Forest Service Logo
Position Title
Ecologist
Agency
Forest Service
Announcement Number
22-R6-11411688-G-KM Opens in new window
Open Period
Wednesday, March 9, 2022 to Tuesday, March 22, 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? (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 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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3. Are you a current or former permanent Farm Service Agency County employee?  (limit characters)
4. Are you a current Federal employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment?  (limit characters)
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? (limit characters)
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.
 
 
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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.
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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?
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9. 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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10.
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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11. 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.
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12. 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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Assessment 1
This section will be used to determine if you meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for this position. FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THESE QUESTIONS WILL RESULT IN AN INELIGIBLE RATING. A COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPT(S) ARE REQUIRED FOR ANY QUALIFICATIONS BASED ON EDUCATION. PROVIDE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS AS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL COURSEWORK. (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 this position. Please select only one response.
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This section will be used to determine if you meet the Specialized Experience and/or Education Requirements to qualify for this position. FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THESE QUESTIONS WILL RESULT IN AN INELIGIBLE RATING. A COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPT(S) ARE REQUIRED FOR ANY QUALIFICATIONS BASED ON EDUCATION. PROVIDE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS AS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL COURSEWORK. (limit characters)
2. From the statements below, select the response that best describes your experience and/or education as it pertains to meeting the Specialized Experience Requirements for the Ecologist, GS-0408-09 position. Please select only one response.
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For each of the following questions, choose the response that best describes your experience and/or 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. (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. Utilize ecological principles, concepts, and practices to identify current and potential problems and offer management options and restoration solutions.
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4. Identify the appropriate methods utilized to assess, inventory or monitor forest and woodland, grassland, riparian, and wetland vegetation. Be able to distinguish the strengths and weaknesses and defend the appropriate uses of these methods.
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5. Monitor riparian methods and techniques associated with a wide variety of riparian species.
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6. Provide ecological recommendations in support of resource management fields such as range management, soil science, hydrology, wildlife, fire and fuels, silviculture, and recreation.
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7. Assist in the development of environmental documents, surveys and/or site investigations in support of a unit's ecological program.
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8. Apply standard practices, methods or techniques to establish the scope of work, prepare justifications, and specification for the development of project plans.
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9. Assist other staff units in analyzing the impact of proposed project plans and/or developments through consultation and the Interdisciplinary team process.
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10. Analyze ecological data and information to determine the effects of management activities.
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11. Review proposed projects to determine impacts and suggest mitigation actions to minimize adverse ecological impacts.
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12. Contribute to the assessment and/or reporting of ecological monitoring results.
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13. Work alongside forest fire personnel to determine the role of fire dependent systems to develop mitigation processes.
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14. Participate in the development of long-term ecological monitoring and administrative studies in support of ecological land management planning.
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15. Collect ecological baseline and treatment data to evaluate and contrast natural processes with management effects.
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16. Assist in developing mitigating solutions to actions resulting from adverse effects on the land.
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17. 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 and/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). I understand that responding "No" to this item will result in my not being considered for this position.
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