Apply at: USAJOBS - Job Announcement

Hiring incentives may be available UP TO 25% of annualized salary authorized for highly qualified applicants based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations.

Complete vegetation management activities within and along BPA Transmission Line Rights-of-Ways throughout western Montana. You will be in the field at least 50% of the time but home most nights.

The amount of field work required and telework options create the possibility for selectee to live in Troy, Libby, Plains, Missoula, or other similar locations within the Kalispell District with agency approval. Selectee would be required to report to Kalispell District Office an as yet undetermined number of days each month. Exact number will be determined during selection process, and will be dependent on agency needs and requirements. Selectee will have GSA vehicle assigned to them for work related travel. GSA vehicle will be parked at a secure parking lot when not in use.

As a Natural Resource Specialist, you will:

• Plan and carry out vegetation management activities in support of Rights-of-Way (ROW) and access road projects.
• Develop and implement short-term and long-term regional (multi-district) management plan for vegetation control.
• Develop and prioritize annual, out-year, and special project schedules, budgets, and requests or the vegetation management and access road programs, coordinating planned activities with affected departments (e.g., Transmission Line Maintenance, Realty, Environment, Contracting) to identify and resolve critical issues, avoid regional and system conflicts, and insure project success.
• Prepare site-specific vegetation management prescriptions and related Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) checklists (or ROW management plans) consistent with guidance provided by the BPA Transmission System Vegetation Management Program FEIS and related National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements.
• Serve as a project manager on ROW and access road projects.
• Review transmission line corridors and construction projects for compliance with line maintenance standards for ROW clearing, access road erosion control, and structure site vegetation.
• Serve as a Contracting Office Representative (COR) and monitor performance and compliance with contract specifications.
• Develop and maintain regional (multi-district) vegetation management and access road program data that includes annual work plans, project tracking spreadsheets, environmental analysis checklists, statements of work, prescription sheets, herbicide forms, access road request forms, and an access road data dictionary in a manner consistent with the reporting requirements of the BPA system as a whole including all regions.
• Serve as a technical expert in vegetation and ROW management to various internal groups, outside agencies, and the public as issues arise within the region including negotiation, coordination with county-weed boards and other entities (e.g., Army Corps, Forest Service, state departments of natural resources, Bureau of Reclamation, etc.).
• Respond to inquiries, from a broad range of sources, on sensitive issues involving vegetation control methods, herbicide application, protection of cultural resources and other related issues.
• Initiate, negotiate, and maintain cooperative agreements with public and private landowners (including dispute resolutions), other agencies such as the USFWS, or Native American Tribes regarding ROW management and maintenance practices.

BASIC REQUIREMENT:

1. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

   OR

2. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
   
   IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC REQUIREMENT, APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
   
   GS-11: Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a related discipline appropriate to the position; OR a combination of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 grade level) and graduate education beyond the first two years of graduate study that together meet 100% of the requirements for this position; OR at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level, GS-09. Specialized experience is defined as experience utilizing the methodology of natural resource management to administer contracts for right-of-way management programs.
   
   GS-12: Applicants must have at least one year specialized experience at the next lower grade level, GS-11. Specialized experience is defined as experience in arboriculture methodology, including tree biology, urban forestry, tree risk management, and safe work practices to serve as a project manager for vegetation and right-of-way programs.
   
   "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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