Summary This position is located on the staff of the State Resource Conservationist. The incumbent provides statewide support for integrating technologies into conservation planning and application activities using the Customer Service Toolkit (CST), Conservation Desktop, and other NRCS business tools for all applicable NRCS programs. The incumbent will also provide technical support for use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) within the State. Responsibilities Provides technical leadership for core Business Tools including Conservation Desktop, Conservation Client Gateway, Customer Service Toolkit (CST) and related extensions, and other related applications. Provides training, coordinates deployment of software and hardware upgrades, and manages access to agency Business Tools. Provides support and guidance to field, area, and state staff for common GIS applications and tasks. Performs activities including basic data development, data analysis, quality control, quality assurance, and data management as necessary. Develops map products as requested. Coordinates with other state technical staff to further the development of, use for, and access to natural resource data including soil survey geodatabases, GIS and other tools and models, elevation data, and equipment. Develops, coordinates, and guides implementation of GIS and other technology statewide to ensure consistency with state priorities, national direction, and in support of all programs and activities. Provides training to achieve basic user skills in NRCS Business Tools for all employees with conservation planning job responsibilities. Provides training as needed on basic GIS and GPS technologies. Provides advance training as requested to facilitate use and adoption of technology. 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. Basic Education Requirement for 0401 series: Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Basic Education Requirement for 0457 series: Degree: soil conservation or related agricultural or natural resource discipline such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, agricultural education, or agricultural engineering. The study must have included 30 semester hours in a natural resource or agricultural field, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soils and crops or plant science. Of the 12 semester hours, a minimum of 3 semester hours must have been in soils and 3 semester hours in crops or plant science; OR Combination of Education and Experience: At least 30 semester hours in one or more of the disciplines as shown above, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soils and crops or plant science, plus appropriate experience or additional education comparable to a 4 year degree. Of the 12 semester hours, a minimum of 3 semester hours must have been in soils and 3 semester hours in crops or plant science. In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered for the GS-12 level: Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-12 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: Providing leadership, technology development, technology transfer, and technical assistance for use of NRCS business tools. Providing technical support for use of Customer Service Toolkit (CST) and the transition to Conservation Desktop (CD). Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-12 level. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/general-natural-resources-management-and-biological-sciences-series-0401/. 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 syllabus 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 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. Physical Demands: The work is mostly sedentary. Operation of a computer keyboard and mouse for lengthy periods is required. There may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items such as books, small equipment, and driving an automobile. Field work requires normal physical exertion when participating in training or resource inventory activities for project verification activities. This involves walking over rough terrain in all types of weather. Work Environment: The work is primarily performed in an office setting and involves everyday risks and discomforts typical of offices and meeting rooms. Periodic travel is needed to review and assist in field operations and provide training where there may be exposure to extremes in temperature and precipitation. 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 workday, 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. 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.