Natural Resource Specialist

This position is located in a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service state, area, or field office within Iowa. The incumbent serves as the Easement Coordinator for the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) for Agricultural Land Easement (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE), and Emergency Watershed Protection-Floodplain Easements Program (EWP-FPE). Assists with the implementation of agency easement programs.

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. If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts. Basic Requirement, GS-0401: 1.

Degree:

biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR 2.

Combination of education and experience:

Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education listed below. Specialized Experience Requirement For the GS-12 grade level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as:

providing program guidance, training and coordination to agency staff to implement assigned programs using Farm Bill or other conservation planning tools, and/or participating in the development of materials not limited to cost lists, ranking sheets, and assessment tools, to support easement program related functions.

Note:

There is no substitution of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level. 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 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. You must meet this requirement by the closing date of this announcement.