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Summary The position is located in the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), State Conservationist's Office within the State Soil Scientist staff. The function of the organization is to develop and implement sound natural resource development protection policies and protection for the state. The incumbent serves as soil scientist providing technical soil services in the Texas coastal region and will assist the Soil and Plant Science Division on the Coastal Zone Soil Survey activities of Texas. Responsibilities Conduct on-site soil investigations. Coordinate the soil survey technical services program. Participate in functional reviews and program appraisals. Assist field offices with the distribution of soil information. Provide on-site technical assistance on the interpretation and application of soil survey information. 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: Degree: soil science or a closely related discipline that included 30 semester hours or equivalent in biological, physical, or earth science, with a minimum of 15 semester hours in such subjects a soil genesis, pedology, soil chemistry, soil physics, and soil fertility. OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in soil science or a related discipline that included at least 30 semester hours in the biological, physical, or earth sciences, at least 15 of the semester hours must have been in the areas specified above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting one of the basic requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications requirement in order to be considered: Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-11 grade level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. This experience must be in or directly related to the line of work of the position. Examples of specialized experience include: providing direct support as a resource soil scientist to field offices for technical soil services; processing program assessments and working collaboratively with soil survey offices; providing maintenance, interpretation, and distribution of soil survey information; or conducting soils information/educational activities and providing training for more junior level soil scientists and other technical specialists. OR Education Substitution: for the GS-11 level; 3 year(s) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree in soil science; or closely related discipline; OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. GS-12 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. This experience must be in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience include: investigating, analyzes and evaluating soil survey information and problems involving a wide variety of circumstances or unusual conditions; or resolving complex soil issues, developing new methods and practices, and modifying/adapting soils science guidelines to intricate issues. Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-12 grade 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/soil-science-series-0470/ 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 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. 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. Promotion Potential: 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. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized. Physical Demands: The work occurs in both outside and office environments. Outside activities involve strenuous walking over rough terrain, frequent bending/stooping, and lifting and carrying of moderately heavy soil samples, tools, and specialized scientific equipment. The incumbent must be able to operate four-wheel drive vehicles and other motorized equipment. Work Environment: The work involves regular and recurring exposure to operation of soil survey equipment, adverse weather such as snow, extreme heat, icy or wet field conditions, and unimproved roads. Work requires special safety precautions and/or protective clothing and equipment. 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. 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 work day, 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.