Agricultural Research Service Logo
Position Title
Agricultural Engineer/Agronomist/Soil Scientist
Agency
Agricultural Research Service
Announcement Number
ARS-S24Y-12222656-NW Opens in new window
Open Period
Thursday, December 7, 2023 to Wednesday, December 27, 2023
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 those eligibilities.

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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1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
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 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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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?
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Preferences
1. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
2. Select the series you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one series. (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Your responses to the questions below will be used in the evaluation of your qualifications for the Agricultural Engineer/Soil Scientist/Agronomist position. Your resume and application materials must support the level of experience and/or education you claim in this questionnaire. If, after a complete review of your application package, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications, you may be rated ineligible for this position. (limit characters)
1. Select the answer below that describes your education as it relates to the basic qualification requirements for the Agricultural Engineer (0890) position. If you select A or B, please submit a copy of your transcripts for verification.
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2. Select the answer below that describes your education as it relates to the basic qualification requirements for the Soil Scientist (470) position. If you select A o r B, please submit a copy of your transcripts for verification.
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3. Select the answer below that describes your education as it relates to the basic qualification requirements for the Agronomist (471) position. If you select A or B, please submit a copy of your transcripts for verification.
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4. From the choices below, please select the response that best describes how your experience meets the minimum qualification requirements for this position at the GS-09 level. Your resume must clearly support the response you select, or you will be rated as not qualified. (limit characters)
5. From the choices below, please select the response that best describes how your experience meets the minimum qualification requirements for this position at the GS-11 level. Your resume must clearly support the response you select, or you will be rated as not qualified. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
6. Develop and apply solutions for the acquisition and analysis of complex sets of spatiotemporal data.
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7. Participate in the design and testing of systems to collect data and control machine functions.
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8. Integrate, analyze, and interpret data from various sources which may include raw data or published data from peer-reviewed articles related to soil, crop, and machine sensors.
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9. Summarize and compile experimental results to include in manuscripts and reports.
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10. Provide research support to scientists investigating digital data applications in crop production (also known as precision agriculture).
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11. Participate in the overall design of methods and approaches for data collection, analysis, integration, and dissemination.
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12. Search literature for alternative approaches for data collection and analysis and to keep abreast of current scientific advancements.
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13. Collect field data and samples using various methods, instruments, and approaches. (limit characters)
14. Evaluate alternative commercial instrumentation (e.g., UAV platforms, dataloggers, sensors) and select appropriate alternatives based on the research question to be addressed. (limit characters)
15. Lead teams to collect field data and samples using various methods, instruments, and approaches. (limit characters)
16. Utilize modern computer languages (e.g., R, Matlab, Python) to acquire and analyze data. (limit characters)
17. I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information included in this questionnaire is true, correct, and provided in good faith. I understand that if I make an intentional false statement, or commit deception or fraud in this application and its supporting materials, or in any document or interview associated with the examination process, I may be fined or imprisoned (18 U.S.C. 1001); my eligibilities may be canceled, I may be denied an appointment, or I may be removed and debarred from Federal service (5 C.F.R. part 731). I understand that any information I give may be investigated. I understand that responding "No" to this item will result in my not being considered for this position.
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