Job Title: SOIL CONSERVATIONIST, GS-457-05/07

Duties vary by location.

Major duties of an SOIL CONSERVATIONISTS:

• generally advise on, administer, coordinate, perform and/or supervise scientific work in a coordinated program of soil, water and resource conservation
• requires the application of a combination of agricultural sciences in order to bring about the proper land use and to improve the quality of the environment.

Basic Requirement:  (Note: You must submit your college transcript. Failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating).

You may start at the GS-0457-5 level by meeting the basic eligibility requirements on Education as set forth in the Qualification Standards:

• An applicant must have a bachelor’s or higher degree that included a major field of study (including 300 and 400 level courses) in soil conservation or related agricultural or natural resource discipline.  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 which 3 semester hours must have been in soils and 3 semester hours in crops or plant science.  Partial credit for courses can not be given.  
                                     OR  
• A combination of education and experience - at least 30 semester hours (including 300 and 400 level courses) in soil conservation or related agricultural or natural resource discipline, 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.   

• In addition to meeting the minimum basic qualification requirements - One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours should be considered an academic year of graduate study.
                                 OR
• Superior Academic Achievement which is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. 
         (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:  3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of curriculum; or 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.) Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in a national scholastic honor society.  Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.    
                                              OR
• One year of specialized experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and is typically in or related to Soil Conservationist work.

You must meet the basic requirements to qualify for this position.  You have not met the basic requirement until you have graduated with a Bachelor's degree in a major field of study as listed above.  It is recommended that you do not apply for this position until you have completed your college degree and can submit a copy of your final transcript.   

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION AND FINGERPRINT CHECK: Selection and retention in this position is contingent on a successfully adjudicated FBI National Criminal History Check (fingerprint check) and a background investigation. Prior to employment, you may be required to complete an OF-306, Declaration of Federal Employment and other paperwork.  The information collected on this form is used to determine suitability for Federal employment.  You will also be required to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application/resume.  You must answer all questions truthfully and completely.  A false statement on any part of the declaration or other forms may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work.

BASIS OF RATING:  

When we receive your application, we will send you an initial Notice of Results, indicating your tentative eligibility, (a score between 70 and 100, not including veterans' preference points) or ineligibility based solely on your responses to the questions in Step One (described later). We'll then hold your application until an agency requests a list of candidates for the series, grade(s), and location(s) for which you indicated interest.

All applicants are rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position. An automated scoring system, based on the on-line application process is used. Before any certificate can be issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed by an HR Specialist to assure that (a) Basic Requirements and education/specialized experience are met,  and (b) the resume/transcript(s) and supporting documentation supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions.

Your answers will be verified against information provided in your on-line resume and application. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

Note:  If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your description of experience and/or education OR that your application is incomplete, the following will take place.  After a review of all the experience and training, we will adjust your rating to a level reflecting the rating criteria of the assessment tool. Veteran’s preference points will then be added to your rating, if applicable.

If you are found eligible, you will continue to be on the inventory for six months. You may then be referred for employment consideration, depending on your rating and the staffing needs of the requesting agency.

*** CAN I BE ON THE INVENTORY FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS? ***

Absolutely. HOWEVER, YOU MUST REAPPLY EACH TIME, possibly you will have additional experience, education or training. The month before your eligibility expires (shown on your Notice of Results), simply reapply by FOLLOWING THE STEPS DESCRIBED UNDER "HOW DO I APPLY?" in this announcement.

Permanent employees are eligible to elect life and health insurance coverage and will be covered by a Retirement System. Employees will earn annual and sick leave.  For additional information on benefits, click here.  

Reasonable Accommodations:  This Agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities (i.e., alternative means of communication such as Braille, large print, audiotape, etc). If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact USDA Target Center at 202-720-2600, voice and TDD. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

EEO/Diversity Policy: USDA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activists on the basis of race, color, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, or political beliefs (not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). For information on filing an Equal Opportunity Employment (EEO) Discrimination Complaint go to http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_file.html

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) or Career Transition Assistance Plan(CTAP):  If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, provide a copy of your most recent annual performance appraisal (at least "fully successful" or equivalent), and proof of eligibility, i.e., a RIF separation notice or Certification of Expected Separation, and SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles will be considered well-qualified if achieving a rating of 80 or above excluding veteran's preference points.

Selective Service:  If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.  See www.sss.gov. 

Please read all the instructions before you begin. 

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package, which includes the following:

1. Resume. You may either use USAJOBS Resume Builder to create a resume or create your own; however, your resume must contain the following information: 1) job information for which you are applying; 2) personal information; 3) education; 4) work experience; and, 5) other qualifications.
2. A complete Occupational Questionnaire
3. Additional Required Documents i.e., college transcripts, Veterans documents, etc (see Required Documents section below).

To begin this process, click the "Apply Online" button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account.  Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire.  Please ensure that you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process. 

Please print your "Confirmation of your Submission to Application Manager" for your records. The online Occupational Questionnaire must be completed and submitted by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Saturday, September 25, 2010.  Applications are not screened for required documents before determining minimum qualifications. It is your responsibility to ensure that all required documents are received in the office by the close of business on or before the closing date of this announcement. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in the mail service etc.

Alternative Method for Submitting Your Application Materials:

If you are unable to apply online, you may fax your application materials to 1-478-757-3144.

• Click View Occupational Questionnaire to download the questions, and
• Click here to download the OPM Form 1203FX, this form is used to record your responses on, and
• Click here to download the fax cover page. 

If applying online or faxing your application materials poses a hardship, please contact the servicing human resources office during core business hours (8:00am to 4:30 pm central time) prior to the closing date. Requests for hardship will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Make requests in a timely manner to allow enough time to obtain documents and return the completed information to our office. 

1.  This vacancy announcement has a basic education requirement, you must submit a copy of your transcripts. This information should include course title, school name/location, date completed, grade, and number of credits earned.  Failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating.
2.  A syllabus or description of the class/course.
3.  If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, provide a copy of your most recent annual performance appraisal (at least "fully successful" or equivalent), and proof of eligibility, i.e., a RIF separation notice or Certification of Expected Separation, and an SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. 
4.  If you are applying for Veteran Preference, submit evidence of eligibility, DD-214 Member 4, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or Standard Form 15, Application for 10-point veteran preference, and the proof requested on the form.  

If you have submitted all your application materials online or FAX, you have completed the application process.

NOTE:   Applications are not screened for required forms before determining minimum qualifications; therefore, it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that all required forms are received in the office. We cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in the mail service, etc.  Your application materials will not be returned. Do not submit original documents that you may need in the future.

You must submit one full set of supporting documentation for each announcement you are applying to. If you list more than one announcement number on a set of supporting documentation your supporting documentation will only be applied to the first number listed.

After selection, applicants may be required to submit the official college transcript, OF-306 "Declaration for Federal Employment", original social security card, birth certificate, state driver's license or state issued identification card with photograph; also, to be eligible for federal employment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify at the time of appointment that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under Selective Service Law.

FARM SERVICE AGENCY Phone: (816)926-6781 TDD: 800-735-2966 Email: exam1@kcc.usda.gov

Or write: Farm Service Agency Please do not send mail Apply On-Line Thank You, MO 00000 USA

Once your online Occupational Questionnaire has been received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. 

You can track the progress of your application package in Application Manager at http://ApplicationManager.gov.