- Position Title
- Biological Scientist
- Agency
- Forest Service
- Announcement Number
- 24-R6-12632800-FS-SH Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Tuesday, December 10, 2024 to Monday, December 16, 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 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?
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?
• 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 lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.
2.
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 Plant Biologist, GS-0401-7/9 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.
For each of the following questions, choose the response that best describes your experience and education for the Plant Biologist. 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 and information provided by your references. FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THESE QUESTIONS WILL RESULT IN AN INELIGIBLE RATING.
1.
From the statements below, select the one statement that best reflects your education and/or experience. To be minimally qualified for this position you must possess the required degree 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: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/IORs/gs0400/0401.htmYou will be required to submit transcripts to validate that you meet degree/coursework requirements.
2.
GS-07: Select the statement(s) that reflect your education/experience. Select the answer which best describes your educational/experience background. You will be required to submit transcripts to validate that you meet degree/coursework requirements.
3.
GS-09: Select the statement(s) that reflect your education/experience. Select the answer which best describes your educational/experience background. You will be required to submit transcripts to validate that you meet degree/coursework requirements.
For each of the following questions, 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 and 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.
Perform professional forest biology activities such as monitoring for insects and diseases and determining and applying appropriate treatments.
5.
Use appropriate propagation techniques including seed scarification, seed stratification, and rooted cuttings, for a wide variety of native plants and conifers.
6.
Possess a knowledge of a wide range of concepts, principles, methodology, and practices of plant physiology and related biological science to produce high quality plant materials.
7.
Utilize methods and procedures to meet objectives in insect and disease resistance and native species programs.
8.
Assist in nursery management, monitoring, data management, project reporting, field seed and vegetation collection, and restoration site plantings.
9.
Implement restoration and revegetation planting activities including project management and nursery crew direction.
10.
Research and modify techniques that have been developed on similar species for new species for which limited information is available.
11.
Analyze, evaluate, and select an appropriate course of action from many known alternatives that impact the value of various practices in plant propagation.
12.
Participate in seed sowing, propagation, irrigation, fertilization, and insects and disease monitoring of containerized or bareroot seedlings.
13.
Perform irrigation monitoring and implementation for a large variety of conifer and other native species.
14.
Track and maintain information on individual crops and report that information to a database.
15.
Participate in the planning and scheduling of seed sowing, propagation, irrigation, fertilization, and insects and disease monitoring of containerized or bareroot seedlings.
16.
Assess and recommend maintenance of all physical facilities in greenhouse, seed, or bareroot operations.
17.
Serve as a crew leader in the preparation and implementation of production schedules to ensure crop targets are met.
18.
Ensure that well established propagation and seedling growing protocols are adhered to and reports unprecedented deviation or controversial matters to the supervisor and recommends potential solutions.
19.
Participate in the planning, programming, and budgeting for current and long-term management of greenhouse, bareroot, or seed operations at the nursery.
20.
Coordinate activities with other departments and monitor biological plant development to adjust schedules as needed.
21.
Provide daily operational direction to nursery staff to meet biological deadlines.
22.
Assist to plan and implement seed and vegetation collections from the field.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
23.
I certify, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all the information submitted by me with my application for employment is true, complete, and made in good faith, and that I have truthfully and accurately represented my work experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education (degrees, accomplishments, etc.). I understand that the information provided may be investigated. I understand that misrepresenting my experience or education, or providing false or fraudulent information in or with my application may be grounds for not hiring me or for terminating me after I begin work. I also understand that false or fraudulent statements may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001).