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Range Technician (Monitoring)

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Physical Demands/Work Environment Work may take place in extremely remote areas and may require primitive camping and living skills for upwards of two weeks in duration. The work is performed outdoors in rugged terrain; to include very steep, wet, muddy, rough, uneven or rocky surfaces; positions require physical exertions, such as, bending, crouching, stooping, reaching, or similar activities. Individuals should be able to work alone or with people; during early morning, day, or night hours.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
10/18/2019 to 12/02/2019
Salary
$30,344 to - $54,670 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 04 - 07
Locations
MANY vacancies in the following locations:
Lakeview, OR
MANY vacancies
Vale, OR
MANY vacancies
Spokane Valley, WA
MANY vacancies
Wenatchee, WA
MANY vacancies
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - Temporary - This is a Temporary NTE 1039 hours.
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None - None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
OR-TEMP-2020-0019
Control number
549113800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens – No previous Federal Service is required.

Duties

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The Range Technician (Monitoring) works under the supervision and guidance of professional range and natural resource specialists to provide technical support and assistance in range conservation, range management and range improvement.  In addition to serving as a crew member or crew lead for specific projects, the specific duties are: implementing and coordinating Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) procedures; inputting and extracting data for reporting, planning and analysis; completing range condition and trend studies, utilization, actual use, climatological and other allotment evaluation studies; ensuring stipulation compliance for grazing permits and leases; assisting in grazing lease and permit preparation and range administration; assisting with automated billing, updating case files and allotment files; and preparing range transfer documents.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Be sure to read the "How to Apply" and "Required Documents" Sections
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license; nor can you
  • have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Land
  • Direct Deposit Required
  • Background Investigation Required

Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the specialized experience as defined in the announcement or vacancy questions. In addition, your responses to the questions must be adequately reflected in your resume.

Education Requirement: You will need to clearly state your undergraduate/graduate degree(s) and submit your college transcripts or a listing of your college courses that includes hours and grades.

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement - please be sure to include this information in your resume.

You must meet the qualification requirements to be found qualified. 

GS-4 6 months of general and 6 months of specialized work experience. Examples of specialized experience may include surveying public lands for the presence of noxious weeds; locating and treating weeds with designated herbicides; and preparing accurate records of all treatment; OR Successful completion of two years (90 quarter or 60 semester hours) of study above high school that included 12 semester hours in any combination of courses such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources, outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering or wildland fire science. No more than 3 semester hours in math is creditable; OR A combination of experience and education to meet the total experience.

GS-5 - one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-4 level. Examples of specialized experience may include conducting preliminary reconnaissance of range areas to select possible sites for re-seeding, fresh clearing, water spreading systems, etc.; or serving as an instrument person in laying out contour furrows, determining the contour line and staking out the line; OR Successful completion of a full four year (180 quarter or 120 semester hours) course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree (a) with a major forestry, range management, agriculture or a subject-matter field directly related to the position or (b) that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources, outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering or wildland fire science. No more than 6 semester hours in math is creditable; OR A combination of experience and education to meet the total experience.

GS-6 - one year of specialized work experience equivalent to GS-5 level. Examples of specialized experience may include overseeing and performing maintenance work in connection with range improvements; assisting in enforcement of range rules and regulations; assisting in locating conservation and range improvement projects; and keeping cost account records with responsibility for construction supplies, materials and the maintenance of warehouses; OR Successful completion of one full year of graduate education directly related to the work of the position; OR A combination of experience and education to meet the total experience.

GS-7 - One year of specialized work experience equivalent to GS-6 level. Examples of specialized experience may include assisting in the management of public range resources of a district or other specified area by observing and reporting special conditions regarding them; and performing the detailed work necessary to complete specific plans for development of an area for proper range management and conservation; OR Successful completion of one full year of graduate education directly related to the work of the position; OR A combination of experience and education to meet the total experience.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

If qualifying based on education you will need to clearly state your undergraduate/graduate degree(s) and submit your college transcripts or a listing of your college courses that includes hours and grades.

Additional information

SELECTIVE SERVICE: Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System website.

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at CTAP or ICTAP. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found well qualified for this vacancy. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form.

CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they fall within the Well or Best Qualified categories on the rating criteria for this position.

This position is not eligible for Telework.

Government facilities are required to provide a smoke free environment for their employees.  Smoking will be permitted only in designated areas.

This position may require you to wear an officially-approved uniform while in a duty status.

All positions may not be filled or they may be filled at different times depending on budget, hiring needs, and requirements. These positions are temporary and are expected to last for up to 6 months. These positions have no promotion potential, if you want to be considered for a higher grade you must apply for the higher grade.

If selected from this or a similar competitive, seasonal announcement, your appointment may be creditable for consideration under PL-114-47, Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)​. The Act allows certain individuals, who have or had time-limited appointments at land management agencies, to compete for any permanent position in the competitive service under “internal” merit promotion procedures. For more information, see the section under Eligibility, which starts with Question #15 (Q15. Who is eligible for appointment under these provisions?).

For additional information about the BLM, please visit Our website.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Upon receipt of your complete application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements.  Your rating will be based on your responses to the Job Specific Questionnaire and the information stated in your resume. If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of three categories:  Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified.  Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans.    In addition, interviews may be conducted for this position.  The interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis or may be scored.  The job specific questions relate to the following knowledge, skills and abilities required to do the work of this position.

GS-04

  1. Knowledge of the processes, rules, procedures and techniques used to independently perform the full range of standardized technician duties to develop, protect, and improve range lands. 
  2. Numerical and technical scientific skill in making accurate readings and in reporting conditions.
  3. Ability to learn when and how to resolve exceptions and special problems and to make adaptations in the sequencing of interrelated tasks.
  4. Knowledge and ability to use GPS.

GS-05/06/07

  1. Knowledge of monitoring methodologies, plant identification, soil classification and navigation to specific points using GPS technology.
  2. Knowledge of basic principles of rangeland management and pertinent guidelines sufficient to evaluate data collected for accuracy, determine causes of variances, and applicability of data to the overall range program/project.
  3. Knowledge of processes, methods, and procedures associated with range technician duties to lay out, schedule, organize, execute and resolve the full range of standard and non-standard range related projects, problems, and irregular situations, determining compliance with allotment plans and other pertinent guidelines.
  4. Skill in operating a computer terminal and knowledge of procedures and functions sufficient to execute several computer functions related to the range program such as entering and retrieving information from various automated systems and databases; preparing correspondence from boiler plates; and preparing analyses.

To preview questions please click here.

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