Biological Scientist (Quality Assurance Inspector)

These positions support the USDA Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program. FIA is a nationwide program which collects, processes, analyzes, evaluates, and publishes comprehensive forest and other resource information.
For additional information about the duties of the positions, please contact Charles Perry (charles.h.perry@usda.gov).Qualifications: To qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.
Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education.
Provide university course descriptions to clarify course content as necessary.
Basic Education Requirement for Biological Science Series (0401):
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.
In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.
For the GS-7 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as all of the following:

• Assisting with the management of ecological monitoring projects (including building schedules, logistical planning, and execution of work);
• Collecting forestry, botanical, and geographic measurements; obtaining data on tree growth, forest type, stand size and stand age; habitat typing, plant identification, and evaluation of forest health indicators.
• Producing routine reports and summaries of field visits; interpreting standard procedures, and ensuring that data collection is accurate, repeatable and in compliance with established protocol.

OR 1 year of graduate-level education directly related to the work of the position which is forest inventory and analysis
OR Superior Academic Achievement. Please go to this link for more information on eligibility: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp
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.
OR A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience listed above.
For the GS-9 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as all of the following:

• Managing forest inventory or resource monitoring projects (including, development of flexible work plans that include anticipated workforce needs, time and cost estimates);
• Analyzing forest inventory monitoring data for accuracy and compliance with established protocol; utilizing field observations, aerial imagery, and historical site information for land use classification;
• Serving as subject matter expert in forest inventory field data collection to answer questions about methods and findings and to train others; and communicating with state, federal, tribal, and/or private organizations to enlist cooperation and support in research activities.

OR 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree directly related to the work of the position which is forest inventory and analysis
OR A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience listed above. Only that graduate level education completed beyond 18 semester hours is creditable for this combination.
Work Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning day, month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade if applicable; and description of duties performed. This information must be provided for each permanent, temporary or seasonal appointment/work assignment or volunteer work and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position.
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.Education: See above for minimum education requirement and for graduate level education that may be qualifying for the specific grade levels.Employment Type: FULL_TIME