Summary The incumbent provides professional expertise and leadership for social science activities conducted in support of natural resource projects and programs to ensure that the relationships between people and public lands are understood by both the Agency and constituents/stakeholders and can be incorporated in the design and implementation of land management decisions. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Elizabeth Tichner at [email protected]. Responsibilities Provide guidance and recommendations for the consideration of socio-economic concerns to lower graded specialists and to non-specialists. Provide briefings of social science activities, products, services and initiatives to national, regional, and/or local partners. Ensures that methods of collection and analysis processes utilized are compliant with current professional standards. Ensures that analysis processes and documentation are in compliance with NEPA, NFMA, and/or other applicable laws, regulations, and policies. Develop strategies and analysis techniques to address current Forest (or equivalent) Plan development needs as efficiently as possible more effectively. Apply creative adaptations of methodologies to analyze the wide variety of relationships and impacts that may be encountered in Forest (or equivalent) Plan revisions or project analysis which involve complex socio-economic relationships. Inform and advise leadership regarding the appropriate use and consideration of socio-economic concerns in compliance with law, regulation, and policy. Provides briefings of social science activities, products, services, and initiatives to national, regional, and local partners. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. Basic Requirement: 0101 Series: Degree: 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 in behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience -- that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. OR Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-12 Level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level. Qualifying specialized experience is defined as three or more of the following: Planned and designed social analyses for assigned projects or plans, including a framework for collection and analysis; Performed as a member of interdisciplinary teams to assess socio-economic analysis needs, design methodologies, conduct analyses, and provide recommendations to incorporate measures to address socio-economic concerns in land management planning and implementation proposals and decisions; Provided guidance and recommendations for the consideration of socio-economic concerns to lower graded specialists and to non-specialists; Completed analysis processes and documentation in compliance with NEPA, and/or other applicable laws, regulations, and policies; Developed strategies and analysis techniques to more effectively address current Forest (or equivalent) Plan development needs as efficiently as possible; Collaborated with leadership and other specialists to provide technical assistance and coordination in public involvement efforts. 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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. 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 of 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 by the closing date of this announcement. Education There is no substitution of education for specialized experience. Additional Information THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (CTAP), USDA REEMPLOYMENT PRIORITY LIST (RPL), AND INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP) ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES who meet the eligibility requirements for priority consideration. The following link provides information for determining if you meet these criteria: Career Transition Guidelines. VEOA candidates may also apply. Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA). This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/ Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE. Salary wage as shown is for Rest of the U.S. For more information, refer to the Office of Personnel Management, Salary and Wages web page. Final determination of the duty station(s) will be made by the selecting official at the time of the job offer. Pay rates vary depending on location. The salary shown is for the Rest of the U.S. See OPM.gov for additional information on pay rates. We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.