Summary This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Superintendent, Jicarilla Agency in Dulce, New Mexico. 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. Responsibilities Mission Statement The Bureau of Indian Affairs' mission is to enhance the quality of life, to promote economic opportunity , and to carry out the responsibility to protect and improve the trust assets of American Indians, Indian tribes and Alaska Natives. This position is part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, BIA Center for Recruitment Albuquerque, Jicarilla Agency, Branch of Natural Resources. As a Natural Resource Specialist you will be responsible for providing technical expertise with emphasis in vegetation, assist in program development and implementation of the natural resources program. Position will address issues related to range management, plant and habit issues and other natural resource concerns. As a Natural Resource Specialist, GS-0401-11, typical work assignments may include but are not limited to: Plan, design, conduct and coordinate monitoring Coordinate and implement strategies to control and manage noxious weed and invasive vegetative species. Participates in the interdisciplinary reviews of proposed range, water, timber, and oil and gas development projects and other surface disturbing projects Cooperates with other Tribal, Federal and state agencies, individuals and organizations in matters concerning the Agency's Natural Resources Program. Provide technical assistance regarding the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Assist with wildhorse studies to gather population data to monitor grazing, unit utilization, and locations of herds. Records management of classified or cataloged information regarding rangeland data. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATIONREQUIREMENTS:OPM Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific positions and General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series 0401 Individual Occupational Requirements Basic Requirements 1. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.*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 or specific course requirements generally as stated in paragraph A in the individual occupational requirements. OR 2. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. In addition to meeting the basic entry level qualification requirement, applicants must have the following:GS-11 grade level: One (1) year Specialized Experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level. Specialized Experience may include: providing technical expertise in gathering, analyzing and identifying native vegetation, traditional plants and noxious weeds; use digital and hard copy maps; records management; identify and address plant and habitat issues; participate in educational and public information activities regarding natural resources. OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OR An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. 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. Education If you are qualifying based on your education, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education which shows the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: FOREIGN EDUCATION Additional Information All new hires earn the beginning salary of their pay grade (Step 1). See 2023 Salary Tables and select the pay chart for Dulce, New Mexico. If no specific chart is listed for this geographic location, see the "rest of U.S." chart. The full performance level of this position is GS-11. Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp . LAND MANAGEMENT WORKFORCE FLEXIBILITY ACT: If applying under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, you must provide documentation to support your eligibility (SF-50) and performance (references and/or performance appraisal). Under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) two groups of individuals are eligible to apply under this announcement: current and/or former employees serving or who have served under time-limited competitive appointments at land management agencies. Land Management Agencies include: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Forest Service. Current appointees: 1) must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency; 2) must have served under one or more time limited appointment(s) by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; AND 3) must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service. Former appointees: 1) must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency; 2) must have served under one or more time limited appointment(s) by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; 3) must have separated for reasons other than misconduct or performance; AND 4) must have performed at an acceptable level through the service period. Certain candidates may be eligible to apply under a special hiring authority including those for disabled individuals, Peace Corps employees, Foreign Service employees, veterans, etc. For more information, visit the following OPM websites: USAJOBS Information Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/; Vets Info Guide: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/. Former Federal Employees are required to indicate whether they received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) buyout in their previous employment with the Federal government, and are required to submit a copy of the applicable Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) regarding the VSIP. Most individuals who accept reemployment with the Federal government within 5 years of receiving the VSIP amount, must repay the gross amount of the separation pay prior to reemployment.