Field Botany Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary
You will serve as a Botanist/Natural Resources Specialist (Botany). This is an interdisciplinary position location in a Field Office in Utah.
First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate. Pay will vary based on grade level and/or duty location for which you're selected.
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Duties
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Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Writes Biological Assessments for Threatened and Endangered (TE) plant species.
• Uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) database to organize, collect, and maintain data.
• Provides input pertaining to vegetation management and plant ecology for oil and gas management.
• Initiates and completes all aspects of Section 7 consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service as required by the Endangered Species Act and recommends mitigation and/or corrective actions.
• Involved in environmental planning actions and program development planning.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• You cannot hold an active rea estate license, nor can you have intertest or hold stocks
• You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
• You must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.
• You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.
This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

• Your performance and conduct;
• The needs and interests of the agency;
• Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

*Additional Requirements located under qualifications*
Qualifications
Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.
Upon completion of your probationary your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
**QUALIFICATIONS**
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/04/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.
Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following:
To qualify for the Natural Resources Specialist (0401) series, you must meet one of the following:
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. You must submit transcripts
To qualify for the Botanist (0430) series, you must meet one of the following:
Degree: botany; or basic plant science that included at least 24 semester hours in botany. OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in botany or basic plant science that included at least 24 semester hours in botany, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. You must submit transcripts.
-AND-
Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:
To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-07 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: participation in the planning and execution of plant studies; performing established tests and analyses on a broad range of plant samples; and mapping and documenting botany species; and preparing and/or reviewing reports on ecological investigations to determine project impacts on vegetation including Threatened and Endangered plant species. You must include hours per week worked.

-OR-

• Education: To qualify based on education, you must have 36 semester hours of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in a directly related field of study. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

• Combination of education and experience. Combinations of successfully completed higher level graduate education and professional experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of 18 semester hours may be combined with experience.

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-09 level that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of a Botanist/Natural Resource Specialist (Botany). Examples include evaluating proposed projects or actions for impacts to vegetation including T&E species; developing and implementing conservation methods for plant species and habitats; planning and executing botanical investigations under the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act rules and regulations; recommending course of action to solve botanical issues; and create, evaluate, and review vegetation GIS data. You must include hours per week worked.

-OR-

• Education: To qualify based on education you must have 54 semester hours of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a directly related field of study. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

• Combination of education and experience. Combinations of successfully completed higher level graduate education and professional experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of 36 semester hours may be combined with experience.

Volunteer Experience: 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.
Education
This position has a mandatory education requirement.
You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification
Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.
Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.
Additional information
If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive. A continued service agreement may be required if it is determined you are eligible for a recruitment or relocation incentive.
Physical Demands/Work Environment:
Work may be performed in the office or performing work in isolated/remote locations. The fieldwork may be arduous, and the incumbent may be required to walk long distances over rough terrain in varying temperatures. The field location areas within the field office boundary. The incumbent may also be required to operate four-wheel drive vehicles and UTVs over primitive roads in isolated areas
The position can consist of up to 50 percent field work and 50 percent office work. The incumbent must remain flexible and be able to adjust work schedule to accommodate new or conflicting job requirements. Field work involves exposure to moderate risks and discomforts, such as those due to irregular hours in a wide variety of remote and rugged terrains where climatic conditions are variable and extreme. On occasion the incumbent may be required to stay overnight in the field. Office work is performed in an office setting that normally involves everyday risks or discomforts. The incumbent will adhere to all safety rules and regulations as prescribed in manuals/supplements or by the designated Safety Officer.
All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.
This is an interdisciplinary position. Position may be filled by: Botanist 0430 or Natural Resources Specialist (Botany) 0401.
The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.