Supervisory Research Biologist/Agronomist/Animal Scientist

* Duties Help Duties Summary The incumbent serves as Research Leader in the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, Dairy Forage Research Unit (DFRU). The mission of DFRU is to use an agroecological approach to the production and management of forages as part of an integrated soils-forage-animal system to improve farm-scale forage and dairy animal productivity, nutrient use efficiency, soil health, landscape management and environmental impact. Learn more about this agency Responsibilities * Assess the productivity and environmental impact of conventional and novel forage crop and/or forage production, harvest and storage management of forages as parts of diverse whole-farm dairy systems. * Identify and quantify short- and long-term tradeoffs of current and alternative forage production and related farm management practices on agroecosystem services as part of an integrated dairy production. * Better understand and optimize soil ecology/health as it relates to the crop and forage production, feed quality, cow and application of dairy manure and other soil amendments. * Supervisory duties include: * Support creative and productive research at the DFRU. * Hire personnel and manage the human, fiscal and physical resources assigned to the DFRU. * Serve as fund holder for the DFRU. * Provide technical information and consultation both internal and external to Agricultural Research Service. * Ensure the proper interpretation and reporting of scientific research results and information. * Engage a diversity of stakeholders with the appropriate scientific expertise to recognize and address critical research needs in the dairy forage industry. Travel Required Occasional travel - Local, domestic, and international travel is required for field work and to attend training and scientific meetings and conferences. Supervisory status Yes Promotion Potential 15 * Job family (Series) 0401 General Natural Resources Management And Biological Sciences 0471 Agronomy 0487 Animal Science Similar jobs * Animal Scientists * Scientists, Animal * Requirements Help 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. * 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. * Successful completion of a three year probationary period. * 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/. * Valid motor vehicle driver's license is required for travel to local field sites and research farms. * Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution. 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. This is an interdisciplinary position and may be filled in any of the job series/position titles listed. In addition to the specialized experience requirements, applicants must submit proof that they meet the educational requirements for at least one of the series described in the announcement. Applicants may only be appointed to job series/position titles for which they meet all experience and educational requirements. Basic Requirements: General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series, 0401 A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Agronomy Series, 0471 A. Degree: agronomy; or related discipline of science that included at least 30 semester hours of course work in the basic plant sciences, including at least 15 semester hours in agronomic subjects, such as those dealing with plant breeding, crop production and soil and crop management. OR B. Combination of education and experience: at least 30 semester hours in the basic plant sciences, including a minimum of 15 semester hours in agronomic subjects, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Animal Science Series, 0487 A. Degree: animal science, dairy science, poultry science; or a related discipline or field of animal science that included at least 30 semester hours in the basic biological and agricultural sciences, and 20 semester hours in animal science. At least 10 of the required 20 semester hours in animal science must have been in courses dealing with the breeding, feeding, production, and management of livestock and the care and preparation of their products. OR B. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in the basic biological and agricultural sciences, including a minimum of 20 semester hours in appropriate animal science subjects, as described in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Additional Requirements: Applicants must meet the basic requirements for one of the series shown above as well as the specialized experience requirements shown below to qualify for the GS-14 or GS-15 grade levels. GS-14: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience (defined below) equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal Service. * - Planning and conducting independent research related to the enhancement of dairy production systems; and * - Managing human, fiscal, and physical resources to accomplish research goals; and * - Publishing independent research results related to dairy forage production systems in peer-reviewed scientific journals. GS-15: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience (defined below) equivalent to at least the GS-14 grade level in the Federal Service. * - Leading a multidisciplinary team conducting research related to the enhancement of dairy production systems; and * - Managing human, fiscal, and physical resources to accomplish research goals; and * - Presenting research results related to dairy forage production systems to professional societies and others outside of organization; and * - Publishing independent research results related to dairy forage production systems in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Applicants must address the specialized experience requirements in their resume (or application documents). Applications that do not reflect the specialized experience requirements will not be deemed qualified. 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. Supervisory/Managerial Competencies - the following KSAs will also be used to evaluate candidates in the interview and selection process: * Ability to lead and accomplish work through others (i.e. team building, conflict management, cultural awareness, strategic thinking, technology management and political savvy.) * Ability to communicate with individuals or groups from diverse backgrounds in a variety of situations. Applicants must be available to report for duty at the time a selection is made. Selections are typically made within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement. Education Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

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