Summary These positions are located with the State Conservationist's office in select areas of the State of Idaho. You will assist the District Conservationist in developing and carrying out a coordinated natural resources conservation program by providing technical assistance to various agencies, landowners, and public. Locations will be determined by the Hiring Manager at time of selection. Responsibilities Works with farmers and other landowners to develop conventional conservation plans addressing resource concerns. Provides information concerning Farm Bill and State Conservation Programs and develops conservation contracts according to the NRCS Conservation Program Contracting Manual. Understands/applies applicable NRCS and Farm Bill programs available to address resources concerns and explains cost-share programs and payment procedures to applicants and contract holders. Conducts regular follow-up on all scheduled practices assigned; develops operation and maintenance agreements for all structural practices planned and contracted. Performs annual contract reviews on all assigned contracts to ensure contract schedules are followed and that practices are being maintained according to NRCS standards and specifications. Recommends practices to farmers and ranchers which help control erosion and conserve soil and water. Considers grazing resources, permanent vegetation, and irrigation efficiency to maintain soil and conserve water. Utilizes computer, web-based programs and technology tools in the documentation and management of conservation plans and technical assistance by the service center. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time-in-grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled (e.g., one year at the GS-07 grade level for consideration for the GS-09 grade level, AND one year at the GS-09 grade level for consideration for the GS-11 grade level). Basic Requirements: Degree: You must have a bachelor's or higher degree in soil conservation or related agricultural or natural resource discipline such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, agricultural education, or agricultural engineering. The study must have included 30 semester hours in a natural resource or agricultural field, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soils and crops or plant science. Of the 12 semester hours, a minimum of 3 semester hours must have been in soils and 3 semester hours in crops or plant science. (You must submit transcripts.) or Combination of education and experience: You must have at least 30 semester hours in one or more of the disciplines as shown above, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soils and crops or plant science, plus appropriate experience or additional education comparable to a 4-year degree. Of the 12 semester hours, a minimum of 3 semester hours must have been in soils and 3 semester hours in crops or plant science. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and 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. In addition to courses in the major and related fields, a typical college degree would have included courses that involved analysis, writing, critical thinking, research, etc. These courses would have provided an applicant with skills and abilities sufficient to perform progressively more responsible work in the occupation. Therefore, creditable experience should have demonstrated similarly appropriate skills or abilities needed to perform the work of the occupation. (You must submit transcripts.) In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered: To qualify for the GS-09 grade level Specialized Experience: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through federal service. This experience must include an understanding of principles and theories of soil and water conservation and related sciences (such as biology, agronomy, and forestry) is necessary for identifying conservation-related problems. Examples of specialized experience include: Utilizing established and effective soil and water conservation methods to maintain or improve overall production levels; Developing natural resource conservation plans that involve a variety of soil patterns and conservation practices (e.g., contours, terraces, tilling, diversions, etc.); Conducting natural resources inventory by collecting physical data on various land uses, such as crop history, soil erosion data, drainage characteristics, and more; and Determining suitable conservation practices for land treatment measures based on location factors like urban, rural, or wetland environments. OR Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: You must possess at least 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in soil conservation or related agricultural or natural resource discipline such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, agricultural education, or agricultural engineering. (You must submit transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: You must possess a combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. (You must submit transcripts.) To qualify for the GS-11 grade level: Specialized Experience: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through federal service. This experience must include understanding principles and theories of soil and water conservation and related sciences (such as biology, agronomy, and forestry) is necessary for identifying conservation-related problems. Examples of specialized experience include: Providing technical guidance and support to groups and individuals on soil and water conservation methods, measures, and techniques; Developing conservation plans for landowners, conservation groups, and local governments while taking into account various soil patterns and conservation practices; Providing financial and implementation assistance to applicants and contract holders, including addressing their concerns and explaining program and payment procedures; and Clearly communicating general information and explanations about natural resource conservation, problems, and solutions to landowners, residents, and land managers. OR Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: You must possess at least 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in soil conservation or related agricultural or natural resource discipline such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, agricultural education, or agricultural engineering. (You must submit transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: You must possess a combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. (You must submit transcripts.) For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: Professional and Scientific Positions. 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 experiences, including volunteer experience. Education You must submit a copy of your college transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify all education requirements (i.e. substitution of education and/or basic education requirement). If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement. You must document all requirements on every vacancy; we cannot use previous determinations as a basis for rating. All required information must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and non-submission of all required documents/documentation will result in non-consideration. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. This information must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Non-submission of these documents will result in non-consideration. 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. Applicants must, therefore, only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation via this link. All education claimed by applicants will be verified accordingly. Important: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Click on this link for more information. Additional Information Location Consideration: Your application may be considered throughout the State of Idaho in which you are applying, in addition to the locations you specify as a part of your questionnaire responses in this application. These locations are American Falls; Arco; Blackfoot; Bonner's Ferry; Burley; Caldwell; Coeur d' Alene; Emmett; Gooding; Idaho Falls; Lewiston; Malad; Marsing; Montpelier; Moscow; Mountain Home; Nezperce; Orofino; Plummer; Pocatello; Preston; Rexburg; Rigby; Rupert; Salmon; Sandpoint; Shoshone; Soda Springs; St. Anthony; Twin Falls; and Weiser. Locations will be determined by the hiring manager at the time of selection. Applying to this vacancy constitutes your understanding that your resume, assessment, and other application materials may be shared with multiple hiring managers for employment consideration. Locality Pay: The salary for each location may vary depending on locality. Locality tables may be found at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Physical Demands: Work requires regular and recurring physical exertion related to conservation work requiring walking on rough terrain, jumping ditches and furrows or climbing steep banks and similar activities. Work Environment: The work involves regular and recurring exposure to operating agricultural equipment including tractors, caterpillars, and attached implements such as cultivators, discs, plows, etc. There may be exposure to snow and ice conditions and herbicide and chemical spray operations requiring safety precautions. Protective gear and clothing such as a hard hat, boots, and gloves may be necessary. PLEASE NOTE: In the interest of filling these positions as efficiently as possible, we are requiring the following: If called for an interview, applicants must be available to interview within 3 business days of being contacted. If a tentative job offer is extended, selectee will have 2 business days in which to accept or decline. Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed. This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements. Current USDA policy includes telework for an 8-hour workday, 4 days per week; other flexibilities are possible dependent upon availability and/or the position and its associated duties. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.