Summary The Internship Program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school and while getting paid for the work performed. This Student Trainee position will be filled as an Intern appointment. The appointment is indefinite and is expected to last for the duration of the student's academic attendance. Responsibilities Duties are listed at the performance level GS-07. Receives training in the principles, concepts, work processes, and regulations of one or more functional areas of Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences. As training advances and proficiency is demonstrated, work assignment are increasingly more demanding, and are designed to provide experience in a variety of activities. On a scheduled basis, following the Pathways Participant Agreement, receives assignments in various Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences functions to gain an understanding of the various program concepts and operations. Develop an understanding of the total mission as well as organizational/functional interrelationships, and develop a foundation for more specialized application of knowledge gained from on-the-job training assignments. Receives formal and on-the-job training in OPM, Department of Agriculture and Forest Service policies, rules, regulations, and procedures. Is instructed on the use of personal computers, and file and data management. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications You are required to meet the eligibility requirements of the Internship program, as described below in order to be considered for this position. You must meet all the eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, go to: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Group-Standards INTERNSHIP PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY Applicants must meet Pathways Intern Program Eligibility Requirements as shown below by the closing date of the announcement. *Spring 2024 graduates will be required to provide proof of continued enrollment in the form of transcripts, acceptance letter or other appropriate documentation for Fall 2024 at the time of tentative selection. If no proof of continued enrollment is provided at that time, you will no longer be eligible for this internship. You must meet the definition of a student that is, be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited technical or vocational school, two-year or four-year college or university, graduate or professional school. You must be taking at least a half-time academic course load leading to a degree or certificate. A certificate program is defined as a post-secondary education, in a qualifying educational institution, equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum. Applicants must be seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) and be in good academic standing (GPA of 2.5 or equivalent) to qualify for the intern program and to stay throughout the duration of their intern program. *If your school uses an alternate grading system, you must submit proof and explanation of the grading system with your application or you will not be considered for this position. Position Qualifications: Applicants must meet position qualifications requirements as shown below at the time of appointment. Entrance on duty dates for appointment may be made as early as Spring of 2024. The agency must be able to verify that the education was completed successfully before the applicant can be appointed. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided. Provide course descriptions as necessary. Basic Requirement: The minimum qualification requirements for each grade level of this vacancy announcement are described below: Note: One full academic year of undergraduate; graduate; vocational; trades; technical or high school is the number of credit hours by the college, university or school to represent one year of full-time study. For GS-03: Completion of one full academic year of post-high school study For GS-04: Completion of an associate's degree or 2 academic years of post-high school study For GS-05: Completion of a bachelor's degree or equivalent degree For GS-07: Completion of one full year of graduate level education May be converted to any position with a Full Performance Level not to exceed GS-09. Conversion to a position with a full performance level of GS-09 is not guaranteed, you may or may not be offered conversion. Education Education completed in foreign colleges and universities may be used if it has been accredited or evaluated by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. These positions have a positive education requirement. The student must be currently enrolled in a natural resources degree program that will satisfy on graduation the specific requirements for a professional or scientific position identified by on your Pathway's agreement. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Group-Standards POSITION INFORMATION This announcement is associated with the 2024 Society for Range Management (SRM) recruitment event. The target start date for these positions is Summer 2024. Please click this link to see the Career Map for these positions. If you have questions regarding duty locations in this announcement please email [email protected]. Please include the announcement number and the exact location(s) for which you have questions in your email. The duty locations listed in this announcement include primary and alternate locations for available positions. You must select all duty locations for which you wish to be considered; final duty location for each position will be determined at the time of selection. Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE depending upon duty location. Additional Information The applicant should expect that these are all primarily field going positions, with a significant amount of physically challenging field work in natural resource settings. This could involve use of Forest Service vehicles, tools, and Personal Protective Equipment; hiking, exposure to weather extremes and wildlife, and in some cases, working extended hours or shifts, evening work and/or spending some nights at remote locations. These are developmental positions. Some require the appointee to sign a mobility agreement, requiring relocation after the initial developmental period. Salary wage as shown for GS-3 and GS-4 is based on this Special Salary Table Salary wage for GS-5 is for Rest of US. For more information on locality rates refer to the Office of Personnel Management, Salary and Wages web page. Government Housing: May be available. Daycare Availability: Forest Service daycare facilities are not available. Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed. Training/IDP: This position requires 40 hours of formal, interactive training. An Individual Development Plan (IDP) must be completed and approved by the supervisor within 45 days of appointment. Program Requirements: Interns may be non-competitively converted to a term or permanent position in the competitive service after the successful completion of the internship program. To be eligible for conversion, the Intern must meet the following: Must be a U.S. Citizen at the time of non-competitive conversion to a term or permanent position. Complete at least 640 hours of work experience acquired through the Internship program prior to graduation. Complete a degree or certificate program from a qualifying educational institution. Receive a favorable recommendation by supervisor. Meet the OPM Qualification Standards for the position to which the Intern may be converted. Conversion is not guaranteed and is based on the needs of the agency. Meet any agency specific requirements as outlined in the Participant Agreement. Perform the job successfully 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/ TELEWORK: 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. RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE: 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/