Kansas Works Veterans Jobs

Summary This position serves as the Biological Sciences Technician at a Plant Materials Center (PMC) and can be used by Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Plant Materials Centers nationwide. The Plant Materials Center develops plant science technology to assist NRCS field offices in conservation of natural resources and farm bill programs. Responsibilities Establishes and maintains seed and plant production fields. Responsible for establishing and maintaining research plots. Irrigates, fertilizes, and applies pesticides according to the study plan. Assists with monitoring plantings, harvesting plots, collecting data, and data entry. Responsible for fertilizer, chemical and pesticide application, labels, storage, and reporting as required by responsible regulatory agencies. Responsible for proper operation, maintenance, and repair of various farm agricultural equipment. Assists with Plant Materials Center (PMC) planning and management and participates in technology transfer activities. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Specialized Experience to qualify for the GS-5 level: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level in the federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service. Examples of this experience may include: Preparing, establishing, and maintaining fields necessary for growing various types of crops; Irrigating, fertilizing and apply pesticides; Monitoring plantings, harvesting plots, collecting data; Establish and maintain seed and plant production fields; OR Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: Completion of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to field of biological sciences; OR Combination of education and experience: Possess a combination education and experience as described above may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. Specialized Experience to qualify for the GS-6 level: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level in the federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service. Examples of this experience may include: Performing tasks such as weed management and irrigation; Seed production, processing, and handling to ensure quality control; Performing routine and reoccurring research techniques or procedures; Operating and maintaining equipment for vegetation monitoring and data collection and collecting, preparing, and evaluating plant samples; OR Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: Completion of one (1) year of graduate level education (18 semester/27 quarter hours) if directly related to the position; OR Combination of education and experience: Possess a combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. Specialized Experience to qualify for the GS-7 level: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 grade level in the federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service. Examples of this experience may include: irrigate, fertilize, and apply pesticides; establish, monitor, and maintain seed and plant production fields and inventory; monitor planting for pest or other problems and address issues; operation, maintenance, and repair of various types of farm agricultural equipment; OR Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: Completion of one year of graduate-level education leading to a master's degree, if directly related to the position. OR Combination of education and experience: Possess a combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: Biological Science Technician Series 0404 (opm.gov) 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 experience, including volunteer experience. Education If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: You must submit a copy of your transcripts to include course number, title, completion and grade. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement. Important: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Click on this link for more information. Failure to provide all of the required documents/information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating. Additional Information Locality Pay: The salary for each location may vary depending on locality. Locality tables may be found at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. 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. 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 nor guaranteed. Physical Demands: The work requires some physical exertion, such as regular and recurring running, walking, or bending; walking or climbing over rocky areas, through plowed fields or other uneven surfaces, through dense vegetation; climbing ladders to maintain facilities and equipment; and, the ability to carry or lift objects up to 50 pounds. Work Environment: The work involves regular and recurring moderate risks or discomforts which require special safety precautions, e.g., working around moving parts or machines; working outdoors with exposure to adverse weather conditions, or working with chemicals and pesticides. Incumbent is required to use protective clothing or gear such as hard hats, masks, Tyvek coveralls, ear plugs, coats, boots, goggles, gloves, or shields to moderate risks, or to follow procedures for minimizing risk. PLEASE NOTE: In the interest of filling these positions as efficiently as possible, we are requiring the following: If called for an interview, applicants must be available to interview within 3 business days of being contacted. If a tentative job offer is extended, selectee will have 2 business days in which to accept or decline. This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements. Current USDA policy includes telework for an 8 hour work day, 4 days per week; other flexibilities are possible dependent upon availability and/or the position and its associated duties. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.