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Natural Resource Specialist (Utility Arborist / Utility Forester / Transmission Utility Forester)

Location: Kalispel, MT
Salary: GS 11/12 $64,649 to $100,073 per year

Must apply through USAJOBS.gov

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/608364900

Summary

This position is with Bonneville Power Administration, located in Kalispell, MT as part of the Vegetation Management and Forestry (TFBV) organization, of Internal Operations (TFB), Transmission Field Services (TF), Transmission Services (T).

The purpose of the Natural Resources Specialist position will serve as Natural Resource Specialist responsible for planning and carrying out project management activities in support of right-of-way (ROW) and access road projects within the assigned region.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

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.

Travel Required

25% or less - You may be expected to travel to field sites up to several times a month for this position.

Supervisory status

Promotion Potential

Conditions of Employment

You must be a United States Citizen.
This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
All males born after December 31st 1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.
If you are a current federal employee, appointed under the direct-hire authority, you will be given a new appointment.
You will be required to serve a mandatory one (1) year probationary period unless you meet the exceptions in 5 CFR part 315.802.
Selectee will be required t complete the Office of Government Ethics Standard of Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OFGE450e) within 30 days of employment and annually.
A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work. Current Federal employees or other individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check.
When you apply you will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility for employment and your qualification for this position specifically. You must answer all of these questions completely and truthfully.

Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENT:

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

2. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT:

In addition to the meeting the Basic Requirements above, a qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience.

GS-11: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-09). Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Experience with a wide range of 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.

You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows:

Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. -OR-

Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first two years of full-time study may be credited).

GS-12: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-11). Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Experience as a project manager utilizing the methodology of Natural Resource Management to administer contracts for Right-of-Way management programs.

There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 grade level.

"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.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

The Education section MUST be tailored to each vacancy based on the OPM qualifications standard for the position you are posting.

If education may be substituted for experience, indicate this and include the general formula for education to experience conversion (e.g., a Bachelor's Degree qualifies at the GS-5 level).
If this vacancy has a positive education requirement. In order to be rated as qualified, you must provide copies of your college transcripts. Failure to provide copies of your college transcripts may result in a rating of "Ineligible".
If education cannot be substituted for experience, indicate this with a simple statement or consider taking out this section entirely (e.g., There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-13 level. or This job does not have an education qualification requirement.)

Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

If substituting education for specialized experience you must submit proof of your qualifying education. Failure to provide college transcripts may result in a rating of 'Ineligible'.

Employer Info

2521 US Highway 2 W
Kalispell, Montana 59901
503-230-3230
[email protected]

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