NATURAL RESOURCES SPECIALIST (RANGER)

Summary About the Position: This is a Natural Resources Specialist (Ranger), GS-0401-05/07/09 developmental position with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, Operations Division, Beaver Project Office, located in Rogers, AR. Promotion is at the discretion of Management. 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. Learn more about this agency Duties Serve as a Natural Resources Specialist (Ranger) for a major water resource project. Provide input on plans to upgrade, maintain, or improve natural resource programs/projects. Assist in preparation of annual Operations and Maintenance budgets for assigned programs. Provide natural resources support for shoreline management, encroachment, recreation, and real estate programs. Observe all safety rules, regulations, and directives applicable to the work assignment. Coordinate long and short-range planning for execution of all activities related to one or more of the following: natural resource, visitor assistance, and public safety. Requirements Conditions of employment Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation. Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license. Must be able to obtain and maintain a USACE (United States Army Corps of Engineers) certification for operation of a motorboat as appropriate. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Citation Authority Certification. Required to wear a prescribed uniform while in a duty status. Qualifications This is a Term Position: Position may be filled as a Term appointment NTE 13 months. Term appointments may be extended in one year increments up to a maximum of eight years. SOU Statement: Permanent Federal employees who accept a time-limited appointment will be expected to sign a statement of understanding to acknowledge the associated impacts to their permanent status. Return Rights: Return Rights will NOT be coordinated for Permanent Federal employees. 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 Natural Resources Specialist (Ranger): 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. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: For the GS-05: Specialized Experience: Applicants who meet the basic requirements described above are fully qualified for this grade level. For the GS-07: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience performing the following: 1) Participating in natural resources activities, such as fish/wildlife management, forestry/vegetation management, soil/water conservation, or fire protection. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level GS-05 position in the federal service. 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 appropriate to the position. 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; (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; (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. For the GS-09: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience performing the following: 1) Implementing natural resource management actions involving fish/wildlife, forestry/vegetation management, range land/soil conservation, water/fire protection, or an agricultural lease program. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level GS-07 position in the federal service. 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 appropriate to the position. 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. 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-Natural Resources Specialist (Ranger) position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is NOT authorized. Term Appointment NTE - Position may be filled as a Term Appointment NTE 13 months. Term appointments may be extended beyond six (6) years, up to eight (8) years. With DoD approval, Term appointments may be extended beyond eight (8) years. 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. Expand Hide  additional information 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 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. Review our benefits 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.