Summary These positions are with the Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations. The incumbent serves as a basic Law Enforcement Officer trainee and performs tasks related to law enforcement and investigate activities within the Forest Service programs. For additional information about the duties, please contact SM.FS.usfslei@usda.gov Responsibilities Duties listed are at the full performance level GS-11. Detect and enforce criminal law offenses including, but not limited to: timber theft, wildland arson, livestock trespass, archeological resource protection, and drug control laws that affect law enforcement operations. Plan, direct, and conduct patrols to prevent, detect, and enforce violations of Federal laws and regulations on National Forest System lands related to resources, property, employees, and users. Apprehends and detains those suspected of crimes. Locate, secures, and protects crime scenes. Collects and/or seizes physical and documentary evidence. Plans and conducts investigations relating to alleged or suspected violations of laws and regulations. Research and analyze information, determines actions to be taken, document cases, formalizes reports, and/or makes recommendations. Interview witnesses and suspects testify at hearing and trials, serves subpoenas, summons, and legal documents. Serve as a liaison to cooperative agencies such as, County Sheriff Departments and other State and Federal agencies concerning law enforcement activities that involve the protection of lands. Prepare investigative reports, provide technical input on enforcement activities, and provides written feedback regarding federal, state, and local cases. Plans and executes reports on enforcement program protection of resources, and facilities. Conducts full investigations of misdemeanor crimes and offenses of regulatory and Federal criminal laws affecting assigned lands and is assigned full felony investigations or portions of felony investigations under the direction of a case agent. Investigate civil and administrative matters which may result in a claim for or against the Government, including accidents that involve the public use of lands or involve resources, personnel, vehicles, facilities, or activities. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. SPECIAL POSITION REQUIREMENTS: Physical Demands: Due to the physical and vigorous requirements of this position, the incumbent must meet the established medical and physical standards/requirements set forth by USDA as it's considered essential to perform the duties of this position, The work requires a person with good physical health and stamina to work under pressure, along with the ability to lift and carry heavy objects and have the physical agility and dexterity. Ability to operate specialized motorized equipment such as motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, boats and snowmobiles may be required. Maximum Entry Age: The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian law enforcement [or firefighter, if applicable] experience or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in the loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement. Lautenberg Amendment: This position is covered by the 1996 Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968. A person convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence are not eligible for the position. False or fraudulent information provided by candidates is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment (Title 18 USC Section 1001). Firearms Requirement: The incumbent is required to carry a firearm while performing duties of this position so they must meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlines in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. The incumbent must qualify semiannually with all weapons issued by the USDA and maintain proficiency. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GL-05: Applicants must have three years of progressively responsible experience, one year of which was equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as the majority of the following: Performing routine administrative and field support tasks that required following established procedures, such as reviewing basic regulations and policies to understand work requirements and assisting with simple assignments under close supervision; Assisting higher-graded staff with basic investigative support duties including observing scenes, helping gather straightforward facts, and preparing draft notes or portions of reports while learning proper documentation practices; Conducting basic research on regulations and directives to resolve routine questions and preparing draft notes or portions of reports, seeking supervisory assistance when instructions were incomplete or situations were unfamiliar; Engaging with the public to explain procedures and regulations, gathered preliminary information from witnesses or complainants, and coordinated with supervisors and partner agencies as directed to support mission objectives; Participating in required training and applying learned procedures to assigned tasks and recognizing when guidance was needed and requested assistance appropriately when encountering unfamiliar work situations. OR Bachelor's degree or 4 years of successfully completed education above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree; OR Appropriate combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. For the GL-07: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as the majority of the following; Assisting in conducting misdemeanor investigations by helping secure crime scenes, collecting basic physical and documentary evidence, interviewing witnesses under guidance, and drafting portions of investigative reports using established investigative methods; Performing entry level patrol duties to prevent, detect, and report violations of Federal laws and regulations related to natural resources, property, employees, and public use; issued warnings as directed and referred non-route or complex violations to higher graded officers; Supporting enforcement operations-including search warrant execution, arrests, and prisoner transport-by completing assigned tasks such as custody documentation, evidence handling support, and maintaining scene control in compliance with Forest Service law enforcement policies; Researching regulations, directives, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to resolve routine questions and applied guidance to developmental assignments; sought supervisory input when encountering unfamiliar conditions or potentially sensitive resource protection issues; Interacting with forest users, witnesses, and partner agencies by explaining rules and procedures, collecting preliminary information, and assisting with coordination during multi-agency operations and public safety activities. OR One full year of graduate level education; OR an appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience; OR Superior Academic Achievement (go to this site to determine if you are eligible: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp).The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. 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. TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Education There are no educational requirements. See Qualification Section if using education to qualify. Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA). Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked. Non-pay status such as leave without pay is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited. Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met. Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period. For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the Veteran's Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website. PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied or guaranteed. This is a bargaining unit position and is represented by NFFE. The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional Information is available on the OPM Website. The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS). Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's Website for additional information on pay rates. Grooming/Attire/Appearance Standards Hair: Neat, clean, well-groomed; no extreme styles/colors. Facial Hair: Trimmed; many require clean-shaven unless exempt. Tattoos: Offensive/inappropriate banned; visible neck/face/hand tattoos must be covered. Jewelry: Limited to watch, wedding ring, conservative earrings; facial piercings usually prohibited. Hygiene: Maintain high standards; no offensive odor. Uniform: Clean, pressed, in good repair.
