Forest Service Logo
Position Title
Ecologist
Agency
Forest Service
Announcement Number
25-R10-12628027-R-JB Opens in new window
Open Period
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 to Tuesday, December 10, 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.
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1. Are you a current Forest Service employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment? (limit characters)
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? (limit characters)
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.
 
 
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4. 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?
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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5. 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. Are you a current or former Political appointee, Presidential appointee, and/or non-career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointee? (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in this Ecologist GS-0408-13 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)
This section will be used to determine if you possess the required education needed to qualify for this position. If you do not meet the basic education requirement, you will not receive consideration for this position. NOTE: You must document your course work and/or degree completed in your resume or other application materials you submit. 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. (limit characters)
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). (limit characters)
Basic educational requirement for the GS-0408 series. (limit characters)
1. From the statements below, select the one response that best describes your education as it pertains to meeting the Basic Requirements for the GS-0408 series.
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Specialized Experience Requirement: In addition to the requirement described above, the following professional specialized experience is required for GS-13 level. (limit characters)
2. From the statements below, select the response that best describes the specialized experience you possess that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of an Ecologist GS-0408-13 position.
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For each of the following questions, choose the responses that best describe your experience and training. Mark only one response for each question. 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. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
3. Evaluate ecological studies of vegetation, soil, and local environmental characteristics to produce ecological classifications.
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4. Execute complex projects and studies covering a full range of ecological work (e.g., vegetation, soil, aquatic, fishery and wildlife resources, terrestrial ecology, endangered species, water resource development, silviculture, range management, environmental impact, environmental characteristics, planning, etc.).
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5. Recommend priorities for ecological investigations.
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6. Develop the design and implementation of ecological models that contribute to land management planning.
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7. Monitor and evaluate the effects of management decisions on Forest land and surrounding communities.
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8. Plan and develop partnerships with other agencies and partners related to application of ecology to forest management at landscape scales.
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9. Work with other program area managers to formulate and recommend policies, programs and plans for ecosystem management.
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10. Plans and conducts studies and investigations concerning biological and physical processes that affect ecology or wildlife resources.
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11. Review and prepare responses to comments from other Forest disciplines; governmental agencies; special interest groups; and the public regarding natural resource management.
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12. Develops training modules for special workshops topics in wildlife, fisheries, and threatened and endangered species ecology.
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13. Review technical documents for errors and completeness, thoroughness, and ensures that completed work provides all required elements.
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14. Develops the scope of work, establishment of research procedures, monitoring contractor performance, and processing progress reports.
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15. Serve on planning and study teams to conduct environmental analyses of proposed projects.
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16. Develop ecology and sensitive plant species information, management interpretations and implications to address new methods and technologies.
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17. Evaluate the effects of resource management decisions to determine the capabilities of lands to meet present to future demands.
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18. Participate as a reviewer or technical contact on interdisciplinary teams to develop ecological and botanical considerations in environmental planning documents.
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19. Do you understand that if you are a current or former (reinstatement) Federal employee and you do not attach your most recent performance rating, dated within the past 18 months, or a document including a statement why you are not attaching your performance rating dated within the past 18 months, your application will be considered incomplete and you will not be considered for this position?
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20. 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. *
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21. 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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