- Position Title
- Range Technician
- Agency
- Forest Service
- Announcement Number
- 22-R4OCR-455-RNGTECH-567G Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Monday, November 8, 2021 to Friday, April 15, 2022
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?
2.
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.
3.
Are you a current or former permanent Farm Service Agency County employee?
4.
Are you a current Federal employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment?
5.
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?
6.
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.
• 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.
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 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.
• 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.
8.
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?
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?
9.
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.
For more information, review USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities resources.
10.
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.
11.
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?
12.
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?
• 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?
13.
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?
• 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?
14.
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.
15.
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.
• 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.
16.
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.
• 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.
Preferences
1.
Select the locations you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location.
2.
Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.
Assessment 1
This section will be used to determine if you possess the education and experience needed to qualify for this position.
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 Range Technician, GS-0455-05 position. Please select only one response.
2.
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 Range Technician, GS-0455-06 position. Please select only one response.
3.
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 Range Technician, GS-0455-07 position. Please select only one response.
For each of the following questions, choose the response that best describes your experience and training. Mark only one response for each question. Please note that your answers will be verified against the information you provide in your resume or application and information provided by your references. FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THESE QUESTIONS WILL RESULT IN AN INELIGIBLE RATING. PLEASE PROVIDE A COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPTS.
For each task in the following group, choose the statement from the list below that best describes your experience and/or training. Please select only one letter for each item.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
4.
Assist in planning rangeland management support projects by applying a wide variety of interrelated range management practices, methods, and procedures.
5.
Knowledge of range allotments to assess appropriate time to graze, operating instructions, number of livestock, salting, and herding procedures.
6.
Assess range conditions, maintenance needs and user compliance to assist in range improvement plans.
7.
Inspect allotments before and after grazing season for trespass stock to gather brands, numbers, dates, and locations to assist in rangeland management support.
8.
Estimate the utilization of available forage by all grazing animals and determine the percent of use by each class of animal to estimate production.
9.
Schedule and execute a variety of rangeland management support assignments related to range conservation programs.
10.
Assist in planning range-related projects such as revegetation, fencing, spring developments, cattle guard placement, and erosion control procedures.
11.
Assist in range capacity studies such as allotment analysis and production utilization.
12.
Advise management on division of allotments into units to support range management plans.
13.
Communicate and work with interagency personnel and outside organizations to assist with range management plans.
14.
Maintain records of permitted and actual range land use by permittees and documents observations in the course of range land inspections.
15.
Analyze and evaluate condition and trend data using available guideline standards to produce range management reports.
16.
Apply range management techniques, policies and regulations to provide technical support in the administration of range use permits.
17.
Prepare charts, graphs, and/or reports using specified procedures.
18.
Perform a variety of computations and assessments of standard rangeland management data to prepare the data for interpretative use of inclusion in reports.
19.
Make a number of measurements using a variety of instruments for reports.
20.
Prepare notes and reports on conditions such as range utilization, grazing impact, soil erosion, violations or needed maintenance.
21.
Identify plant specimens in the field and collect and prepare specimens to determine range readiness.
22.
Use acceptable indicator plants to determine range readiness dates and inform appropriate personnel.
23.
Participate in noxious plant control, seeding, or similar projects by flagging boundaries, operating equipment, and carrying out kill studies.
24.
Identify plants and noxious weeds and determine how they grow.
25.
Apply proper chemicals to control noxious weeds.
26.
Knowledge of technical processes, methods and procedures to resolve problems when performing nonstandard assignments.
27.
Determine range readiness dates by using accepted indicator plants.
28.
Conduct routine forage production studies based on air-dry weight of vegetation.
29.
Participate in noxious plant control, seeding, or similar projects by flagging boundaries, operating equipment, and carrying out kill studies.
30.
Interpret mapping and aerial photos to delineate allotment boundaries, range types, suitability, plant encroachment, conditions and trends for range management analysis and reports.
31.
Use data to determine the upward, downward, and/or stability of trends to analyze range and soil conditions.
32.
Collect measurements and records on forage density, production types, vigor, growth, soil depth, compaction and erosion for proposed range improvements.
33.
Work with permittees to review grazing permits and explain policies.
34.
Work with various personnel from other agencies who deal with range conservation.
35.
Make recommendations to amendments for range management plans.
36.
Communicate and work with permittees to review grazing permits and explain policies.
37.
Develop plans to install permanent and pace transects, clipping cages and other instruments for gathering range data.
38.
Participate in the development of grazing plans and programs by inspecting grazing allotments for forage conditions, distribution, forage production, and condition of range improvements to support range management objectives.
39.
Plan range and wildlife resource related projects such as revegetation, fencing, slash disposal, spring development and range inspections to support range management objectives.
40.
Prepare salting by selecting salt ground location and executes the plans to support range plans.
41.
I certify, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all the information submitted by me with my application for employment is true, complete, and made in good faith, and that I have truthfully and accurately represented my work experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education (degrees, accomplishments, etc.). I understand that the information provided may be investigated. I understand that misrepresenting my experience or education, or providing false or fraudulent information in or with my application may be grounds for not hiring me or for terminating me after I begin work. I also understand that false or fraudulent statements may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001).