess that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of a Rangeland Management Specialist GS-07. Please select only one response. (limit characters)
3. From the statements below, select the response that best describes the experience and/or education you possess that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of a Rangeland Management Specialist GS-09. Please select only one response. (limit characters)
For each of the following tasks, choose the statement from the list below that best describes your experience and/or training. Please select only one letter for each item. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
4. Recommend stock driveway use routes or methods of moving stock to and from various grazing areas. (limit characters)
5. Make livestock checks or counts to determine that only authorized animals are being grazed on National Forest System lands or other lands under Forest Service control.
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6. Recommend grazing strategy, livestock management practices and grazing capacity, for non-Forest lands under Forest Service administration. (limit characters)
7. Coordinate with rangeland users to help solve rangeland problems. (limit characters)
8. Maintain continuing liaison with permittee, affected groups and others to ensure compliance with agreed upon plans and desired quality of work.
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9. Advise rangeland users of various activities affecting their use of specific rangeland areas.
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10. Work closely with permittees and other livestock owners to prevent further unauthorized use.
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11. Coordinate with adjacent private landowners; county weed superintendents; and state, local and other federal agencies to integrate comprehensive weed control measures.
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12. Assist in developing unit rangeland area livestock management plans and/or strategies. (limit characters)
13. Plan, establish and complete the unit rangeland vegetation management program progress schedule. (limit characters)
14. Direct unit program for tagging, dye branding or other means of identifying authorized livestock. (limit characters)
15. Conduct short- and long-term monitoring of plant community change, trends, and impacts; precipitation; soil erosion hazards to correlate other rangeland resource activities and uses.
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16. Determine rangeland readiness for various rangeland uses.
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17. Participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of rangeland projects.
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18. Determine the need for plant community and watershed improvements.
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19. Administer noxious weed program for unit and assist adjoining units.
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20. Assist in rangeland area analysis to determine ecosystem health, diversity, trend, successional stage, site potential, desired plant community grazing capacity of the vegetation. (limit characters)
21. Monitor and evaluate the impact of various rangeland activities on other resource management activities and uses. (limit characters)
22. Participate in and cooperate with research, and State and local game management agencies in range research in demonstration field projects. (limit characters)
23. Plan and carry out systematic ecosystem-based rangeland surveys and inventories to identify and assess rangeland characteristics, amounts, types, values, and susceptibility of various land areas to specific land uses.
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24. Coordinate range ecological management with other functional activities in harmony with the concept of multiple use management.
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25. Gather and assemble data concerning rangeland health, trends, ecological status of vegetation communities, site potential and desired plant community.
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26. Inspect rangeland uses for compliance with permits, and monitor the results of the rangeland uses that are permitted or allowed.
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27. Schedule and conduct field surveys to identify, document, and map noxious weed infestations.
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28. Identify courses of action to control or eradicate noxious weed populations.
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29. Assist in contract preparation and monitor performance of contractor herbicide applications.
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30. Assemble, operate, and maintain all herbicide application equipment including backpack sprayers and slip-tank pick-up motorized sprayer units including boomless sprayers.
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31. Foster an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.
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32. Demonstrate a commitment to fostering and promoting an equitable, inclusive, and safe work environment.
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33. Promote an inclusive work environment that is free from all types of discrimination.
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Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
34. Have you read the "Required Documents" section of the vacancy announcement and understand that failure to submit all required, legible documents prior to the closing date of the announcement may result in loss of consideration?
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35. 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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