| Salary Range: | 38,117.00 - 60,612.00 USD /year |
|---|---|
| Series & Grade: | GS-0404-07/09 |
| Promotion Potential: | 09 |
| Open Period: | Wednesday, October 28, 2009 to Wednesday, November 25, 2009 |
| Position Information: | Full-Time Permanent |
| Duty Locations: | 1 vacancy - Marshfield, WI |
| Who May Be Considered: | Applications will be accepted from United States citizens and nationals. |
Find Solutions to Agricultural Problems that Affect Americans Every Day, From Field to Table
Your U.S. citizenship must be verified prior to entrance on duty.
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NOTE: In order to view and/or print the entire announcement, please scroll to the bottom of this page and click on "Print Preview"; then "Print". Otherwise, you may miss important instructions on qualification requirements and how to apply for this position.
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Seeking a technician to provide support for research focused on improving nutrient management on dairy farms and minimizing adverse affects on water quality and the environment.
Announcement amended to extend the closing date to November 25, 2009.
Major Duties:
The incumbent provides technical support for a research program aimed at improving nutrient management on dairy farms and minimizing adverse affects on water quality and the environment. The typical, but not all-inclusive, duties are illustrated by performance of the following:
- Actively participates in the research process by performing a variety of complex technical duties, in a laboratory, field, and greenhouse environment;
- Performs laboratory analyses on water, soil, manure, or plant materials and conducting field experiments for soil, crop, or water quality research;
- Assumes technical and operational responsibility for specific phases of the research and contribute to the planning of experiments and to the documentation and interpretation of findings;
- Adapts, modifies, or develops new techniques and/or procedures as required for the research project;
- Initiates action to resolve or correct technical difficulties and results, or recommends resolution to supervisor;
- Operates, maintains, calibrates, and modifies a variety of specialized equipment including laboratory analytical instruments and field equipment for measuring and sampling water flow and air emissions;
- Operates farm equipment such as tractors and planting, tillage, harvesting, and precision manure application equipment, used to establish and maintain field trials;
- Collects, prepares, assesses, and verifies samples and supporting records; keeps detailed records of experimental data; and tabulates, analyzes, and summarizes data using personal computers and software packages;
- Maintains computer software programs and research databases and communicates with unit IT person to maintain computer systems; and
- Provides guidance to students and part-time employees.
Working Conditions and Other Considerations: the incumbent must have a valid driver's license and must be willing to work occasional weekend and evening hours.
Qualifications:
Your education and experience will be evaluated against all qualification requirements (basic and any additional requirements) listed below.
Basic Requirements:
GS-07: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service OR 1 full year of directly related graduate education (e.g., soil science, agronomy, hydrology).
GS-08: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service OR 1½ years of directly related graduate education full year of directly related graduate education (e.g., soil science, agronomy, hydrology).
GS-09: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-08 grade level in the Federal service OR two full years of progressively higher level graduate education or master's or equivalent graduate degree directly related to the position (e.g., soil science, agronomy, hydrology).
Time-in-grade restrictions apply for all candidates considered under Merit Promotion/Alternative Merit Promotion.
Specialized Experience is experience which has equipped you with the following knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – ‘KSAs' required to perform the duties of this position:
1. Knowledge of the principles and practices of biological sciences (e.g., soil science, agronomy, hydrology).
2. Skill in establishing and maintaining experiments in the laboratory, greenhouse, or field.
3. Ability to perform laboratory analyses of nutrients and other constituents of soil, water, manure, and plant materials.
4. Ability to collect, analyze, and summarize experimental data using personal computers and software programs.
5. Skill in operating farm or other field-scale equipment such as tractors and planting, tillage, harvesting, and manure application equipment.
If qualifying all or in part based on your education, you must submit a copy of your academic transcripts OR a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grade point average or class ranking to verify education when applying for this position. If this information is not provided, your education may not be appropriately evaluated and you may lose consideration for this position. If you are selected for this position, you will have to provide an official copy of your transcripts prior to entering on duty. Application materials will not be returned.
Graduate education must be directly related to the work of the position and must have equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-II/s2-e4.htm#e4a for additional information on this topic.
How You Will Be Evaluated:
You will be evaluated to determine if you meet the basic and any additional requirements. The Agricultural Research Service uses a category rating process. Based on evaluation of all written materials submitted in application for the position, you will be determined to be Ineligible, if you do not meet eligibility and/or minimum qualifications criteria; Eligible, if you meet all eligibility and minimum qualifications criteria; OR Quality, if you meet quality criteria in addition to eligibility and minimum qualifications criteria. For information about how to address KSAs, please visit our website at http://www.ars.usda.gov/careers, click on 'How to Apply,' then click on 'What are those KSAs anyway?' For more information about the evaluation process, please visit our website at: www.ars.usda.gov/careers, click on 'How to Apply,' then click on the link to 'Qualifications and What They Mean.'
Benefits:
A Benefits Package is authorized for this position. Additional information about Federal benefits can be obtained at www.usajobs.opm.gov/ei61.htm.
Other Information:
Veteran's Preference:
For further details, call the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) at 703-724-1850 or TDD 978-461-8404. Select General Information on the Federal
Employment Policies and Procedures, and then Veteran's Preference and Special Appointing Authorities for Veterans. Visit their VetGuide website at http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp.
Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA): Qualified candidates eligible under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA), a special hiring authority, will be considered. VEOA eligibles are preference eligibles or veterans who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3 years or more of active service. Veterans who are released under honorable conditions shortly before completing a 3-year tour are also eligible.
Creditable Service:
Service credit for annual leave accrual may be granted for directly related non-Federal work experience or uniformed service for newly appointed individuals, or those individuals reappointed after a break in service from civilian Federal employment of at least 90 calendar days. The amount of non-Federal service to be credited will be based on the amount of directly related and documented experience that the selectee possesses as documented by the employee and which is approved by agency management.
Displaced/Surplus Employees: Individuals eligible under the USDA Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. CTAP and ICTAP eligibles within the local commuting area will be considered well qualified if that applicant meets the qualification standard and eligibility requirements for the position, meets minimum education and experience requirements, meets all selective factors where applicable and is able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry. Employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent performance rating and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible. Additional information on CTAP and ICTAP is available at http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp.
Relocation Expenses:
Payment of relocation expenses will be determined in accordance with P&P 412.5, Recruitment and Retention Incentives and Other Special Pay, Sections 6 and 7, as amended by Bulletins 03-402 and 05-412.5, which may be found at http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/ppweb/Bulletins/05-412-5.pdf. See also http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/hrd/staffing_recruit/reloweb.htm.
Financial Disclosure Requirement:
Federal employees are subject to prohibitions against officially dealing with
outside organizations in which they have a financial interest. You may be required to submit a financial disclosure report if hired for this position.
False statements:
If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not
be hired; may be fired after beginning work; or may be fined or jailed.
Optional Form 306, (Declaration for Federal Employment):
If you are selected for this position, you will be required to complete this form before an offer may be made.
Selective Service System:
Males over age 18 who were born after
ARS Reasonable Accommodation Contact Information:
If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, or have questions regarding reasonable accommodation and/or accessibility for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Disability Program Manager on 202-720-6161 or through the DC Relay Service on 202-855-1234 (TDD).
How To Apply:
Applications may be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to the appropriate address and/or facsimile number, but they must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the closing date.
If sending your application as an attachment to an email, do not send zipped files. They will be removed in accordance with standard electronic security procedures.
If hand delivered, be sure your application is received in the Human Resources Division on or before closing date.
If application packages do not contain all of the requested information, you may lose consideration for the job. To help you ensure your application fully outlines your qualifications and eligibility for this position, please submit the following documentation as appropriate. Some of the items listed may not apply to you. NOTE: Applications received in postage paid government envelopes will not be considered.
APPLICATION PACKAGE CHECKLIST
__ Optional Form 612 (Optional Application for Federal Employment), Resume, Curriculum Vitae, or other document outlining your qualifications (Go to http://www.opm.gov/forms/html/of.asp and scroll down to obtain the OF-612).
The following information is required of all applicants:
__ Announcement number, title, and grade(s) of the position
__ Full name, mailing address (including zip code) and day and evening phone numbers (with area code)
__ Social security number
__ Statement that you are a U.S. citizen (if not using the OF-612)
__Copy of DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) (only if claiming veteran's preference) (Visit the following web site for additional information: http://www.opm.gov/employ/veterans/html/vetguide.asp
__SF-15 (Application for 10-point Veteran's Preference) plus the support documentation required by this form (if claiming 10-point veteran's preference) (Go to the web site at http://www.opm.gov/forms/html/sf.asp to obtain form.)
__ Paid and non-paid work experience related to the position. For each period of work experience include:
___Job title
___Series/grade (if Federal employment)
___Duties and accomplishments
___Employer's name and address
___Supervisor's name and contact information
___Starting and ending dates of employment (at least month/year)
___Number of hours worked per week
___Salary
___Indicate if we may contact current supervisor/employer
__ Other job related information, such as training courses (title & year); skills (e.g., other languages, computer software/hardware, tools, etc.)
___Certificates/licenses (current)
___Honors, awards, and special accomplishments
___Supplemental questionnaire if applicable
(usually for Federal Wage System positions - WG, WL, WS)
__ Copy of college transcripts (if qualifying all or in part on the basis of education for this position) (If you have non-conventional education, e.g., foreign study, continuing education units, life experience, etc., go to the web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-II/s2-e4.htm#e4a and look under the heading “Other Education†for information governing acceptability of this type of education.)
__ Copy of SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) to verify possession of competitive civil service status (if you are a current or previous federal employee)
__ Copy of most recent performance appraisal (if you are a current federal employee)
__ Second copy of application package IF you are a candidate with competitive status. (NOTE: All status candidates who wish to be considered under both alternative merit promotion and non-status competitive examining must submit two (2) complete applications when the position is open to both status and non-status candidates. When only one (1) application is received, it will be considered under the alternative merit promotion procedures if the applicant is a current or former Federal employee with reinstatement eligibility.)
__ Support documentation for eligibility for special hiring authorities, such as disability, Peace Corps service, etc. (If you have questions about whether you are eligible for a particular hiring authority, please call the servicing HR specialist or visit the web site at http://www.opm.gov/Strategic_Management_of_Human_Capital/fhfrc/default.asp
__ Support documentation if you are a USDA surplus or federal displaced employee (See pertinent section under “Other Important Information†below.
__ Self-certification of typing speed (if required as a basic qualification for the position)
__ While not required, a separate response to the required knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs listed under Specialized Experience) and Selective Placement Factor(s), if present, for this position may better highlight your specific qualifications for this position. (For an explanation of KSAs, go to the web site at http://www.ars.usda.gov/careers/whatksa.html).
If this is your first time applying for a federal job, or if you wish to view more detailed information about various aspects of applying for federal jobs, go to http://www.opm.gov/forms/html/of.asp and scroll down to access the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Optional Form 510.
Location Contact Information: Jean Weinbrenner (608) 890-0044
Contact Information:
| Latania Maise
Phone: 301-504-1583 Fax: 301-504-1535 TDD: 202-855-1234 Email: SCIRECRUIT@ARS.USDA.GOV | Or write: Department Of Agriculture USDA-REE-ARS-HRD/Announcement #ARS-X10W-0019 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Stop #5106 Beltsville, MD 20705-5106 E-Mail: SCIRECRUIT@ARS.USDA.GOV Fax: 301-504-1535 |
What To Expect Next:
You will be notified at four stages throughout the hiring process - upon receipt of your application, if you meet the minimum qualifications, if you are referred on the selection certificate, and when a final selection has been made.
Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement: http://www.usajobs.gov/raps
Veterans Information: http://www.usajobs.gov/vi
Legal and Regulatory Guidance: http://www.usajobs.gov/lrg
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