Summary About the Position: This vacancy is for a Natural Resources Specialist (Ranger), GS-0401-09 target 11 with the Natural Resources Section located in Thomson, Illinois. Position is being filled at the GS-00401-09 grade level; target GS-0401-11 grade level, OR at the full performance grade level of GS-0401-11. This position is being filled under the Direct Hire Authority (DHA). Responsibilities Prepare various planning documents for assigned programs to include but are not limited to Emergency Action Plan, Operation and Maintenance Manual, Operational Management Plan (OMP), Project Safety Plan and Physical Safety Plan. Develop guidelines, standards and procedures for analyzing public needs, demands, site carry capacities, natural resource and recreation program capabilities. Serve as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and/or Contract Specialist in the preparation and administration of contracts within the authority of the designation. Be responsible for administration and management of outgranted lands. Enforce Title 36 CFR Section 327 and local/district policies on all U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lands and waters; i.e. issues warnings, citations to violators, etc. Explain to the visiting public conditions prevailing within the project area, its purpose, and association with other programs, rules, and regulations affecting use of facilities, etc. Oversee content of and provide interpretive programs related to managed programs for colleges, schools, professional groups, civic groups, and visitors. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education & experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Basic Requirement for Natural Resources Specialist (Ranger):Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in 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 above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: GS-09: Specialized Experience: To qualify based on your experience, your resume must describe at least one year of experience which prepared you to do the work in this job. Specialized experience is defined as providing project information to local, state and Federal agencies and/or the visiting public and ensuring compliance with rules and regulations of project lands and waters; and/or executing a recreation or environmental stewardship program. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07). OR Education Substitution: Successful completion of a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree from an accredited college or university that is in a field directly related to the work of this position, and provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Experience and Education: If you have less than one year of specialized experience; and have more than one year but less than the required education described above, you will need to compute the percentage of the requirements that you meet, and ensure your total is at least 100%. (To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify.) (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) Time in Grade: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the GS-07 grade (or equivalent) GS-11 Specialized Experience: To qualify based on your experience, your resume must describe at least one year of experience which prepared you to do the work in this job. Specialized experience is defined as providing project information to local, state and Federal agencies and/or the visiting public; ensuring compliance with rules and regulations of project lands and waters; and executing a recreation or environmental stewardship program. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09). OR Education Substitution: Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree from an accredited college or university that is in a field directly related to the work of this position, and provides the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Experience and Education: If you have less than one year of specialized experience; and have more than two years of graduate level education, but less than three years of graduate level education as described above, you will need to compute the percentage of the requirements that you meet, and ensure your total is at least 100%. (To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education in excess of 36 hours (total semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100% to qualify.) (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the GS-09 grade (or equivalent). You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas: Environmental Law and Regulatory Compliance Natural Resource Management Planning and Evaluating Program Outreach Education FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Incentives may be approved. Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. One year trial/probationary period may be required. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. This is a Career Program (CP) 18 - Engineers and Scientist (Resources and Construction) position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.