Summary This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. About the Position: This is a position with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, Operations Division, Mountain Home Project Office. Located in Mountain Home, AR. This position may be filled at the GS-5, GS-7, or GS-9 level. Promotion is at management's discretion Responsibilities 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. 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 Qualifications 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: GS-05: Must meet education requirement listed above. GS-07: Specialized Experience - one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service which includes 1 out of 3 following: 1) Participating in natural resources activities, such as fish/wildlife management, forestry/vegetation management, soil/water conservation, or fire protection; OR 2) Preparing documents pertaining to leasing and/or managing project lands; OR 3) Patrolling lands and waters to prevent trespassing, destruction of property to ensure compliance with rules/regulations. 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. GS-09: Specialized Experience - One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service which includes 2 out of 4 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; OR 2) Developing shoreline management, recreation management plans; OR 3) Patrolling lands and waters to prevent trespassing, destruction of property, etc. to ensure compliance with rules/regulations; OR 4) Preparing documents pertaining to leasing and/or managing project lands. 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. Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent. 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 authorized.
