Natural Resources Specialist (Ranger)

Full Job Description

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

About the Position: Serves as a natural resource management staff specialist for a major water resource project, performing a variety of assignments involving all aspects of project operations.

NOTE: Management may make a selection at GS-05, GS-07, or GS-09 grade levels. Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below.

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).

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application.

Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Basic Requirement for General Natural Resources Management & Biological Sciences Series, 0401 A.

Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR B.

Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Applicants who meet the basic requirements described in the individual occupational requirements above are fully qualified for the GS-5.

Applicants who wish to qualify for positions at higher grade levels (GS-7 and GS-9) must also meet the requirements shown below: Minimum Qualifications GS-7 Specialized Experience:One year of specialized experience which includes planning, directing, and accomplishing the day-to-day operation of a group of general recreational areas; conducting frequent land patrols to maintain liaison with users and to inspect and observe conditions, activities, and operation on and adjacent to project lands and reservoir; and promoting special events and project interpretation by working directly with the area news media, civic groups, and schools in providing technical assistance and advice in matters dealing with policy, water safety, natural resources, and history.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05).

OR Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines.

OR Superior Academic Achievement: In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above.

Superior Academic Achievement is based on:(1) Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR(2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR(3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achsnatl.org/).

OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%.

To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18.

Add the two percentages.

Minimum Qualifications GS-9 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes experience in applying and executing Natural Resource Management actions for the conservation, preservation, and/or restoration of natural and cultural resources of a water resource project; experience developing and implementing short and/or long range planning documents, operation management plans for recreation and park administration, forestry, fisheries and wildlife, soil conservation, boundary surveillance, historic properties protection, facility improvements, public education and interpretation, visitor assistance and public safety.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07).

OR Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%.

To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12.

Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. Major Duties:

• Patrols project lands and waters to prevent unauthorized use, trespass, destruction of property, and to ensure compliance with rules and regulations, and protection of project land, water, facilities and other environmental and cultural resources.
• Assists with park maintenance activities.
• Inspects facilities including playgrounds, sanitary facilities, trails, campground areas, boat ramps, picnic areas, signs, and wayside exhibits.
• Implements plans for special recreation projects and improvements.
• Performs a variety of assignments involving all aspects of project operations including natural resources, recreation and dam safety.
• Participates in all aspects of recreation management at the project.
• Assists in developing plans for facility improvements which are consistent with current and future demands.
• Communicating water resource project information to other agencies and/or the visiting public through news releases, bulletin boards, interpretive programs, correspondence, or telephone calls.