Social Scientist/Biological Scientist/Physical Scientist

Description:

This employee serves the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station located in Asheville, NC.

The Assistant Station Director for Science is responsible for scientific knowledge development and discovery, policy formulation, and advising leadership in responding to complex issues regarding the development of scientific research programs.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact John Coulston via email at john.coulston@usda.gov

Requirements:

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 university course descriptions to clarify content of coursework as necessary.

This is an interdisciplinary position and may be filled in any of the job series listed below.

Basic Series Requirements:
Social Science (0101): Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
Combination of education and experience -- that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
OR
Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

Biological Science (0401): Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
Combination of education and experience with courses equivalent to a major described above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Physical Science (1301): Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.
OR
Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic qualifications for at least one of the series above, you must possess the following specialized experience in the amounts listed below. Your application or resume must clearly show that you possess the specialized experience requirements.

For the GS-15 level: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized Experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To qualify for this position at this grade level, experience in your resume must include all of the following:
--Professional experience that demonstrates an advanced level of scientific research expertise and experience in the field of biological, social, or physical science. (i.e. numerous peer-reviewed publications and other reports, successfully competing for funding to support research, and presentations given to a broad group of scientific audiences);
--Leading a program of scientific research for a multifaceted natural resource or land management related organization including research planning, implementation, and results dissemination including science delivery;
--Analyzing and implementing new methods or techniques to solve national and regional scale management and organizational problems with unprecedented or novel aspects related to natural resources management and leadership; and
--Building effective partnerships across diverse organizations including federal, state, local, and tribal government agencies, industry, non-governmental organizations, and academia.

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.