- Position Title
- Social Scientist/Biological Scientist/Physical Science Information Specialist
- Agency
- Forest Service
- Announcement Number
- 23-R1GV-12137858-DP-DC Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Friday, September 22, 2023 to Wednesday, September 27, 2023
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 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.
4.
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?
Preferences
1.
Select the location(s) 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.
3.
Select the series you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one series.
4.
Are you a current or former Political appointee, Presidential appointee, and/or non-career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointee?
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in this Interdisciplinary Social Scientist/Biological Scientist/Physical Science Information Specialist GS-0101/0401/1301-9/11 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. Read all responses before making your selection. If you do not meet one of these basic requirements, you will be considered not qualified and will not receive consideration for this position. FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THESE QUESTIONS WILL RESULT IN AN INELIGIBLE RATING.
This interdisciplinary position may be filled in any of the following series: Social Science, 0101; Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences, 0401; or General Physical Science, 1301. Your responses to the basic requirements and specialized qualifications questions, as well as the other questions in the questionnaire, in conjunction with the information provided in your completed application, will be evaluated to determine your qualifications for this position. Read all responses before making your selection. If you do not meet one of the interdisciplinary basic requirements, you will be considered not qualified and will not be referred for this position. THE RESUME OR APPLICATION MATERIALS YOU SUBMIT FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST SUPPORT THE ANSWERS YOU CLAIM UNDER THIS AND OTHER QUESTIONS.
Your responses to the Basic Requirements and Specialized Experience questions, as well as the other questions in the questionnaire, in conjunction with the information provided in your completed application, will be evaluated to determine your qualifications for this position. Read all responses before making your selection. If you do not meet one of the basic requirements, you will be considered not qualified and will not receive consideration for this position. IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts that identifies for each course the college or university, semester or quarter hours earned, grade received, and date completed. If your transcripts do not show the specific course work information described below, your application will be rated not qualified for consideration. You may need to submit transcripts for multiple degrees earned or schools attended. (A copy of your official transcripts will be required before entrance on duty, if selected). THE RESUME OR APPLICATION MATERIALS YOU SUBMIT FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST SUPPORT THE ANSWERS YOU CLAIM UNDER THIS AND OTHER QUESTIONS. Please review your responses for accuracy before you submit your application.
Basic Requirement for Social Science Series 0101:
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 Social Science, 0101 series. For a detailed explanation of qualifying education and experience, review the information in the vacancy announcement or visit: OPM Qualification Standards - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0100/social-science-series-0101/. You will be required to provide transcripts with your application to validate that you meet all degree/coursework requirements for this position.
Basic Requirement for Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series 0401:
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 Biological Science, 0401 series. For a detailed explanation of qualifying education and experience, review the information in the vacancy announcement or visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/general-natural-resources-management-and-biological-sciences-series-0401/ You will be required to provide transcripts with your application to validate that you meet all degree/coursework requirements for this position.
Basic Requirement for General Physical Science Series 1301:
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 Physical Science, 1301 series. For a detailed explanation of qualifying education and experience, review the information in the vacancy announcement or visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/general-physical-science-series-1301/. You will be required to provide transcripts with your application to validate that you meet all degree/coursework requirements for this position.
In addition to the basic requirements described above, the following specialized qualifications are required for the GS-9/11 levels.
4.
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 Interdisciplinary Social Scientist/Biological Scientist/Physical Science Information Specialist, GS-09 position. Please select only one response.
5.
From the statements below, select one response that best describes the education and/or experience you possess that demonstrates your ability to perform the work for the Interdisciplinary Social Scientist/Biological Scientist/Physical Science Information Specialist, GS-11. Please select only one response.
For each of the following tasks, choose the statement from the list below that best describes your experience and/or training. Do not overstate or understate your level of experience and demonstrated capability. Your ratings are subject to evaluation and verification based on the resume and other relevant documents you submit.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
6.
Apply applicable principles to facilitate geospatial model design and analysis procedures related to natural resource and socio-economic data and products.
7.
Manipulate and analyze geospatial data to support resource management decisions for such things as multiple resource, jurisdictional and ownership units, a large geographical region, biometrics, data visualization and analytics and/or data applications.
8.
Perform multi-scale and/or multi-resource analysis in support of planning, analysis, and monitoring activities
9.
Provide expertise and make recommendations on development and application of geospatial analysis processes, protocols, and solutions.
10.
Apply advanced principles to facilitate geospatial model design and analysis, accommodate new situations, and resolve novel or obscure problems.
11.
Develop conceptual and mathematical models and perform multi-scale/multi-resource analysis in support of planning, analysis, and monitoring activities.
12.
Use spatial statistical tools for modeling geospatial data to simulate, estimate, interpolate, and predict natural processes and linkages with human uses and values.
13.
Analyze geospatial data to support resource management decisions for multiple resource, jurisdictional, and ownership units.
14.
Work with managers and resource specialists/research scientists to determine type, amount and level of information required to develop and analyze ecosystem management alternatives.
15.
Assist with developing data dictionaries, data models, and metadata for multi-disciplinary information and geospatial applications.
16.
Convert geospatial information and remote sensing imagery into Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases.
17.
Assist with the organization and maintenance of resource information and data to facilitate analysis across multiple disciplines.
18.
Oversee data life cycle management and the organization and maintenance of multi-discipline resource information and data.
19.
Coordinate input from managers and specialists to determine type, amount and level of information required to develop and analyze ecosystem management alternatives.
20.
Assess quality, compatibility, and limitations of various data used in a wide array of land management and planning efforts.
21.
Develop data dictionaries, data models, and metadata for multi-disciplinary information and geospatial applications.
22.
Coordinate conversion of geospatial information and remote sensing imagery into databases.
23.
Compile natural resource, topographic and cartographic data for a variety of management decision-making documents and/or research scientists and field research personnel.
24.
Operate computer systems and software packages to produce maps and graphics for organization resource programs and planning documents.
25.
Compile natural resource, topographic, and cartographic data for creation of maps and materials, used in a variety of planning, assessment and decision activities.
26.
Operate complex computer systems and software packages and develop procedures to produce intricately detailed maps and graphics.
27.
Apply geographic and cartographic principles to resolve multi-disciplinary issues in database construction and map compilation.
28.
Provide recommendations on sources, standards, integrity, compatibility, and cost efficiency of natural resource and socio-economic information.
29.
Communicate with a variety of groups and individuals concerning geospatial programs and data.
30.
Conduct informal training and provide technical assistance to software users in the development, storage, retrieval and analysis of data.
31.
Maintain liaison with internal and external organizations and individuals related to geographic information systems and mapping.
32.
Provide advice on the implementation, management, analysis, and use of geospatial information.
33.
Provide recommendations on sources, standards, integrity, compatibility, and cost efficiency of natural resource and socio-economic information.
34.
Conduct formal and informal training and provide technical assistance to software users in the development, storage, retrieval, and analysis of data and outputs.
35.
Please select the statement(s) that reflect your educational achievement(s). Transcripts, certificates, or other appropriate documentation must be included with this application to verify GPA, coursework, and degree.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
36.
I certify, I have read the announcement and have attached all supporting documents as required in the "Required Documents" section of the vacancy announcement. I understand that failure to submit all required legible documents prior to the closing date of the announcement may result in loss of consideration.
37.
Education is required for some of the job series advertised. You must submit a copy of your transcripts showing the basic education required for the series advertised. It may be necessary to attach transcripts from multiple institutions and/or to attach both undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
38.
If any of your education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. Contacts for private organizations that specialize in this evaluation is located here: http://www.naces.org/members. A fee is normally associated with this service. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
39.
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.