In order to qualify for this position, you must meet Both the basic education requirement AND the minimum qualifications requirement (education and/or specialized experience) described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience. If qualifying based on education, a copy of your unofficial transcripts that shows the required coursework must be provided with your application.
Basic Education Requirement:
A. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in horticulture; or a related discipline of basic plant science that included at least 30 semester hours in the basic plant sciences (i.e., botany, plant physiology, plant taxonomy, plant pathology, genetics, agronomy, horticulture, and similar courses), of which at least 16 semester hours were in horticultural subjects such as those dealing with the breeding, care, management, production, and post-harvest handling of horticultural crops (i.e., fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, nursery work, seed production, or course work in related areas of science, such as micro-biology, entomology, plant pathology, plant physiology, or genetics that is directly related to horticultural work)
-OR -
B. An equivalent combination of education and experience. This includes courses equivalent to a major in horticulture or a related discipline of basic plant science that included course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Minimum Qualifications Requirement:
A. Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing the following: (1) assisting with the management of the daily operations of a containerized nursery complex; (2) overseeing a nursery's greenhouse system, shade house, or germination chamber; (3) collecting nursery data; (4) coordinating with cooperators to fulfill nursery and grafting needs.
- OR -
B. Education: Successful completion of at least three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in horticulture or a field directly related to the work of the position (i.e., botany, plant physiology, plant taxonomy, plant pathology, genetics, agronomy, and similar courses). Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.
- OR -
C. Combination of Education/Specialized Experience: An equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate level education described above in A and B, when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement. Please note only graduate education in excess of two years (36 semester hours) may be used to qualify under this option. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
IN 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).
Volunteer Experience: 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.
You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".
To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your 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.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
- Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
- Travel and relocation expenses will be paid consistent with the Federal Travel Regulation, Chapter 302, and Departmental policy. Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. See "Other" section for additional information on 2017 Tax Cuts as related to PCS."
Physical Demands: A considerable amount of physical activity, including walking, moving equipment, bending, twisting, and lifting, is required for most phases of nursery work throughout the growing cycle, particularly in the seed sowing, seedling packing, and sanitation phases of nursery operations. Temperature and humidity levels in the greenhouses, long periods of standing or repetitive motion, and detailed hand work all contribute to physical demands. At times, extended periods of sitting and computer work is required by the Horticulturist.
Working Conditions: The work is performed in the nursery within the Horning Seed Orchard near Colton, about 48 miles from the District Office in Salem, and includes work in the office, in the greenhouse and other growing or work buildings, and in the other indoor and outdoor areas of the nursery complex. Nursery work involves regular and recurring, often repetitive work in potentially hazardous situations with hazardous footing, noise, dust, temperatures, humidity, and chemicals. Weather conditions range from summer temperatures of over 100 degrees to winter temperatures below freezing.
BLM may use certain incentives, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract high quality applicants.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) or Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible see http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 90 or above on the rating criteria for this position.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please contact San Antonio Services Branch at SASBMailbox@opm.gov or 816-541-8101.