- Position Title
- Soil Conservationist (Resource Conservationist)
- Agency
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Announcement Number
- NRCS-21-11156816-IMP-WA-NB Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Wednesday, July 7, 2021 to Wednesday, July 21, 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.
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.
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.
• 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.
2.
Are you a current or former permanent Farm Service Agency County employee?
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?
• 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?
4.
Are you a current USDA employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment?
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?
Preferences
1.
Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.
Assessment 1
Respond to the following questions. Mark only one response for each question. Any experience claimed in response to the following questions MUST be supported by information in your application (resume or any other written format). 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. (Note: One year of specialized experience is based on a 40-hour workweek. If you have worked less than 40 hours per week, you must prorate your experience.)
1.
Please select the statement which best describes your education or experience in meeting the basic qualifications or the GS-457 series. Please read all responses prior to making your selection, then select the answer that accurately reflects your qualifications:
2.
Please select one response from the choices shown below that corresponds to the level of specialized experience you fully possess to qualify at the GS-09 level. Your resume must contain evidence to support your responses.
3.
Please select one response from the choices shown below that corresponds to the level of specialized experience you fully possess to qualify at the GS-11 level. Your resume must contain evidence to support your responses.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
4.
Works with landowners and operators, individually and in groups, to develop a wide variety of conservation plans according to established policies and procedures and in accordance with landowners' decisions.
5.
Collects and analyses data necessary to update and modify technical guides for use by field offices in administering programs.
6.
Responsible for furnishing technical assistance to determine need and feasibility of Farm Bill financial assistance and state cost share programs as well as on completion certifies to ensure compliance with Service standards.
7.
Performs necessary follow up to ensure plans are being properly implemented. Responsible for the application of conservation practices; directs site surveys, practice designs, and layout.
8.
Provides program support, as assigned by the Area RC, to team resource conservationists, field office (FO) personnel and technical service providers (TSPs) in carrying out all Farm Bill Programs, policies and procedures in resource conservation planning, contracting, and conservation management systems
9.
Provides technical assistance and guidance to area and field offices to assist in application of various types of natural resources conservation programs; ensuring conservation goals are effectively achieved.
10.
Provides technical guidance and information to engineers, conservation districts and regional planning groups to insure the development of land resource plans, and to incorporate needed soil and water conservation measures.
11.
Provides administration to the field offices, including property management, maintenance of records, and preparation of administrative reports.
12.
Assists the Area RC with field office operations including establishing goals, developing and implementing the team-wide plan of operations, communicating workload, and the training of others.
13.
Provides technical assistance and guidance to area and field offices to assist in application of various types of natural resources conservation programs; ensuring conservation goals are effectively achieved.
14.
Represents the agency at conservation district meetings and serves as an advisor to district committees as assigned, and participates with those groups in meetings, tours, and demonstration projects to explain resource conservation planning.
15.
Communicates NRCS conservation programs and other natural resources conservation activities, using information tools and techniques to promote district and agency programs among the general public and markets services and provides conservation planning advice to customers.
16.
Provides program management, training and quality control for NRCS Farm Bill Programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), Agricultural Land Easement Program Conservation Stewardship Program, as well as Agricultural Management Assistance, Conservation Reserve Program.
17.
Conducts area reviews, perform program quality checks in accordance with agency policies, and provides training to the field staff for technical practices.
18.
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.