Natural Resource Specialist

Full Job Description

This position is located with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), in Vegetation Management (TFBV) organization, of Internal Operations (TFB), Transmission Field Services (TF), Transmission Services (T).

A successful candidate in the Natural Resource Specialist position will be responsible for responsible for planning and carrying out vegetation management activities.

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.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS GS-9: A qualified candidate's resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal service.

Specialized experience at the GS-9 level is defined as 1) Experience participating on a team to implement vegetation management and forestry projects 2) perform routine assignments to assist in the resolution of environmental resource issues and ensure compliance with BPA policy, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Reliability Standards and environmental regulations.

You may substitute education for specialized experience at the GS-9 level as follows: Two years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or master's, or equivalent graduate degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

-OR- Combination of education and experience as described above.

Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first year of full-time study may be credited).

GS-11: A qualified candidate's resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal service.

Specialized Experience at the GS-11 level is defined as 1) collaborating on a team in support of short and long term planning, to implement vegetation management and forestry project activities, and 2) assist in the development of work plans to identify and resolve environmental resource issues while complying with BPA policy, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Reliability Standards and environmental regulations.

You may substitute education for specialized experience at the GS-11 level as follows: Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D.

degree, or Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

-OR- Combination of education and experience as described above.

Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first two years of full-time study may be credited).

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience.

Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations.

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: Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration.

CTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Major Duties:

As a Natural Resources Specialist, you will: Develop and implement short-term and long-term management plans for vegetation control.

Develop and prioritize annual, out-year, and special project schedules, budgets, and requests for the vegetation management and access road programs, coordinating planned activities.

Coordinate with other departments (e.g., Real Property Services, Environment, Engineering, Legal, etc.) to assure support for associated schedules and tasks.

Develop and implement the project plan and coordinate with the Regional Resource Management Specialist (RMS) on use of internal staff or contracts.

Prepare site-specific vegetation management prescriptions and related Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) checklists (or ROW management plans) consistent with BPA guidance, and National Environmental Policy Act.

Stay abreast of and implement new technologies and information with respect to vegetation, contracting, environmental, and legal issues as they pertain to vegetation management and access road programs.

Respond to inquiries, from a broad range of sources, on sensitive issues involving vegetation control methods, herbicide application, protection of cultural resources and other related issues.