Natural Resource Specialist/Physical Scientist (Fire Support)

Full Job Description

This position is assigned to a Regional Office of a Forest Service unit.

The position serves as an Air Quality Specialist for various Forests within Region 3 and provides support in air resource management, regulatory compliance, and resource protection for air pollution.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Tobe Haught at Tobe.haught@usda.gov 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. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

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.

Note on Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning day, month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade if applicable; and description of duties performed.

This information must be provided for each permanent, temporary or seasonal appointment/work assignment or volunteer work and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time.

Incomplete, inaccurate or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position.

This is an interdisciplinary position and may be filled in any of the job series listed below. Basic Requirement for the Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series, 0401: A.

Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR B.

Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major field of study that included 24 semester hours in course work in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

Related course work generally refers to courses that may be accepted as part of the program major. OR C.

Combination of education and experience -- combination of education and experience that included 24 semester hours in course work in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position, AND experience sufficient to demonstrate that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation that is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field needed to perform the work of the occupation.

Basic Requirement for the Physical Science Series, 1301: A.

Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

OR B.

Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic requirements described above, you must also possess experience in the amounts listed below.

Specialized Experience Requirement: GS-11: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as three or more of the following: Monitoring natural resource management plans and quality assurance and quality control plans for air management projects; and/or Serving as the point of contact on long-range and annual work plans for the natural resources programs/projects; and/or Maintaining an air quality monitoring database to provide data and reports to various users; and/or Participating on interdisciplinary teams to carry out routine environmental studies and evaluations to determine the effect of forest management activities on air quality; and/or Reviewing permits, contracts, or work plans to ensure the design criteria or mitigation specified in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) decisions were incorporated into the implementation plan.

OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (coursework directly related to position being filled).

OR An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.).

GS-12: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as three or more of the following: Advising and building relationships with air resource entities from federal, state, county, and city governments and outside air quality interest groups on air resource management, regulatory compliance and resource protection from air pollution affecting forest ecosystems; and/or Assisting with prescribed fire projects to provide adequate analysis of emissions to meet National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Federal Conformity Regulations; and/or Analyzing and developing solutions to highly controversial and/or unique problems relating to flora, fauna, water, visibility, and other resources at risk from air pollution; and/or Assisting with incorporating air resource management in the revision of forest plans.

To receive consideration for this position, you must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Major Duties:

• Duties listed are at the full performance GS-12 grade level.
• Assists in the research of impacted Air Quality Related Values (AQRV) and the cause/effect relationships.
• Implements inventory and monitoring methods to identify and evaluate the changing condition of flora, fauna, water, visibility, and other resources at risk from air pollution.
• Provides written recommendations to high level management on air resource practices that are needed on the Unit.
• Provides technical advice to fire management staff on smoke management in relation to air resources.
• Collaborates with government regulatory authorities on technical aspects of air management.
• Provides training within the Unit to maintain the skills and knowledge needed on an Air Resource Management program.
• Maintains an air quality monitoring database which provides data and reports for various users.
• Reviews monitoring and quality control plans for special projects.