Job Description

Summary

This position is located in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), State Office. The incumbent serves as State Soil Scientist and provides leadership for developing, managing, and directing a comprehensive and integrated technical soil services program for the state, serves as the state liaison with National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) cooperators and is supervised by the State Conservationist.

Responsibilities

Ensures that soil surveys and other services are responsive to the needs of the various users, in compliance with standards and policies, and that resources are utilized efficiently and economically.

Provides guidance to the Regional Soil Science Division Director to develop and implement the soil survey program in the Soil Survey Region.

Provides technical guidance to Soil Survey Office staff members.

Consults with and advises national office soil scientists, state office soil scientists, and directors of cooperating agencies on both technical and administrative problems affecting the progress and technical quality of soil surveys

Provides the state leadership role of interdisciplinary technical and resources application teams utilizing soils information.

Provides leadership and coordination for National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) policies and procedures with all cooperators in the state.

Provides supervision to members of the State Soils Program staff performing a full range of supervisory functions.

Works with regional soils division and Soil Survey leaders, NCSS cooperators, state agencies, units of government and others as part of the cooperative soil survey program.

Assist in the implementation of the MA/VT Soil Health Strategic Plans including delivery of soil health training.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in grade:

Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. (e.g. one year at the GS-12 grade level for consideration for the GS-13 grade level). Basic Education Requirement:

You must meet at least on of the Basic Requirements outlined in A or B below.

A. A full 4 year bachelor degree program in soil science or a closely related discipline that included 30 semester hours or equivalent in biological, physical, or earth science, with a minimum of 15 semester hours in such subjects as soil genesis, pedology, soil chemistry, soil physics, and soil fertility.

B. Combination of courses equivalent to a major in soil science or a major that included at least 30 semester hours in the biological, physical, or earth sciences. At least 15 of these semester hours must have been in the areas specified in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered: Minimum Qualifications:

To be considered minimally qualified for this position, in addition to the Basic Requirement above, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education below for the respective grade level in which you are applying. GS-13 Specialized Experience: Must have successfully completed at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level of the Federal Service performing duties such as: Providing quality assurance of data bases, soil correlation procedures, and soil interpretations; Planning and evaluating the work to be accomplished by subordinates; Writing position descriptions and job analyses for positions supervised; Providing or arranging for needed development and training; and Resolving employee grievances. There is no minimum qualification substitute for education for this position. 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.

Education

You must submit a copy of your college transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify all education requirements (i.e. substitution of education and/or basic education requirement). If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement. You must document all requirements on every vacancy; we cannot use previous determinations as a basis for rating. All required information must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and non-submission of all required documents/documentation will result in non-consideration. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. This information must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Non-submission of these documents will result in non-consideration. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Applicants must, therefore, only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation via this link. All education claimed by applicants will be verified accordingly. Important: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Click on this link for more information.

Additional Information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP or RPL eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized. This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the duty location of the position. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor. PLEASE NOTE: In the interest of filling these positions as efficiently as possible, we are requiring the following: If called for an interview, applicants must be available to interview within 3 business days of being contacted. If a tentative job offer is extended, selectee will have 2 business days in which to accept or decline.