Botanist Job in Throughout The Nation - 97844236 - ZATR3/NDPQVPU

Job Title:
Botanist

Department:
Department Of Agriculture

Agency:
Forest ServiceSub

Agency:
Forest Service

Job Announcement Number:
PERM-OCR-0430-57911-BOTA-G

SALARY RANGE:
$31,315.00 - $74,628.00 /year

OPEN PERIOD:
Thursday, March 17, 2011 to Friday, March 16, 2012
SERIES & GRADE:GS-0430-05/11

POSITION INFORMATION:
Full Time Permanent - No time limit

PROMOTION POTENTIAL:
11

DUTY LOCATIONS:
16 vacancies - Throughout the Nation

WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED:
Status eligibles - Open to current or former status federal employees; veterans eligible for consideration under VEOA, VRA and with a 30% or more disability; persons with disabilities; and former Peace Corps and Vista Volunteers. Proof of eligibility is required if selected.

JOB SUMMARY:Applications for this position are being processed through an on-line applicant assessment system that has been specifically configured for USDA Forest Service applicants. Even if you have already developed a resume in USAJOBS, you will need to access this on-line system to complete the application process. To obtain information about this position and TO APPLY, please click on http://www.avuecentral.com/vacancy.html?ref=OQUPY.


KEY REQUIREMENTS:

• See Other Information.

Additional Duty Location Info:
16 vacancies - Throughout the Nation


DUTIES:(The duties described reflect the full performance level of this position)

Performs duties such as surveying for threatened, endangered, sensitive, and rare plants, recommending mitigation measures, monitoring selected populations, or developing conservation plans.

Prepares a variety of written reports, plans, agreements and/or environmental impact statements that assess environmental conditions and impacts. Writes and/or reviews site-specific mitigating measures for environmental assessments and environmental impact statements.

Provides advice, guidance, and information as a member of an interdisciplinary team or to other agencies, state and local governments, and the public on botanical resource issues.

Studies, inventories, and investigates botanical and ecological conditions in support of botanical projects.



QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:(The KSAs below may not apply at all grades)

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Ability to communicate in writing.

Skill in interpreting and applying guidelines, policies, and procedures.

Knowledge of a scientific field and its environmental application.

Ability to design, plan, and implement scientific projects.

Knowledge of microbiological science principles, theories, concepts, methods, and techniques.

Knowledge of the principles, concepts, and practices of botany, including applicable laws and regulations.

Knowledge of the theories, principles, and concepts of ecology.

Ability to plan projects that require assessment of environmental impact.

Knowledge of the principles, concepts, and practices of ecology and its environmental application.

MINIMUM FEDERAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Grade 05: BASIC REQUIREMENTS



A. Successful completion of a full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in botany, or basic plant science that included at least 24 semester/36 quarter hours in botany. For positions dealing with the study of fungi, or with basic mycological relationships, the course work in botany must have included at least 6 semester/9 quarter hours in mycology.



OR



B. A combination of education and experience----courses equivalent to the requirements in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Grade 07: BASIC REQUIREMENTS



A. Successful completion of a full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in botany, or basic plant science that included at least 24 semester/36 quarter hours in botany. For positions dealing with the study of fungi, or with basic mycological relationships, the course work in botany must have included at least 6 semester/9 quarter hours in mycology.



OR



B. A combination of education and experience----courses equivalent to the requirements in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.





ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS



In addition to meeting the basic entry qualification requirements, applicants must have had either specialized experience and/or directly related education in the amounts shown below. Education and experience may be combined to meet the total experience requirements.



1. The applicant must have completed one (1) year of graduate level education OR be eligible for the superior academic achievement provision when it provided the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.



OR



2. One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-5.



Specialized experience is experience which is in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Grade 09: BASIC REQUIREMENTS



A. Successful completion of a full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in botany, or basic plant science that included at least 24 semester/36 quarter hours in botany. For positions dealing with the study of fungi, or with basic mycological relationships, the course work in botany must have included at least 6 semester/9 quarter hours in mycology.



OR



B. A combination of education and experience----courses equivalent to the requirements in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.





ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS



In addition to meeting the basic entry qualification requirements, applicants must have had either specialized experience and/or directly related education in the amounts shown below. Education and experience may be combined to meet the total experience requirements.



1. The applicant must have completed two (2) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree when it provided the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.



OR



2. One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-7.



Specialized experience is experience which is in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Grade 11: BASIC REQUIREMENTS



A. Successful completion of a full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in botany, or basic plant science that included at least 24 semester/36 quarter hours in botany. For positions dealing with the study of fungi, or with basic mycological relationships, the course work in botany must have included at least 6 semester/9 quarter hours in mycology.



OR



B. A combination of education and experience----courses equivalent to the requirements in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.





ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR NON-RESEARCH POSITIONS



In addition to meeting the basic entry qualification requirements, applicants must have had either specialized experience and/or directly related education in the amounts shown below. Education and experience may be combined to meet the total experience requirements.



1. The applicant must have completed three (3) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree when it provided the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.



OR



2. The applicant must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-9.



Specialized experience is experience which is in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.





ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR RESEARCH POSITIONS



In addition to meeting the basic entry qualification requirements, applicants must have had either specialized experience and/or directly related education in the amounts shown below. Education and experience may be combined to meet the total experience requirements.



1. The applicant must have completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree when the position involves primarily scientific inquiry or investigation, or research-type exploratory development of a creative or advanced scientific nature, where the knowledge required to perform the work successfully is typically and primarily acquired through graduate study.



OR



2. The applicant must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-9.



Specialized experience is experience which is in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS POSITION

Specialized experience directly related to this position should be documented in the Work History section of the on-line application. Applicants are encouraged to provide a narrative in the Work History section that describes the duties performed relative to the specialized experience defined for this position.

Specialized experience at the GS-07 level includes, but is not limited to: performing a variety of computations to prepare and summarize standard data for charts, graphs, and/or reports; assisting in the routine observation, measurement, and recording of scientific phenomena that affected conditions in a biological science specialty area; preparing or assisting in the preparation of documents and visual aids such as data tables, slides, posters, brochures, progress reports, summaries of field or laboratory work, or draft portions of manuscripts; and/or gathering information and research data in a biological science specialty area, using a variety of established methods, procedures, and techniques.

Specialized experience at the GS-09 level includes, but is not limited to: working with agency employees in locating, planting, and listing native plant species; assisting in gathering ecological information for maintaining sensitive plant viability and performed surveys of potential habitat, mapping all populations discovered; assisting in plant inventories for the evaluation and documentation of potential and existing environmental influences on botanical resources; and/or collecting data for environmental reports, assessments, and environmental impact statements.

Specialized experience at the GS-11 level includes, but is not limited to: serving as a member of an interdisciplinary team providing basic resource information and botanical input into forest management plans. Working with state and private groups in locating and planting native plant species. Working with state conservation programs to list plant species and to assist with planning, management, protection, and recovery activities; assisting with the coordination of day-to-day activities related to the management of rare, endangered, and sensitive plants with other agencies, local governments, and conservation groups. Gathering ecological information for maintaining sensitive plant viability and performed surveys of potential habitat, mapping all populations discovered; preparing environmental analysis reports within an assigned and limited functional area. Reviewing environmental assessments and environmental impact statements and made recommendations regarding the management of specific plant resources; and/or conducting plant inventories with a limited number of variables and that had clear and specified precedents and objectives. Evaluating and documented potential and existing environmental influences on botanical resources.

See Other Information for further requirements.
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
You will be rated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the education, experience and training you report relative to this position which shows that you possess the knowledges, skills and abilities required. Paid or unpaid experience will be considered.


BENEFITS:See Other Information.
OTHER INFORMATION:

Please check Job Posting Information, Summary, for the area of consideration (i.e., Who May Apply), and time limit information.

Bargaining Unit Status: Eligible - Coverage is dependent upon unit location.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements with 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement OR within 30 days of the date a referral list is issued for open continuous announcements. Former federal employees applying to positions at a higher graded position than previously held may be subject to TIG requirements as well.

BASIS OF RATING: You will be rated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the education, experience, and training you recorded in the work experience or resume relative to this position which show the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed on this vacancy announcement.

To receive consideration for this position, you must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement or within 30 days of the generating a referral list from an Open Continuous Announcement. Applicants are strongly encouraged to ensure the work history portion thoroughly documents the duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments that are directly related to this position in order to verify specialized experience.

If selection is made at a lower grade level, promotion to the target grade will be non-competitive upon completion of training, performance, and specialized experience requirements.

Applications submitted in postage-paid Government envelopes will not be accepted.

Applications received become the property of the USDA Forest Service and will not be returned.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: The USDA Forest Service provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the point of contact listed on the vacancy announcement. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Government housing may be available.

Relocation expenses are authorized.

Some positions have other conditions of employment not specified in this announcement. Applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer.

DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.

This position is being advertised under both merit promotion (internal) and demonstration project (external) procedures under separate announcements. Applicants who wish to be considered under both procedures must apply to each announcement and follow the specific instructions applicable to each method. 

Veterans: Under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 as amended by Section 511 of the Veterans Millennium Health Care Act (Public Law 106-117), veterans who are preference eligibles or who have been separated from the armed forces after substantially completing 3 years of continuous service performed under honorable conditions may apply and will be considered for this position under merit promotion procedures.

Applicants covered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Career Transition Assistant Program (CTAP) or Intergovernmental Career Transition Program (ICTAP) may apply and will be given priority consideration if determined to be well-qualified. Well-qualified is defined as meeting the qualification standards, selective factors, quality ranking factors, and physical qualifications under the Agency's specific selection process.

Completion of a probationary or trial period may be required, depending on the type of appointment. During this time period, employees conduct and performance will be monitored in order to determine if employee will be retained.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Check our website at: http://www.fs.fed.us/fsjobs for general information on the Forest Service.

PERMANENT OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT: This is a continuously open vacancy announcement for one or more locations throughout the Forest Service. The number and location of positions to be filled will be dependent upon individual unit needs. These are permanent positions with varying tours of duty and may include weekend work. Some positions may have irregular and protracted hours of work. Tours of duty include full-time or less than full-time (guaranteed minimum 13 pay periods full-time employment). Positions may be filled as career ladders or could be filled at the full performance level dependent upon the individual units needs. Availability of government housing, federal day care facilities, and bargaining unit status will vary by location. Pay rates vary depending on location. See the OPM website at www.opm.gov for additional information on pay rates.

To ensure that you receive consideration, applications submitted through the on-line application process must be received by 11:59 p.m. eastern time the day before a referral list is issued. A scannable application package submitted by mail must be received at the correct address and scanned prior to issuance of referral list. When there are no applicants for specific locations, the search area may be broadened when generating referral lists to include locations in the closest city nearby. To obtain more information about the US Forest Service and individual locations, go to www.fs.fed.us (a search can be done by State or by Name). We encourage applicants to contact supervisors at the chosen locations for specific information. To ensure continued interest and availability, applicants will be notified via e-mail reminding them to re-certify their application every 60 days. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age upon appointment. Some positions have other conditions of employment not specified in this announcement. Applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer is made.

HOW TO APPLY: In order to determine if you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for this position, please submit the following information:

1. Experience/Employment Information:

a. Apply On-Line at www.avuedigitalservices.com/usfs/applicant.html. This online application process allows applicants to submit employment information that can be printed for personal use and saved and/or edited on the website for future use. The application process contains all the data elements that are required for resumes submitted for federal employment and may be submitted electronically. OR

b. Apply by Scannable Questionnaire: This Questionnaire requires completion of a scannable form. You must request the instructions and form and submit the scannable application form and supporting documentation by mail. Locations and their codes will be listed in the application package A facsimile of the scannable form cannot be accepted.

2. Eligibility Information: The following documents are required with your application to verify eligibility and basic qualifications. If you are unable to attach these documents into your application, you may fax them to 253-573-9869. To ensure consideration, you must include your name on all documents. Failure to provide this documentation may result in disqualification.

a. Applicants applying under the VRA or VEOA authorities must submit a DD-214, Member 4 copy to verify eligibility. If applicable, submit a SF-15, Application for 10-Point preference and a letter dated 1991 to present from the VA or military department indicating your disability rating. If you are still on active duty, then you must submit one of the following documentation: (1) official orders or citation entitling you to a campaign badge; (2) statement of service from a commanding officer or someone else in authority attesting to your active duty which identifies dates of entry and anticipated separation; rank at time of discharge; and anticipated character of discharge; or (3) in the case of someone claiming service during the first Gulf War or since 9/11/01, any official document attesting to your presence on active duty during the appropriate calendar periods.

b. Spouses of military veterans who are applying under the noncompetitive hiring authority for certain military spouses must provide applicable supporting documentation prior to appointment, if selected.

c. Transcripts (official or unofficial) from accredited institutions if education is used to meet basic qualifications requirements. You may be required to provide official transcripts if selected.

d. Applicants not currently employed with the Forest Service must submit an SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action or equivalent document to verify current or former federal employment status.

e. Applicants requesting priority placement consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must provide the Notice of Expected Separation or other proof document.

3. The following documents are optional but encouraged:

a. Resume.

b. Performance appraisal information for current Federal employees.

TO REQUEST A SCANNABLE FORM: Please refer to the contact name and phone number listed in this vacancy announcement.

HOW TO APPLY:Applications for this position are being processed through an on-line applicant assessment system that has been specifically configured for USDA Forest Service applicants. Even if you have already developed a resume in USAJOBS, you will need to access this on-line system to complete the application process. To obtain information about this position and TO APPLY, please click on http://www.avuecentral.com/vacancy.html?ref=OQUPY.

If you are unable to apply online, you may contact the employing office for alternate application procedures. Please call ASC HRM Staffing at 877-372-7248 or email at fsjobs@fs.fed.us.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:See Other Information.
AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

ASC HRM Staffing
Phone: 877-372-7248
Email: fsjobs@fs.fed.us Agency Information:
USDA
Do not send mail.
Refer to announcement
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109
US

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:You will be rated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the education, experience and training you report relative to this position which shows that you possess the knowledges, skills and abilities required. Paid or unpaid experience will be considered.