Summary This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pawnee Agency, Natural Resources in Pawnee, Oklahoma. This is a Bargaining Unit position, for more information see What are bargaining units? NOTE: THE PAY FLEXIBILITIES OF A RECRUITMENT BONUS OR STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT MAY BE AUTHORIZED, PENDING AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND MANAGEMENT APPROVAL. Responsibilities Assist and implement the comprehensive agency-wide conservation programs including the soil and moisture, and land operations programs. Provide technical support to the Real Estate Services program on all land management operation related activities. Stay informed of policies and procedures that could affect the conservation and environmental programs. Conduct field inspections to implement and monitor the soil and moisture conservation programs to landowners, lessees, and tenants. Conduct and coordinate environmental activities with other Federal and State agencies and organizations. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for Professional and Scientific Positions, GS-0457, and the Individual Occupational Requirements for GS-0457, Soil Conservationist Series). BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL GRADES: A. Degree: soil conservation or related agricultural or natural resource discipline such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, agricultural education, or agricultural engineering. The study must have included 30 semester hours in a natural resource or agricultural field, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soils and crops or plant science. Of the 12 semester hours, a minimum of 3 semester hours must have been in soils and 3 semester hours in crops or plant science. OR B. Combination of education and experience - at least 30 semester hours in one or more of the disciplines as shown in A above, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soils and crops or plant science, plus appropriate experience, or additional education. Of the 12 semester hours, a minimum of 3 semester hours must have been in soils and 3 semester hours in crops or plant science. ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: In addition to meeting the basic entry level qualification requirements, applicants must have the following: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-07: I have at least 1 year of specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal Service (obtained either in the public or private sector). This experience must include the following: provide guidance and assistance in the installation and maintenance of conservation practices and programs; prepare inspection schedules, which include inspection of terraces, stock water ponds, waterways, diversions, drainage, erosion control structures, concrete drops, fencing and prescribed fires for the successful treatment of soil and/or water resources; advise individual tribal members or tribal groups on matters relating to soil and moisture conservation programs for tribal rehabilitation projects. OR EDUCATION: 1 year of graduate-level education; OR superior academic achievement. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-09: I have at least 1 year of specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal Service (obtained either in the public or private sector). This experience must include the following: confer with Supervisor and advise individual tribal members or tribal groups on matters relating to soil and moisture conservation programs for tribal rehabilitation projects; assist with activities of State Extension program beneficial to Indian people and their trust properties in the agency area jurisdiction; provide information for Indian owners and lessees on programs for conveying emphasizing the importance of proper land use through conservation practices, participate at committee meetings or general agricultural meetings; conduct an information program for Indian owners and lessees on programs for conveying emphasizing the importance of proper land use through conservation practices; maintain and prepare land use reports; liaison with other agencies on conservation programs. OR EDUCATION: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-11: I have at least 1 year of full-time specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to at least the GS-09 in the Federal Service (obtained in either the public or private sector). This experience must include the following activities: oversee and direct conservation programs; assist management with the development of procedures and policies affecting the land operation program and agency; advise on expenditure of funding for land use program; confer and advise individual tribal members or tribal groups on all matters relating to soil and moisture conservation programs for tribal rehabilitation projects; coordinate activities of State Extension program beneficial to Indian people and their trust properties in the agency area jurisdiction; advise individual tribal members or tribal groups on expenditure of funds for land use programs and improvements that may include terracing, stock water ponds, waterways, diversions, drainage, erosion control structures, concrete drops, fencing and prescribed fires; conduct an information program for Indian owners and lessees on programs for conveying emphasizing the importance of proper land use through conservation practices, talks at committee meetings or general agricultural meetings; maintain contacts with universities / colleges, agricultural stations, private technical organizations and professional and/or scientific organizations for keeping up on the latest developments in the field of soil and moisture conservation, range and wildlife management, oil and gas exploration, vegetative rehabilitation and flood control; prepare and review lease contracts and renewals; OR EDUCATION: 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the position to be filled. GRADUATE EDUCATION: Graduate education must be related to the occupation and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. S.A.A. is based on (1) Class standing-applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class, based on completed courses; or (2) Grade-Point Average-applicants must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (3) Election to membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society - membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. 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 2024 Salary Tables here and select the duty station from the Pawnee, Oklahoma to choose the appropriate pay chart. 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. Promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. A career ladder promotion is at the discretion of management, and in no way guaranteed. TELEWORK: Indian Affairs has determined that the duties of the position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. You will be required to operate a government-owned or leased motor vehicle in the performance of duties, therefore, a valid driver's license is required. Incumbent must have a safe driving record within the three-year period immediately preceding submittal of GSA Form 3607 and be able to meet the safe driving requirements of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 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 . 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.