Rangeland Management Specialist (Area Rangeland Management Specialist)

This position provides rangeland management expertise as part of a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Area Office. You will provide professional services in the planning and application of soil, water and resource conservation and development activities on ranches and farms within the assigned geographic area.

Qualifications:

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Time-in-grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled (e.g., one year at the GS-07 grade level for consideration for the GS-09 grade level; one year at the GS-09 grade level for consideration for the GS-11 level).

Basic Education Requirement:

0454 - Rangeland Management

• Degree: range management; or a related discipline that included at least 42 semester hours in a combination of the plant, animal, and soil sciences, and natural resources management, as follows:
  • Range Management -- At least 18 semester hours of course work in range management, including courses in such areas as basic principles of range management, range plants, range ecology, range inventories and studies, range improvements, and ranch or rangeland planning.
  • Directly Related Plant, Animal, and Soil Sciences -- At least 15 semester hours of directly related courses in the plant, animal, and soil sciences, including at least one course in each of these three scientific areas, i.e., plant, animal, and soil sciences. Courses in such areas as plant taxonomy, plant physiology, plant ecology, animal nutrition, livestock production, and soil morphology or soil classification are acceptable.
  • Related Resource Management Studies -- At least 9 semester hours of course work in related resource management subjects, including courses in such areas as wildlife management, watershed management, natural resource or agricultural economics, forestry, agronomy, forages, and outdoor recreation management. or
• Combination of Education and Experience: at least 42 semester hours of course work in the combination of plant, animal, and soil sciences and natural resources management shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education comparable to a 4-year degree.

In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered:

To qualify for the GS-09 grade level:

Specialized Experience: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 advanced-trainee level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include:

• Assisting with monitoring and documenting changes in plant communities, rangeland, vegetative cover, and production and soil surface condition resulting from applied grazing management systems.
• Participating in administrative activities pertaining to range conservation, such as preparation of news releases on range conservation topics of local interest.
• Assisting ranchers and farmers in identifying conservation opportunities and developing conservation plans consistent with the needs of their land. OR

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: You must have 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree for which the major course of study must be in a field directly related to the work of this position. (Must submit transcripts.) OR

Combination of Education and Experience: You must have a combination of the specialized experience and graduate education as described above, such that they total 100% of the stated minimum qualifications for this specialty and grade. Only graduate education in excess of the first 18 semester hours may be used when combining education and experience for this specialty and grade. (Must submit transcripts and be reflected in resume.)

To qualify for the GS-11 grade level:

Specialized Experience: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. This experience requires the knowledge of a wide range of rangeland management principles, concepts, and theories sufficient to perform duties concerning the development and implementation of multiple-use rangeland management plans. Examples of specialized experience include:

• Developing resource management plans with ranch operators and other land and resource decision makers.
• Studying trends in range conditions to assist landowners in keeping grazing management plans in balance with forage resources.
• Assisting with long- and short-term rangeland management plans by collecting cost/return data on range practices and rang conservation plans.
• Analyzing ranch resources to make recommendations on rangeland management plans. OR

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: You must have 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or which the major course of study must be in a field directly related to the work of this position. (Must submit transcripts.) OR

Combination of Education and Experience: You must have a combination of the specialized experience and graduate education as described above, such that they total 100% of the stated minimum qualifications for this specialty and grade. Only graduate education in excess of the first 36 semester hours may be used when combining education and experience for this specialty and grade. (Must submit transcripts and be reflected in resume.)

For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: Professional and Scientific Positions.

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experiences, including volunteer experience.