Summary 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: This position serves as a natural resource specialist for a major water resource project. Incumbent will perform a variety of assignments involving all aspects of project operations including natural resources, recreation, and dam safety. Responsibilities At the full performance level, the incumbent will: Participate in the development of various planning documents including Master Plans and Operational Management Plans (OMP), for management of natural resources. Participate in conservation, preservation, restoration, and use of project natural and cultural resources. Participate in all aspects of recreation management at the project. Patrol project lands and waters to prevent unauthorized use, trespass, destruction of property, and to ensure compliance with rules and regulations, and protect project land, water, facilities, and other environmental and cultural resource Conduct public relations services for the general public and for special groups. Assist with project's environmental compliance program and with management of the water resource project as it pertains to dam and appurtenant structures. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and 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 Natural Resources Specialist (0401): Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in 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. In addition to meeting the basic education requirement above, to qualify you must also meet one of the qualification requirements listed below: GS-05 Qualifications: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service which includes developing and conducting interpretative talks and guided tours; patrolling land and water areas for safety and maintenance purposes; explaining park rules and regulations; and answering visitor questions and providing information on park activities and cultural, historical, and/or natural resources history and locations. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-04). GS-07 Qualifications: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes assisting with the development of plans and schedules for employees, assisting with creating guides, manuals and training materials, performing project/recreation management functions associated with recreation safety and security and developing and maintaining project programs. 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: natural resource management, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, museum sciences, business administration, public administration, behavioral sciences, sociology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources. 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. GS-09 Qualifications: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes administering the conservation and/or use of the project's natural resources; implementing plans for the construction or improvement of a recreation facility; and developing or administering service contracts for a recreation facility. 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: natural resource management, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, museum sciences, business administration, public administration, behavioral sciences, sociology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources. 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. Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent. For the GS-05, 52 weeks at the next equivalent grade level of GS-04. For the GS-07, 52 weeks at the next equivalent grade level of GS-05. For the GS-09, 52 weeks at the next equivalent grade level of GS-07. Education FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/ Additional Information Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. One year trial/probationary period may be required. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. This is a Career Field 18 - Scientist & Engineers position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. GS-05 Pay Scale: $39,993 - $51,988 GS-07 Pay Scale: $49,541 - $64,405 GS-09 Pay Scale: $60,597 - $78,776 Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information. Recruitment Incentives may be available for highly qualified candidates. NOTE: Incumbent may be non-competitively promoted to the GS-09 upon meeting the following requirements: (1) Incumbent is sufficiently experienced to perform the duties at the target (or next) grade level; (2) Incumbent completed all required training and meets all conditions of employment required at the target (or next) grade level; (3) Incumbent meets all regulatory requirements for promotion including time-in-grade; (4) Higher-level work continues to exist at the target (or next) grade level; and (5) Supervisor recommends the promotion. Promotion is neither automatic nor is it guaranteed.