- Position Title
- Program Specialist
- Agency
- Forest Service
- Announcement Number
- 24-0556-12447394-G-CVN Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Wednesday, June 26, 2024 to Monday, July 15, 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.
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 permanent Farm Service Agency County employee?
4.
Are you a current Federal employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment?
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?
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.
• 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.
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.
• 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.
8.
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.
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?
• 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?
10.
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.
11.
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.
3.
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 Program Specialist, GS-0301-11/12 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.
This section will be used to determine if you possess the education and experience needed to qualify for this position. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.
1.
From the statements below, select the response that best describes your education and/or experience as it pertains to meeting the Requirements for the Program Specialist, GS-0301-11. Please select only one response.
2.
From the statements below, select the response that best describes your education and/or experience as it pertains to meeting the Requirements for the Program Specialist, GS-0301-12 position. Please select only one response.
For each task in the following group, choose the statement from the list below that best describes your experience and/or training. Please select only one letter for each item.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
3.
Collaborate with wide variety of internal and external customers and partners to establish common understanding, build consensus, and promote a shared vision to build capacity and enhance safety.
4.
Ensure personnel are familiar with chainsaw and crosscut saw programming, policies, procedures, and operations.
5.
Maintain positive influence, build synergy, and promote camaraderie with individuals within organizations over the long-term trajectory for the success of the program.
6.
Establish and leverage a risk management framework to evaluate, collaborate and approve/disapprove cooperator on chainsaw programs.
7.
Strong networking and interpersonal skills to interact with diverse groups with differing experience and capabilities.
8.
Coordinate regional training, evaluation, and certification programs to meet forest's needs.
9.
Review and approve cooperator programs (based on Technical Advisory Group recommendations) in conjunction with other Regional Chainsaw Program Managers.
10.
Propose, and draft new policies and strategic innovations as a member of the Technical Advisory Group.
11.
Establish a transparent budget and resource allocation process for forests to contribute to local funding program.
12.
Review processes from the Coordinated Response to be familiar with Facilitated Learning Analysis (FLA) and Learning Protocol (CRP).
13.
Serve as a member of the National Chain Saw Program Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to promote innovation.
14.
Serve as a liaison with regional affiliated Federal, State, tribal, local governments, and volunteer partner groups to hear and respond to needs.
15.
Deliver training to ensure safe ground operations.
16.
Lead instruction, training and evaluations for field and classroom.
17.
Identify funds and resource leveraging mutually beneficial relationships to advance the strategic goals of the program.
18.
Build consensus groups and align partners to adopt new innovations, policies, and training.
19.
Collaborate with safety professionals and assist in the proactive review and analysis of saw-related accidents, and near misses.
20.
Promote and demonstrate a culture of safety within the regional chain saw program to empower all participants to learn, share, and improve.
21.
Evaluate and grow the skills of chainsaw instructors by assessing the procedures they use for felling and bucking as well as other activities related to safe sawyer operations.
22.
Review sawyer-related mishaps and assists in the preparation of lessons learned documents.
23.
Conduct project and program risk analysis using Safety Management System principles.
24.
Build a diverse, safe, competent cadre of internal and external instructors and certifiers.
25.
Monitor the activities of internal and external stakeholders as they implement the regional saw (chainsaw & crosscut saw) program.
26.
Maintain qualifications as either a C sawyer for either crosscut saws or chainsaws, as well as qualifications as a C sawyer evaluator for either tool to comply with national saw program standards for a Regional Saw Program Manager.
27.
Develop goals, objectives, and sawyer policies, procedures, and guidelines.
28.
Demonstrate knowledge of a wide range of chainsaw operations, concepts, principles, laws, regulations, and precedent-setting decisions.
29.
Complete written proposals for programmatic and policy innovations.
30.
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.