Summary
Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on his or her expertise as a Supervisory Natural Resources Specialist. Make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.
Location – Klamath Falls, Oregon
Responsibilities
Serves as Chief, Resources Management Division responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, evaluating and providing staff support for the full range of resources management activities in the Klamath Basin Area Office (KBAO).
– Serves as the KBAO technical lead for all environmental compliance, contract administration, and lands management activities.
– Responsible for negotiating and administering water service contracts, Warren Act contracts, and a variety of other contracts and agreements.
– Prepares, approves and administers land-use documents, including leases, rights-of-way and use permits; and transfers of property and related infrastructure, and maintains realty records such as plats, deeds and boundary maps.
– Directs the performance of studies and investigations relevant to power, habitat and recovery opportunities, and other special projects within the Klamath Project.
– Identifies KBAO programs and projects requiring NEPA and ESA environmental compliance documentation, provides guidance in the preparation of such documents, and oversees the preparation of a variety of environment impact statements, reports, assessments, and other documents.
– Responsible for preparation of adequate and legally defensible environmental compliance documents associated with water project operations.
– Identifies potential environmental compliance issues related to proposed changes in operations and facilities. Consults with and advises KBAO, Regional, and Department of Interior staff and officials in identifying such issues and in developing solutions.
– Develops and maintains liaison with other Federal agencies, state and local entities, and environmental organizations on issues related to operation of the Klamath Project, as well as broad matters of environmental concern.
– Assists the Region in developing standards for preparation of NEPA and ESA compliance documents.
– Develops current and out-year program plans and operating budgets and executes approved budgets. Provides expert advice in interpreting and applying laws, regulations, policies and procedures governing assigned resources management programs.
– Serves as a key member of the KBAO management team in developing long term strategic objectives, integrating resources management activities with other KBAOprograms, and evaluating progress in meeting program goals and objectives.
– Performs the full range of supervisory responsibilities for the Division within delegated authority and in compliance with the laws, policies and procedures governing merit promotion, performance management, conduct and discipline, training and development, employee recognition and position management.
– Personally represents KBAO in a wide range of recurring and special one-time meetings or groups. Includes stakeholder work groups to develop comprehensive long-term solutions to complex resource issues, board meetings and other business meetings.
– Oversees KBAO review and comment on NEPA and ESA compliance documents prepared by other offices and bureaus of the Department of the Interior and other government agencies.
Travel Required: Not required
Supervisory status: Yes
Promotion Potential: 13
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
To be eligible, an applicant must meet the following:
U.S. Citizen or National
Suitability for Federal employment determined by background investigation
Submit a resume and supporting documentation – See How to Apply
Meet specialized experience requirements – See Qualifications
Submit transcripts, if required, to verify education requirements
For veterans consideration, submit documents under Required Documents
Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement 05/01/2021.
TIME IN GRADE: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower-grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Applicants eligible under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) are not required to meet time-in-grade restrictions in order to be considered.
Selectee will be required to file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, within 30 days of entrance on duty and annually.
Position may be subject to successful completion of a one year probationary period depending upon the type of appointment.
This is a supervisory position. If appointed to this position, you must serve a one-year supervisory probationary period, unless you have previously met this requirement.
Successful adjudication of personnel security investigation required.
All Federal employees are required by PL 104-134 to have federal payments made by direct deposit.
Required to obtain and use a government-issued credit card for business travel.
Incumbent must possess or obtain certification as a Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (CTR)/Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).
Applicants may be required to serve an initial probationary period.
The selectee must maintain a valid State Driver’s License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver’s License at all times will result in removal from the position.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet the Basic Education Qualification Requirements listed below: A. Degree: Biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR B. Combination of education and experience with courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, applicants must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs.
GS-13: To qualify at the GS-13 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 in Federal service. Specialized experience at this level is defined as:
One year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal Service. To meet the specialized experience requirement, your resume must describe experience that demonstrates the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities as follows: Examples of specialized experience are as follows: guiding preparation of environmental compliance documents for water resource projects; development of environmental impact statements, environmental assessments, biological assessments, and biological opinions that involve water operations (must reflect an understanding of the concepts, goals, and problems associated with water project operations, experience developing recommendations on policy issues, plans, methodologies, and practices affecting environmental compliance and natural resource management); overseeing staff services and analysis of natural resource conditions and formulating and recommending policy, practices, and procedures. These examples are not all inclusive.
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. Applicants will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
If selected, the selectee will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University’s Registrar’s office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer.
Education
This position has a mandatory education requirement. Applicants must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. Non-submission will result in being rated not-qualified for the position.
In addition to the basic education requirement, in order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that the applicant meets the education and/or specialized experience requirement – this information must be clearly supported in the resume.
Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management at https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/ and U.S. Department of Education websites at https://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html websites.
Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, applicants must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For further information visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Additional information
At the present time, we have one vacancy; however, this announcement may be used to fill additional, equivalent positions at this duty location.
Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.
Selectee will be required to file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, within 30 days of entrance on duty and annually.
Position may be subject to successful completion of a one year probationary period depending upon the type of appointment.-This is a supervisory position. If appointed to this position, you must serve a one-year supervisory probationary period, unless you have previously met this requirement.-Successful adjudication of personnel security investigation required. Operation of a government vehicle is required; therefore, you must possess and maintain a valid State’s driver’s license.All Federal employees are required by PL 104-134 to have federal payments made by direct deposit. Required to obtain and use a government-issued credit card for business travel. Incumbent must possess or obtain certification as a Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (CTR)/Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).
The selectee(s) for the vacancy, if otherwise eligible and qualified, may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive to the selectee(s) of this vacancy will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit:
Recruitment Incentive
Relocation Incentive
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses are authorized with the exception of the Guaranteed Home Sale Provision or first-post-of-duty relocation expenses are authorized, as applicable. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), signed into law December 2017, suspends the moving expense deduction and the exclusion from income of qualified employer reimbursements of moving expenses that was allowed under previous tax laws. Employer reimbursements for moving costs are now generally taxed at the same rate as ordinary income.
The selectee(s) for the vacancy, if otherwise eligible and qualified, may request consideration for a Superior Qualifications Appointment: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-administration/fact-sheets/superior-qualifications-and-special-needs-pay-setting-authority/
DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/
Selective Service: Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Additional Information (cont.d)
Related non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630). For additional information, please visit: Creditable Service for Annual Leave
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide to the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
Accountability
Administration and Management
Interpersonal Skills
Oral Communication
Problem Solving
Project Management
Restoration Ecology
Teamwork
In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessment(s), including a SME Panel Resume Review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.
Preview assessment questions here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11015528
Applicant’s answers to questions will be verified against information provided in their online resume. Be sure that the resume clearly supports the responses to all the questions by addressing experience, education, and/or training relevant to this position. Applicants must make a fair and accurate assessment of their qualifications. If a determination is made that an applicant has rated themselves higher than is apparent in their description of experience, competencies, skills, and/or education/training OR that their resume/application is incomplete, the applicant may be rated ineligible or his/her score may be lowered.
Due Weight Consideration: You must submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.
Multiple Hurdle Approach for Assessments:
1. Self-reporting Assessment Questionnaire
2. SME Resume Review
Background checks and security clearance
Security clearance: Other
Drug test required: No
Position sensitivity and risk: Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process: Suitability/Fitness
Required Documents
How You Will Be Evaluated
For evaluating the quality of candidates for referral to the selecting official, a three-phased process will be used.
Phase 1: Applicant resumes will be reviewed by Human Resources to ensure they meet the basic qualification requirements (see definition of specialized experience). If applicants meet basic qualifications, they will continue on to the second phase and will be given an interim score based on the application questionnaire, which will take the applicant approximately 30 minutes to complete when initially applying. With information received from the application questionnaire in the first phase, applicant’s will be evaluated on the following Competencies: Accountability, Administration and Management, Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Problem Solving, Project Management, Restoration Ecology, and Teamwork.
Phase 2: Candidates who pass the first phase will have their resumes forwarded to an expert panel for further review of the Competencies listed above.
Phase 3: Candidates will be given a final score which combines the scores from the first and second phases. Those candidates who score as best qualified will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.
Required Documents
Applicants are required to submit a resume, an on-line assessment questionnaire, and the following supporting documents, as appropriate.
Resume: Must demonstrate how skills and experiences meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the job announcement to be considered for the job. Each job experience should at least include start and end dates (month and year) and number of hours worked per week. For more information: Resumes – What to Include
SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action: Status applicants (transfer, reassignment, reinstatement, promotion, etc.) MUST submit a copy of their SF-50, verifying highest rate of pay and documenting career or career-conditional status in the competitive service (Tenure 1 or 2) for which the applicant is claiming eligibility. Do not submit award SF-50s. FAILURE TO SUBMIT AN SF-50 VERIFYING STATUS WILL RESULT IN THE APPLICANT NOT BEING CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION.
Special Non-Competitive Appointing Authorities: Schedule A, Peace Corps & AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers. Applicants claiming eligibility based on a Special Hiring Authority must submit applicable proof of eligibility. For more information: Special Non-Competitive Hiring Authorities
Schedule A (Individuals with Disabilities) information: Schedule A (Individuals with Disabilities)
Peace Corps & AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers information: Peace Corps & AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers
Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) Eligibles: Current or former land management agency appointees must provide documentation to verify eligibility as follows:
a) A copy of the applicant’s SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, that reflects having initially been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited (temporary/term) appointment;
b) A copy of SF-50(s), Notification of Personnel Action(s), that reflect having served under one (1) or more time-limited (temporary/term) appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two (2) or more years; and
(c) A copy of the applicant’s Performance Appraisal Plan and/or Supervisor Memorandum that reflects having performed at an acceptable level during each period of service.
For more information on LMWFA, visit: Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act
DD-214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty (VEOA, 30% or more Disabled, or Disabled Veterans Enrolled in a VA Training Program): Applicants who are entitled to veterans’ preference must submit a copy of his/her DD-214 (Member 4 Copy preferred, including character of service), or an official statement of service from his/her command if he/she is currently on active duty, or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that proves the applicants military service was performed under honorable conditions. If the applicant has a compensable service-connected disability, submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and the required documentation requested by this form, in addition to the DD-214.
For information on veteran’s eligibility visit: Feds Hire Vets – Vet Guide
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How to Apply
Required Documents (cont.d)
CTAP/ICTAP: CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including selective factors, education and experience requirements) and score at least 85.0 on the assessment questionnaire as established, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.
For information on CTAP and ICTAP visit: Career Transition
Public Land Corps (PLC) Eligibles: An individual’s eligibility for this non-competitive hiring status extends until 120 days after the completion of the individual’s last PLC project. For consideration under this hiring status, applicants must have served a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service on appropriate conservation projects and at least 120 hours served on a project utilizing the PLC legal authority. Applicants must submit documentation of this work by submitting their PLC Certificate of Noncompetitive Hiring Status Eligibility signed by the Line Officer. For more information on PLC and applicable eligibility requirements, visit: https: Public Land Corps
Performance Appraisal: You must submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.
Transcripts: Applicants MUST furnish a copy of college transcripts, if applicable. If selected, the applicant will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications prior to reporting for work.
How To Apply
Applications (resume, assessment questionnaire, and supporting documentation) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, DC time) on the closing date of this announcement 05/01/2021. To apply, click the blue APPLY ONLINE button at the top of the page.
This vacancy is being announced through Bureau of Reclamation’s Hiring System-USA Staffing. For more information, please visit: https://www.usbr.gov/hr/
As part of the on-line application process, applicants may be required to submit supporting documents. Failure to submit the requested supporting documents may result in the applicant not being considered for this position.
Do not submit photographs with the application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials – applicant must remove any images from badges, licenses, etc.
Next steps
Upon successful submission of the application packet, applicants will receive a confirmation email from USAJOBS. If this email confirmation is not received by the applicant, the application has not yet been accepted by the system.
After all application packages have been received, resumes and supporting document(s) will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. Each applicant who meets the basic qualifications will be further evaluated on the information provided in the resume, application questionnaire, and other assessment criteria identified in the “How You Will Be Evaluated” section above. Best-qualified applicants will be referred to the selecting official. After making a tentative job offer, a suitability and/or security background investigation will be conducted. A final job offer is typically made within 40 days after the deadline for applications. Applicants should monitor their status for positions with the Bureau of Reclamation by regularly checking their public status notifications in the USAJOBS profile.
Fair & Transparent
The Federal hiring process is setup to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants
Reasonable Accommodation Policy
Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.
Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:
An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.
You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Learn more about disability employment and reasonable accommodations or how to contact an agency.
