Biologist (Arboriculture)

Summary The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located in Smithsonian Gardens (SG), Facilities Management (FM), within the Smithsonian Institution (SI). Smithsonian Gardens is a Smithsonian recognized Collections Unit that manages collections of garden artifacts, living plants, and the Archives of American Gardens. This job is open to The public U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. Clarification from the agency This position is open to all U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals .

Note:

Federal employees with permanent status or individuals eligible for special appointing authorities may also apply to Job Announcement #26A-SR-313381-MPA-FM. More than one selection may be made from this announcement. Duties The Biologist (Arboriculture) is responsible for the landscape environment, the art of planting and care of trees and woody plants, including their maintenance, safety, health assessment, and recommending suitable tree species for specific environments located on Smithsonian grounds. In this position, you will: Perform skillful tree care using a wide range of concepts, principles, and practices of the biology, agriculture, or natural resources field. Update tree database using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, integrating arboricultural field data to meet evolving program needs. Assist in preparing contract documentation, including statements of work, purchase requests, and bid abstracts, to support arboriculture services. Serve as a key arboricultural specialist within Smithsonian Gardens, contributing to the development and implementation of a comprehensive tree care program. Requirements Conditions of employment Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation May need to complete a Probationary Period Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service. Conditions of Employment Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions on OPM website .

Qualifications Basic Qualifications Degree:

biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to the basic qualification requirement above:

Experience:

GS-11: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as cultivating trees and managing the health and safety of a tree collection; updating tree inventory data; developing tree care plans for assigned areas including pruning cycles, pest management, and soil improvement strategies; providing technical guidance to horticulture staff on proper pruning, planting and maintenance practices; overseeing contractor work for pruning, removals, and plant health care to ensure compliance with specifications.

Or Education:

Three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree directly related to this position may be substituted to meet the experience requirements. Or a

Combination:

Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications. For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards . Special Instructions for

Foreign Education:

If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. GS-12 : You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as cultivating trees and managing the health and safety of a tree collection; designing and implementing an organizational wide tree management program(s) which includes risk assessment protocols, inventory systems, long-term canopy strategies and interdisciplinary coordination; developing specifications, standards and policies for pruning, removal, planting and tree health care across multiple sites; and managing large-scale contracts which includes writing technical specifications, evaluating proposals, budget development and overseeing performance. Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience. 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. Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.

Education Basic Education Requirements Degree:

biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Additional information This position is not included in the bargaining unit.

Recruitment Incentive:

Recruitment incentive(s) may be authorized for this position. However, approval for incentives are contingent upon various availability. If authorized, certain incentives will require the incumbent to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a certain time period.

Note:

This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid. Selections may be made for vacancies across the Smithsonian Institution (SI). By applying to this position, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more SI hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. The Smithsonian offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, vacation and sick leave, holidays, health/life insurance, accident insurance, and excellent retirement program options.

Please see Benefits at https:

//www.si.edu/OHR/benefits for a complete description. Flexible Spending Accounts

• https://www.fsafeds.com/ Health Insurance
• http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp Leave
• http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/index.asp Life Insurance
• http://www.opm.gov/insure/life/index.asp Long Term Care Insurance
• http://www.ltcfeds.com Retirement Program
• https://www.

opm.gov/retirement-services/ How you will be evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Your resume will be used to evaluate your experience, education, and/or training that address the competencies below: Ability to perform proper tree care. Ability to manage a tree collection. Ability to oversee contracted work. Ability to determine and treat tree health concerns. Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria: Best Category

• Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job-related competencies above. Better Category
• Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job-related competencies above. Good Category
• Meets the minimum qualification requirements, but does not satisfy most of the job-related competencies above to a substantive degree.

This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three", but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position.

Important Note:

The review of your resume will determine your final rating and should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed. You may preview questions for this vacancy. Required Documents Your application package should include the following documents: Resume

• Your resume can be uploaded and attached to your application or created using the USA Jobs on-line resume builder.

Ensure your resume contains the job title (including the occupational series and grade if it is Federal), job-related qualifications, starting and ending dates (month and year), and hours worked per week, for each employment period. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is submitted. Failure to include this information may result in disqualification for the position. For assistance with creating a resume, please click USAJOBS Help Center

• How do I write a resume for a federal job? Proof of Veteran's Preference
• DD214 (Member 4 Copy), if you are a veteran.

Additionally, applicants claiming 10-point preference must complete Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, as well as additional documentation required by the SF-15, such as a VA letter. Unofficial school transcripts, if the position has an education requirement or if you are using education to qualify. If selected for the position, you must provide an official transcript before appointment. Proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable. If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education . Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating. How to Apply Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page.

Please Note:

You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button and submit required supplemental documents (if they are relevant to you). Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages. You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process. The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. If you are unable to apply online, paper applications may be accepted with prior approval of the Contact Person listed below. Agency contact information Shontel Ruiz Phone 202-633-6997 Email ruizs@si.edu Address

SMITHSONIAN

Office of Human Resources

POB 37012, 600

Maryland Avenue, MRC 517 suite 5060 Washington, District of Columbia 20013-7012 United States Next steps At the end of the application process, you will be able to create and save a PDF file that contains your responses to the assessment questions. You may save this file as initial receipt of your application. After the job announcement closes, you will receive an email from the Smithsonian with confirmation of receipt. The Smithsonian receives many applications for each job. Each application is reviewed carefully which may take a few weeks. We will send you an e-mail to update you as we go through phases of the application review process. You may also check your application status by logging into www.usajobs.gov and selecting the tab "My USAJOBS;" e-mailing vacancy.info@si.edu; or by contacting the Office of Human Resources Representative listed.

Additional Information:

Tips on applying for Smithsonian jobs are available at www.sihr.si.edu/jobs.cfm . The Smithsonian does not pay relocation expenses but recruitment incentives may be authorized. The Smithsonian Institution is an equal opportunity employer. Additional information can be found on our website at ( www.si.edu/oeesd) . Smithsonian Institution Join the Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums, 14 education and research centers, and the National Zoo, in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery." Facilities Management (FM) ensures the lifecycle stewardship of the Smithsonian's buildings, gardens, grounds, and infrastructure, while providing the logistical support essential for seamless operations. FM provides the essential facilities operations and maintenance required to ensure a safe, healthy and sustainable environment to support and enhance the Smithsonian experience for all. As the largest and most diverse organization within the Smithsonian Institution, our teams are located across the museums, research centers, the National Zoo, and over 180 acres of outdoor gardens including 13 public exhibition gardens. FM professionals, from skilled tradespeople to administrative staff, and every role in between, perform the majority of operations, maintenance, and repairs in-house. By working in partnership with the Museums and other Smithsonian units, FM ensures a high-quality environment that enhances the visitor experience, supports Smithsonian staff, and maintains the proper environment for priceless collections. Agency contact information Shontel Ruiz Phone 202-633-6997 Email ruizs@si.edu Address

SMITHSONIAN

Office of Human Resources

POB 37012, 600

Maryland Avenue, MRC 517 suite 5060 Washington, District of Columbia 20013-7012 United States