Qualifications
To qualify for this position applicants must meet qualifications by one of the ways below (experience or education). Please read the vacancy thoroughly to ensure you understand all requirements.
GS-05: Meet Basic Education Requirements.
GS-7 level: Meet the Specialized Experience requirements or via education options (defined in Education section):
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service.
Community Planner - performing research, report writing, and data analysis; assisting in civil works planning and evaluation processes (such as urban, regional, study/report preparation, and environmental legislation); prepare formal community meetings with internal/external customers (such as Congressional meetings, other Federal, state, and local agencies, and elected officials.)
Geographer - compiling geographic facts from a variety of specified sources (i.e. drawing from specified maps, charts, and other source materials) in accordance with established procedures and criteria; ascertaining discrepancies in data and remedying simpler ones; and utilizing a variety of basic geographic tools and sources.
Biologist - developing geo-referenced digital databases for use as graphic thematic displays; for incorporation into GIS databases for attribution and analyses, and for inclusion into other existing databases; experience working with digital cartographic data for incorporation into GIS databases.
Ecologist - compiling data or performing field tasks to contribute to reports on scientific data, conditions, and problems; preparing accurate and detailed documentation, such as environmental assessments or Environmental Impact Statements.
Accountant - using professional accounting and auditing knowledge; assist in preparing audit work papers and providing recommendations in the solution of accounting and operational problems; gather, organize, and evaluate accounting data in complex areas and quickly separate essential from nonessential data, utilizing accounting regulations and laws to provide customer service to employees and management officials, researching or investigating accounting report related problems or errors, identifying discrepancies in accounting and financial data, input financial data into a financial management system, and generate financial or accounting reports using a financial management system.
Architect- accomplishing developmental assignments utilizing basic architect techniques, procedures, and methods; and interpreting and explaining basic computations and calculations related to standard architect work.
Engineering - applying basic methods and technical engineering techniques to develop engineering products for civil works projects, specific to the technical discipline under consideration (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering) or Architect.
General Physicist - utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases and software for report and map production; applying survey principles to evaluate results from survey data; providing environmental data during environmental inspections to individuals as requested; developing guidance for distribution.
Geologist - taking samples; handling various types of instruments and equipment; reporting findings orally and in writing; performing field work which includes technical observance of exploration and classification of geologic materials in accordance with field manual; field mapping; and interpretation of data.
Mathematician, Mathematical Statistician, Statistician - preparing cross tabulations or frequency listings of selected variables; and/or analyzing factual information and recognizing significant factors, relationships, and trends.
GS-9 level: Meet the Specialized Experience requirements or via education options (defined in Education section):
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service.
Community Planner - participating in the development and analysis of civil works planning formulation and evaluation processes (such as urban, regional, study/report preparation, and environmental legislation); assisting with the development of plans of study (POS) and project study plans (PSP) with internal/external customer to determine manpower, budget, and allocations needed; contributing to report studies or specific report sections including summary, conclusion(s), and recommended solution(s) in close coordination with senior planner or project manager who provide oversight, review and approval; participating in public involvement and stakeholder engagement and contributing to open communication between the agency and the public.
Geographer- developing geo-referenced digital databases for use as graphic thematic displays; for incorporation into GIS databases for attribution and analyses, and for inclusion into other existing databases; experience working with digital cartographic data for incorporation into GIS databases.
Biologist - using standardized biological practices, principles and techniques in the planning and implementing environmental, recreational and natural resource management activities at a water resources project; experience in natural resource management and related laws, policies and regulations as it pertains to biodiversity, threatened and endangered species, wetland protection, cultural resources and agricultural lease program.
Ecologist - preparing feasibility level water resource studies which may involve navigation or flood control and/or other water resource development activities; assisting in the scoping of data collection and analysis to understand the effects of alternative plans to support water resources planning reports and decision documents; assisting with the development of plans of study (POS), project study plans (PSP) or other long range comprehensive planning documents with internal/external customers to determine resource, manpower, budget, or allocations needed.
Accountant/Auditor - using accounting principles, concepts and methods, and organizational functions and programs to control financial operations and keep obligations and expenditures within the limits established by appropriation, allotment, apportionment, work allowance, and purpose established by law. Experience providing professional accounting analysis for resource management, financial service, and accounting processes conducted by the organization.
Architect- accomplishing developmental assignments utilizing standard architect techniques, procedures, and methods; analyzing and interpreting findings; and completing limited or portions of architectural designs and projects.
Engineering - applying advanced methods and technical engineering techniques to develop engineering products for civil works projects, specific to the technical discipline under consideration (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering or Architecture).
General Physicist - interpreting and applying scientific guidelines to evaluate data; preparing reports from data findings; establishing and/or maintain a geographic database of various formats of survey data; utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases and software for report and map production.
Geologist - performing geological studies and preliminary analyses; performing calculations and applying correction factors; plotting of preliminary prediction values for portions of larger studies; identifying fossils, rock samples, and determining extent of formations.
Mathematician, Mathematical Statistician, Statistician - sampling, collecting, computing, and analyzing statistical data, and applying known statistical techniques to data such as measurement of central tendency, dispersion, skewness, sampling error, simple and multiple correlation, analysis of variance, and tests of significance.
Education
To qualify for these Professional Series, you must first meet the Basic Education Requirements below (Click on the series you're interested to be taken to the basic requirement):
- General/Community Planner, GS-0020
- Geography, GS-0150
- Biology, GS-0401
- Ecology, GS-0408
- Accounting, GS-0510
- Auditing, GS-0511
- Architecture, GS-0808
- Professional Engineering, GS-0810/0819/0830/0850
- Physical Science, GS-1301
- Geology, GS-1350
- Mathematics, GS-1520
- Mathematical Statistics, GS-1529
- Statistics, GS-1530
At the GS-7 level applicants can qualify based on meeting the Specialized Experience requirements (defined in experience section), a combination of experience and education, or by meeting the requirements for Superior Academic Achievement (SAA):
Superior Academic Achievement (SAA):
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 B above. Superior Academic Achievement is based on:
(1) Class Standing - You 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; OR
(2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - You 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.; OR
(3) Honor Society Membership - You 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/). (NOTE: You must attach a copy of your transcripts and/or verification of class standing for further verification.)
Substitution of Education for Experience:
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
Combination of Experience and Education:
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.
At the GS-9 level applicants can qualify based on meeting the Specialized Experience requirements (defined in Experience section), education substitution, or by a combination of experience and education.
Substitution of Education for Experience:
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.
Combination of Experience and Education:
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.
ADMINISTRATIVE CAREERS WITH AMERICA (ACWA) ASSESSMENT: Some series on this job announcement are covered under the Administrative Careers With America (ACWA) examining program. The ACWA Program for entry-level hiring is at the GS-05 or GS-07 grade levels. These are developmental positions with non-competitive promotion potential to the GS-11. You will serve in an entry level, developmental capacity to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities with non-competitive promotion potential to the GS-11 when all work can be performed at that level and all other requirements are met. Post-secondary students must meet the qualification requirements for the position and take pass the ACWA assessment prior to being non-competitively converted.
In order to meet the basic education requirement or qualify based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.
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:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
