Soil Conservationist

Description:

This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Southern Plains Region, Anadarko Agency, Natural Resources in Anadarko, Oklahoma.

This is a Bargaining Unit position, for more information see What are bargaining units?
NOTE:
TRAVEL AND RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE AUTHORIZED. ANY RELOCATION EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH REPORTING FOR DUTY WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SELECTED EMPLOYEE.

Requirements:

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for Professional and Scientific Positions, GS-0457, and the Individual Occupational Requirements for GS-0457, Soil Conservationist Series).

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL GRADES:
A. Degree: soil conservation or related agricultural or natural resource discipline such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, agricultural education, or agricultural engineering. The study must have included 30 semester hours in a natural resource or agricultural field, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soils and crops or plant science. Of the 12 semester hours, a minimum of 3 semester hours must have been in soils and 3 semester hours in crops or plant science.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience - at least 30 semester hours in one or more of the disciplines as shown in A above, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soils and crops or plant science, plus appropriate experience, or additional education. Of the 12 semester hours, a minimum of 3 semester hours must have been in soils and 3 semester hours in crops or plant science.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: In addition to meeting the basic entry level qualification requirements, applicants must have the following:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-5: I have at least 1 year of full-time specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to at least the GS-4 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sector). This experience must include assisting in soil conservation or range activities; ability to follow conservation practices such as weed control, contour farming, strip cropping, summer fallow, residue management and tree plantings; provide assistance on educational programs among landowners/users; stay informed of changes in conservation and environmental policies and procedures.
OR
EDUCATION: 4 years of progressively higher-level education leading to a bachelor's degree in an accredited business or technical school, college or university in one of the following disciplines: soil conservation or related agricultural or natural resource discipline such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, agricultural.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-07: I have at least 1 year of specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal Service (obtained either in the public or private sector). This experience must include the following: provide guidance and assistance in the installation and maintenance of conservation practices and programs; prepare inspection schedules, which include inspection of terraces, stock water ponds, waterways, diversions, drainage, erosion control structures, concrete drops, fencing and prescribed fires for the successful treatment of soil and/or water resources; advise individual tribal members or tribal groups on matters relating to soil and moisture conservation programs for tribal rehabilitation projects;
OR
EDUCATION: 1 year of graduate-level education; OR Superior Academic Achievement.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-09: I have at least 1 year of specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal Service (obtained either in the public or private sector). This experience must include the following: confer with Supervisor and advise individual tribal members or tribal groups on matters relating to soil and moisture conservation programs for tribal rehabilitation projects; assist with activities of State Extension program beneficial to Indian people and their trust properties in the agency area jurisdiction; provide information for Indian owners and lessees on programs for conveying emphasizing the importance of proper land use through conservation practices, participate at committee meetings or general agricultural meetings; conduct an information program for Indian owners and lessees on programs for conveying emphasizing the importance of proper land use through conservation practices; maintain and prepare land use reports; liaison with other agencies on conservation programs;
OR
EDUCATION: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-11: I have at least 1 year of full-time specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to at least the GS-09 in the Federal Service (obtained in either the public or private sector). This experience must include the following activities: oversee and direct conservation programs; assist management with the development of procedures and policies affecting the land operation program and agency; advise on expenditure of funding for land use program; confer and advise individual tribal members or tribal groups on all matters relating to soil and moisture conservation programs for tribal rehabilitation projects; coordinate activities of State Extension program beneficial to Indian people and their trust properties in the agency area jurisdiction; advise individual tribal members or tribal groups on expenditure of funds for land use programs and improvements that may include terracing, stock water ponds, waterways, diversions, drainage, erosion control structures, concrete drops, fencing and prescribed fires; conduct an information program for Indian owners and lessees on programs for conveying emphasizing the importance of proper land use through conservation practices, talks at committee meetings or general agricultural meetings; maintain contacts with universities / colleges, agricultural stations, private technical organizations and professional and/or scientific organizations for keeping up on the latest developments in the field of soil and moisture conservation, range and wildlife management, oil and gas exploration, vegetative rehabilitation and flood control; prepare and review lease contracts and renewals;
OR
EDUCATION: 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. S.A.A. is based on (1) Class standing-applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class, based on completed courses; or (2) Grade-Point Average-applicants must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (3) Election to membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society - membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: Graduate education must be related to the occupation and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the position to be filled.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Merit Promotion candidates must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the announcement closing date.

Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472).

Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur in the same location within 90 days from the closing date.