- Position Title
- Botanist
- Agency
- Forest Service
- Announcement Number
- 24-NPT-SRM-430-79-FS-JW Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Wednesday, January 24, 2024 to Wednesday, February 21, 2024
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 Forest Service employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment?
2.
Are you a Forest Service 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?
3.
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.
4.
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.
5.
Are you a current or former employee of the US Forest Service 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 break in service of two or more years; and,
- most recent period of qualifying service was with the US Forest Service; and,
- performed at an acceptable level of service during each period of service; and,if you are no longer employed by the US Forest Service, have been separated for no more than two years, and whose most recent separation was for reasons other than misconduct or performance?
6.
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?
7.
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.
8.
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?
9.
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.
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.
• 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.
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.
Reference Check
1.
Please enter at least 3 references below. Include first and last name, phone number and email address.
Recruitment Source
1.
How did you hear about this job opportunity? Please select one and specify if required:
2.
Please specify the source you used to find this recruitment action (i.e., Google, San Antonio Express News, Forest Service homepage, etc.).
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in this Botanist, GS-GS-0430-07/09, 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.
Your responses to the Basic Requirements and Specialized Experience statements, as well as other statements in the questionnaire, in conjunction with the information provided in your completed application, will be evaluated to determine your qualifications. 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. 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. A copy of your official transcripts may be required before entrance on duty, if selected. YOUR RESUME OR APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST SUPPORT THE ANSWERS YOU CLAIM.
Basic Requirements
1.
Select the statement that best reflects your education or experience. To be minimally qualified for this position you must possess the required degree/coursework, combination of education in a related discipline, or a combination of education and experience. For a detailed explanation of qualifying education and experience, review the information in the vacancy announcement or visit the OPM Qualifications website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/botany-series-0430/ You will be required to provide transcripts with your application to validate that you meet degree/coursework requirements for this position.
Specialized Experience Requirements
2.
Select the statement that best reflects your education and/or experience. Experience claimed must be reflected in your resume. Transcripts must be provided with your application if qualifying based on education.
3.
Select the statement that best reflects your education and/or experience. Experience claimed must be reflected in your resume. Transcripts must be provided with your application if qualifying based on education.
For each of the following task statements, 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.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
4.
Participate in evaluation and monitoring of threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant species as a part of plant community and vegetation management programs.
5.
Participate in assigned phases of the administration of a unit's threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant program.
6.
Conduct environmental data collection field surveys and maintain inventory of plant occurrence records.
7.
Provide technical expertise regarding threatened, endangered and sensitive plant species, plant community and vegetation management.
8.
Assist or train other assigned field personnel to recognize, identify, and locate plant species of concern.
9.
Use a plant taxonomy key to identify plants.
10.
Collect and summarize informational data and administer assigned plant species projects.
11.
Perform studies of plant species use, including plant community and vegetation management use.
12.
Prepare reports of observations in assigned studies and recommendations for improvement.
13.
Prepare portions of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents and botanical analysis reports.
14.
Develop or assist with developing sensitive plant lists and species management guidelines.
15.
Prepare scopes of work and government estimates for contracted services.
16.
Prepare and administer contracts and agreements for the treatment of invasive plants and/or restoration of native plant communities.
17.
Develop and implement management plans and partnerships for the control of invasive plant species and establishment of native vegetation.
18.
Manage invasive species and native plant community restoration projects, including evaluating, developing, implementing, and monitoring projects.
19.
Participate on interdisciplinary teams to provide the documentation and coordination necessary for the effective management of threatened, endangered and sensitive plant species.
Your responses to the Announcement and Assessment Questionnaires, along with your supporting documentation, are subject to evaluation and verification to ensure accuracy. Please take an opportunity to review your responses for their accuracy.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
20.
I certify I have read the announcement and have attached all supporting documents as required.
21.
Have you read the "Required Documents" section of the vacancy announcement and understand that failure to submit all required, legible documents prior to the closing date of the announcement may result in loss of consideration?
22.
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.