Deadline: Wed, 08/09/2023 - 12:00pm Employer: Department of Agriculture Forest Service Job Field: Forestry Job Type: Full Time Location: New Mexico Location Detail: Alanogordo Job Description: Duties The incumbent performs technical assignments consisting of routine laboratory and/or field experiments that require the use of accepted, standardized laboratory or field practices. Assists in the acquisition of field data by measuring and recording pertinent biological information peculiar to the specific assignment. Tabulates and orders data as directed and prepares data for computer use. The assignment involves performance of a series of related technical tasks, which must be completed according to a predetermined and established routine. Assists with native plant, pollinators, and phenology surveys. Assists in the layout of experimental plots by taking measurements and marking corners and boundaries. Uses botanical key to identify plants encountered during field trips or surveys of Forest areas. Assists in the collection, handling, and preservation of specimens. All biological data pertinent to collections and preservation are recorded. Assists in maintenance of various collections used in connection with day-to-day research activities. Observes and records expected responses in experiments and keeps aware of factors and situations included in experiments to ensure against error and to increase the reliability of the results obtained. Participates and conducts a variety of routine field studies of native and non-native botanical species and their habitats. Collects data for use in habitat and species condition analyses. Collects survey and inventory data that is used to establish species identity, population characteristics, environmental conditions, and factors affecting the vigor and extent of the species and their habitat. Keeps records of all data and produces maps of survey areas. Lays out monitoring plots by taking measurements and marking corners and boundaries. Compiles and summarizes the vegetation types obtained from aerial and ground surveys including forest health monitoring, biological evaluations, and pilot tests conducted as part of the project. Uses botanical key to assist with the identification of plants encountered during field trips or surveys of Forest areas. Accurately and legibly records data related to invasive non-native plant treatments according to specific protocols. Compiles and summarizes the data obtained from surveys, inventories, biological evaluations, and monitoring. Uses computer systems and associated software for recording, organizing, storing, and analyzing data. Performs the full range of standard technical assignments consisting of routine invasive non-native plant treatment, management, inventory, and monitoring of invasive non-native plants commonly found in the work area. Assignments involve the performance of a series of basic related technical tasks, which must be completed according to a predetermined and established routine. May identify, collect, and release appropriate insects to achieve desired objectives. Assists in identifying invasive non-native plants using various field guides, surveying for target plants, collecting data on infestation location and status, and treating invasive plant infestations. Treatments primarily involve using herbicides, but may also be accomplished by hand-pulling, or using hand tools, power tools, mowers, and other standard control methods. Performs highly physical labor and daily hiking often to remote locations in rugged terrain under possible adverse weather conditions. Uses global positioning systems, aerial photographs, topographic maps, or compass in navigation. A portion of time may be dedicated to data entry and other duties in a laboratory or office setting. Applies herbicides using backpack sprayers or other equipment on a regular basis according to specific guidelines. Performs basic mathematical calculations related to herbicide mixing and applications. Uses appropriate personal protective equipment supplied by the Forest Service at all times. Carries out pollinator habitat enhancement, tends restoration gardens, and performs other ecological restoration duties such as planting, seed collection and cleaning, weeding, and irrigation of past plantings or native plant nursery work. Qualifications: Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a US Citizen or US National. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check Direct Deposit Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing. Must be 18 years of age Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-Verify Qualifications In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. GS-04: Applicants must have six months of any type of work that demonstrated the ability to perform the work of the position, or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation AND six months of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-3 grade level; OR an associate's degree or two years of successfully completed education above high school (90 quarter or 60 semester hours) that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, agriculture, or mathematics and at least 6 hours must be directly related to the position; OR combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. Examples of General Experience includes: Performing farm/ranch labor, such as tending crops or general maintenance of plants and vegetation; working in a greenhouse, nursery or landscape business tending plants and performing general labor tasks; or other work experience, paid or unpaid, that demonstrates an ability to learn and perform the work of this position. Examples of specialized experience include: Participating in plant-related projects by assisting with measurements, recording observations, and assisting with the collection of biological and vegetation specimens. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Miscellaneous: Additional information PLEASE NOTE: This vacancy is being used to fill positions for FY2024 Temporary Employment Hiring season. The expected start date for this position will be between December 31, 2023 and April 7, 2024. By selecting the "Location Negotiable" option during the application process, implies your willingness to be considered for any official duty location listed on this announcement and/or those duty locations not listed for this Regional announcement. Pay rates vary depending on location. The salary shown is for the Rest of the U.S. See OPM.gov for additional information on pay rates. This position is temporary, has a Not-to-Exceed date and will be filled for up to 6 months or as a not to exceed (NTE) 1 year, however an extension of the appointment may be possible without further competition. The appointment may also end early due to lack of work or lack of funds. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other groups within the Region who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in any of the geographic location(s) listed on the announcement. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS). Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates. The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligible must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered. If you are retired from the Federal Government and are selected for this vacancy, your retirement annuity may be offset from your pay. This position is not eligible for telework. Availability of government housing and federal day care facilities will vary by location. Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE. How You Will Be Evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. Eligible applicants will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Applicants with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be referred to the selecting official. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service. Salary: $16.57 - $16.57 per hour Benefits: A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. How to Apply: job posting: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/739386500
