What are the responsibilities and job description for the CIVIL ENGINEER TECHNICIAN position at USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service?
Summary
This position is in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Mission Area, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Office of the Deputy Chief for Science and Technology, in the West National Technical Support Center (WNTSC) or in the Conservation Engineering Division's National Design, Construction, and Soil Mechanics Center (NDCSMC).
Learn more about this agency
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Duties
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
One vacancy is being filled with the WNTSC in either Portland, OR or in Ft. Collins, CO and 2 vacancies will be filled with the NDCSMC in Lincoln, NE.
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level(s) in which you are applying:
GS-09
Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-08 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties.
Education: Master's or equivalent doctoral degree, or 2 full years of graduate education in engineering or other directly related field. (Must submit transcripts.)
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: Must possess a combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described directly above that total 100% when combined. First, determine total qualifying experience as a percentage of the specialized experience described above; then determine the education as a percentage of the graduate education described above; and then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate education in excess of one year (18 semester hours) may be used when combining education and experience for this grade. (Must submit transcripts.)
GS-10
Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties.
Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of graduate education in engineering or other directly related field. (Must submit transcripts.)
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: Must possess a combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described directly above that total 100% when combined. First, determine total qualifying experience as a percentage of the specialized experience described above; then determine the education as a percentage of the graduate education described above; and then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate education in excess of two years (36 semester hours) may be used when combining education and experience for this grade. (Must submit transcripts.)
GS-11
Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-10 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties.
Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of graduate education in engineering or other directly related field. (Must submit transcripts.)
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: Must possess a combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described directly above that total 100% when combined. First, determine total qualifying experience as a percentage of the specialized experience described above; then determine the education as a percentage of the graduate education described above; and then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate education in excess of two years (36 semester hours) may be used when combining education and experience for this grade. (Must submit transcripts.)
(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience) N DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).
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.
The OPM Qualification Standards for this position can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series
Education
You must submit a copy of your college transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify all education requirements (i.e. substitution of education and/or basic education requirement). 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 syllabi 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. You must document all requirements on every vacancy; we cannot use previous determinations as a basis for rating. All required information must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and non-submission of all required documents/documentation will result in non-consideration. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. This information must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Non-submission of these documents will result in non-consideration. 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.
Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)
Additional information
This position is being concurrently announced under Merit Promotion Announcement Number 25-ST-12645493-JM. Current or former Federal employees or other eligible applicants may apply to both announcements to expand all possibilities of consideration since different referral criteria apply to each type of announcement. See the above announcement for more information.
If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
This position may be eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements. Other flexibilities are possible dependent upon availability and/or the position and its associated duties. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor.
PLEASE NOTE: In the interest of filling these positions as efficiently as possible, we are requiring the following:
The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the USDA with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility here.
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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.
Natural Resources Conservation Service
1400 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20250
US
This position is in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Mission Area, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Office of the Deputy Chief for Science and Technology, in the West National Technical Support Center (WNTSC) or in the Conservation Engineering Division's National Design, Construction, and Soil Mechanics Center (NDCSMC).
Learn more about this agency
Help
Duties
- Provides assistance to NRCS personnel in the planning and design of a variety of conservation practices that may include dams, streambank, stabilization, and stream restoration practices.
- Serves as construction inspector as required.
- Performs drafting and other graphical work on a computer-aided drafting system.
- Assist NRCS personnel in developing and reviewing designs and requests assistance from the engineering staff on complex design problems.
- Assemble complete packages of drawings and specifications for jobs and assist in preparing engineering cost estimates and construction performance time estimates.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a US Citizen or US National.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
- Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. If selected you will be sent instructions on obtaining fingerprints. Please note we are not able to reimburse any fees incurred for fingerprints.
- Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
- Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
- Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/.
- Must possess and maintain a valid state motor vehicle operator's license for the type of vehicle(s) operated to perform the duties of this position.
One vacancy is being filled with the WNTSC in either Portland, OR or in Ft. Collins, CO and 2 vacancies will be filled with the NDCSMC in Lincoln, NE.
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level(s) in which you are applying:
GS-09
Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-08 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties.
- Assist with drafting and other graphical work on a computer-aided drafting systems;
- Assist with construction inspections on simple structures for conservation systems; and
- Assist field office personnel in developing designs and preparing job sheets.
Education: Master's or equivalent doctoral degree, or 2 full years of graduate education in engineering or other directly related field. (Must submit transcripts.)
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: Must possess a combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described directly above that total 100% when combined. First, determine total qualifying experience as a percentage of the specialized experience described above; then determine the education as a percentage of the graduate education described above; and then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate education in excess of one year (18 semester hours) may be used when combining education and experience for this grade. (Must submit transcripts.)
GS-10
Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties.
- Assist with drafting and other graphical work on a computer-aided drafting systems;
- Analyze drawings and specification and determines adequacy prior to final design;
- Apply standard procedures to construct floodwater structures using latest methods; and
- Document layout and construction in conservation assistance notes or job diary.
Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of graduate education in engineering or other directly related field. (Must submit transcripts.)
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: Must possess a combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described directly above that total 100% when combined. First, determine total qualifying experience as a percentage of the specialized experience described above; then determine the education as a percentage of the graduate education described above; and then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate education in excess of two years (36 semester hours) may be used when combining education and experience for this grade. (Must submit transcripts.)
GS-11
Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-10 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties.
- Assist with drafting and other graphical work on a computer-aided drafting systems ;
- Analyze drawings and specification and determines adequacy prior to final design;
- Assist in the designs and oversight of the design of complete engineering practices and structures; and
- Assist with confirming construction material quantities, such as excavations, fills, concrete, steel, conduits, vegetation areas, and fence quantities for the purpose of payments on contract bid items.
Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of graduate education in engineering or other directly related field. (Must submit transcripts.)
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: Must possess a combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described directly above that total 100% when combined. First, determine total qualifying experience as a percentage of the specialized experience described above; then determine the education as a percentage of the graduate education described above; and then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate education in excess of two years (36 semester hours) may be used when combining education and experience for this grade. (Must submit transcripts.)
(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience) N DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).
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.
The OPM Qualification Standards for this position can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series
Education
You must submit a copy of your college transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify all education requirements (i.e. substitution of education and/or basic education requirement). 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 syllabi 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. You must document all requirements on every vacancy; we cannot use previous determinations as a basis for rating. All required information must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and non-submission of all required documents/documentation will result in non-consideration. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. This information must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Non-submission of these documents will result in non-consideration. 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.
Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)
Additional information
This position is being concurrently announced under Merit Promotion Announcement Number 25-ST-12645493-JM. Current or former Federal employees or other eligible applicants may apply to both announcements to expand all possibilities of consideration since different referral criteria apply to each type of announcement. See the above announcement for more information.
If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
This position may be eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements. Other flexibilities are possible dependent upon availability and/or the position and its associated duties. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor.
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.
- Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized; Management may authorize superior qualifications & enhanced annual leave for applicants who are deemed to be highly qualified.
- Relocation expenses may be authorized as allowable by Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) and USDA policy.
The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the USDA with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility here.
Read more
- Help 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.
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.
Natural Resources Conservation Service
1400 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20250
US
