Range Technician (Weeds)

Summary Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. This position is located in Belle Fouche, South Dakota. Information about Belle Fouche and the surrounding area can be found at South Dakota Field Office | Bureau of Land Management We expect to fill many vacancies. This is a temporary appointment. Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status and will be for a period not-to-exceed 1039 hours in a service year. Duties Range Technicians work under the supervision and guidance of professional range and natural resource specialists performing a variety of duties related to monitoring rangeland conditions, managing plants, weeds, and vegetation management. Makes vegetation counts on small plots to determine such information as survival of seedlings, species, distribution of plants, and volume of growth. They will provide technical support and assistance in range conservation, range management, and range improvement. They will work under the supervision and guidance of professional range and natural resource specialists. Conducts weed management and monument inventory. Completing range or vegetation condition and trend studies, utilization, actual use, climatological and other allotment evaluation studies. They may occasionally participate in projects such as construction of water system and fencing, installation of cattle guards, planting or seeding of vegetation, noxious weed control. Perform routine and recurring weed management activities for the respective organization in accordance with all applicable procedures and guidelines. Conducts monitoring, under close supervision of professional resource staff, of upland and riparian conditions. Regular field inspections and maintenance of range improvements as well as use of GPS and GIS to document location of such projects, as well as condition. Under the supervision of high-level technicians or Rangeland management specialists, work in collaboration with user groups, recreationists, and volunteers to complete weed projects. Requirements Conditions of employment U.S. Citizenship is required. Be sure to read the 'How to Apply' and 'Required Documents' Sections. You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands. Direct Deposit Required. Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination. Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume. You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position. Some locations may require that you possess (or obtain within 30 days of entrance on duty) and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position. Qualifications In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. GS-04 - Six (6) months of general and 6 months of specialized work experience. Examples of specialized experience may include surveying public lands for the presence of noxious weeds; locating and treating weeds with designated herbicides; and preparing accurate records of all treatment; OR Successful completion of two years (90 quarter or 60 semester hours) of study above high school that included 12 semester hours in any combination of courses such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources, outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering or wildland fire science. No more than 3 semester hours in math is creditable; OR A combination of experience and education to meet the total experience. GS-5: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-4 level. Examples of specialized experience may include conducting preliminary reconnaissance of range areas to select possible sites for re-seeding, fresh clearing, water spreading systems, etc.; or serving as an instrument person in laying out contour furrows, determining the contour line and staking out the line; OR Successful completion of a full four year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (a) with a major forestry, range management, agriculture or a subject-matter field directly related to the position or (b) that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources, outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering or wildland fire science. No more than 6 semester hours in math is creditable; OR A combination of experience and education to meet the total 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. You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Physical Demands/Work Environment: The work ranges from sedentary when completing duties in the office to frequent field work requiring a considerable amount of walking, riding, stooping, bending, and lifting. Office work is performed in adequately lighted, heated, and air-conditioned offices. Much of the time is spent in the field where exposure to extremes of heat and cold, rough terrain, insects, snakes, and other hazards are common. The incumbent carefully adheres to all safety procedures to mitigate hazards encountered. Education Applicants may qualify for these positions based on experience, education, or an equivalent combination as described in the Qualifications section of this announcement. If qualifying based on education, you will need to clearly state your undergraduate/graduate degree(s) and you must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. If your degree is from a Foreign Institution See Foreign Education. Additional information DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee. This position is not eligible for Telework. All positions may not be filled or they may be filled at different times depending on budget, hiring needs, and requirements. These positions are temporary and are expected to last for up to 6 months. These positions have no promotion potential, if you want to be considered for a higher grade you must apply for the higher grade. If selected from this announcement you may be rehired for identical positions without further competition based on work needs, funding, or any other condition of employment. If selected from this or a similar competitive, seasonal announcement, your appointment may be creditable for consideration under PL-114-47, Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA). The Act allows certain individuals, who have or had time-limited appointments at land management agencies, to compete for any permanent position in the competitive service under "internal" merit promotion procedures. For more information, see the section under Eligibility, which starts with Question #15 (Q15. Who is eligible for appointment under these provisions?). For additional information about the BLM, please visit Our website. 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.