Forest Service Logo
Position Title
Conflict Management Specialist (Associate Ombuds)
Agency
Forest Service
Announcement Number
23-WO-WEPO-11741776-G-MR Opens in new window
Open Period
Thursday, December 1, 2022 to Wednesday, December 7, 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 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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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 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?
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11.
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)
12.
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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Preferences
1. Please enter at least 3 references below. Include first and last name, phone number and email address.
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Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in this Conflict Management Specialist (Associate Ombuds) GS-0301-13 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)
1. Select the statement that best reflects your training, education and/or experience. Transcripts must be provided with your application to validate that you meet the degree/coursework requirements. Experience claimed must be supported in your resume.
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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, as well as information provided by your references. Failure to respond to these questions will result in an ineligible rating. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
2. Serve as an independent and impartial Ombuds. (limit characters)
3. Listen to concerns in confidence, and offer options for conflict resolution. (limit characters)
4. Provide recommendations to the Ombuds on the implementation of an integrated conflict management system. (limit characters)
5. Convene and/or refer resolution processes when appropriate. (limit characters)
6. Lead processes and projects requiring analysis of interrelated issues and complex interpersonal dynamics. (limit characters)
7. Assist the Ombuds in developing evaluation tools and protocols for use by the Ombuds Office for tracking, evaluating, and reporting on Ombuds work. (limit characters)
8. Identify options and obstacles for expanding access to Ombuds and coaching services as part of the integrated conflict management system. (limit characters)
9. Participate in strategic planning effort. (limit characters)
10. Provide suggestions and recommendations about structural and systemic issues to decision-makers to promote organization-wide change toward a more conflict-healthy culture. (limit characters)
11. Identify and engage stakeholders to achieve goals and objectives. (limit characters)
12. Handle incoming requests for impartial assistance from managers and employees providing a safe place for confidential discussions about sensitive situations. (limit characters)
13. Use judgment, tact, and discretion to share non-attributable information with key management officials within organizational units, union officials, and other stakeholders, about patterns and trends that emerge from Callers' issues, questions, and concerns. (limit characters)
14. Explain the role and functions of the Ombuds Office.
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15. Respond to requests for information on topics related to its mission, products, or services. (limit characters)
16. Explain resources, services, and administrative processes to Callers and make referrals as appropriate. (limit characters)
17. Use judgment to generate and explore options that Callers may choose to pursue to clarify and/or resolve their issues, questions, and concerns. (limit characters)
18. Develop and deliver training on communication and conflict resolution skills and evaluate the results. (limit characters)
19. 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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