Program Assistant (Farm Bill)

Description:

This position is located in a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) field office within the State of Maine.

This is an administrative and technical support position generally under the supervision of the District Conservationist, Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations, or other higher graded employee. The position is responsible for processing and maintenance of records related to conservation programs and the day to day business and office process of the NRCS.

Requirements:

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level(s) in which you are applying:

GS-05

Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Interpreting and applying program requirements; Performing customer service activities such as responding to inquiries in person or in writing; and Completing administrative duties such as filing and tracking documents for an office. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

OR

Substitution of Education in Lieu of Specialized Experience: Successful completion of four full years of education above the high school level for which high school graduation or the equivalent was a prerequisite. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school. (You must submit transcripts.)

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of post-high school education and specialized experience as described above that total 100% when combined. Determine the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determine the education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; then add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. (You must submit transcripts.)

GS-06

Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Interpreting and applying conservation program requirements to provide information to customers; Entering data into organization software tools to generate reports; and Preparing and reviewing correspondence, reports, and/or other documents using proper grammar, format, and spelling. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

GS-07

Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Interpreting and applying conservation program requirements to track contracts, monitor program funds, and assemble documents; Using computer software such as Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word to compile reports, produce charts and graphs, and/or monitor project status; and Providing guidance on conservation program elements. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-06 and GS-07 grade levels.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The OPM Qualification Standards for this position can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series