Soil Conservation Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

This position is located in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) The NRCS agency is responsible for technical assistance to landowners and operators for implementation of soil and water conservation practices to watershed districts and sponsors for Operation and Maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and design of flood control measures.Qualifications:Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, general restrictions on movement after competitive appointment, and specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.
Time in grade: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-11 grade level for consideration for the GS-12 grade level and one year at the GS-09 for consideration for the GS-11).
BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR 0457:Degree: 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. OR;
Combination of education and experience: at least 30 semester hours in one or more of the disciplines as shown in A above, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soils and crops or plant science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. 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.
Evaluation of Education: Education that provided specialized knowledge and skills in soil and water conservation is more valuable than education that imparted broad but general knowledge and skills. Courses in soil fertility, soil chemistry, soil genesis, plant physiology, plant science, and field crops are examples of specialized courses that contribute towards meeting the required 12 semester hours as described above. Courses in the physical sciences or engineering such as geology, civil engineering, and hydrology also meet the soils, crops, or plant science course requirements where such courses included a complete introduction to the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils.
Evaluation of Experience: Experience that included the application of techniques, principles, and methods from a variety of agricultural and natural resource fields is appropriate, given the interdisciplinary character of the soil conservation occupation. For example, experience gained in a specialized field such as soil science, forestry, or agronomy is as fully acceptable as experience directly obtained in soil conservation work.
BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR 0401:Degree: 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 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-11 grade level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level or higher in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through federal service. For this position, specialized experience includes but is not limited to: Providing technical guidance and assistance to groups and individuals on a range of topics related to natural resource conservation; Implementing program rules and process changes under established policy guidance; and Utilizing automated systems that aid in conservation program management. OR;
For the GS-11 level: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, project management, engineering, geology, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR;
Possess a combination of graduate-level education and experience as describe in IOR. 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.
To qualify for the GS-12 grade level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through federal service. For this position, specialized experience includes: Directing and evaluating conservation or government program activities to determine whether they followed required laws, regulations, policies, or procedures; Communicating program rules, funding eligibility, and contract requirements to landowners, partners, or other stakeholders; Formulating and Implementing program policies to process, manage, or administer conservation contracts or agreements; and Collaborating with individuals, partner organizations, or federal, state, or local agencies to share information, resolve issues, or support program delivery, including situations where participants had differing priorities.
There is no education substitution for experience at the GS-12 grade level.Education:College Transcript: If qualifying based on education, you must submit a copy of your college transcript with course number and department (i.e., Bio 101, Math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours, and grade earned. 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 to ensure proper evaluation.
Your education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be credited toward qualifications. You may verify accreditation by visiting the U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs website. We will verify your education accordingly.
Foreign Education: You must submit verification that education completed in a foreign institution, was recognized by an accreditation body accepted by the U.S. Department of Education. You must include a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. Your transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
You may submit an unofficial copy of your transcript at the initial phase of the application process. However, if selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Please refer to the "How to Apply" section for instructions on submitting transcripts.Employment Type: OTHER