Supervisory Research Agronomist/Agricultural Economist

Overview
Accepting applications

Open & closing dates
Opening and closing dates08/16/2021 to 09/13/2021
Service

Competitive

Pay scale & grade

GS 14 - 15

Salary
$108,885 to $166,502 per year
Appointment type

Permanent

Work schedule

Full-time
Duties SummaryThe incumbent will serve as a Supervisory Research Agronomist or Supervisory Research Agricultural Economist Research Leader for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Soil and Water Conservation Research Unit in Pendleton, OR.
As Research Leader of the unit, incumbent is the responsible fundholder for all projects, provides primary supervision for unit scientists, and secondary supervision for other lab personnel.ResponsibilitiesResponsible for developing advanced technologies, improved techniques, and optimized equipment for crop production and soil and water conservation in the Columbia Plateau and related land resource areas.Oversees all research projects in the Management Unit. Incumbent's research outcomes are applicable to NP 216 components:Component 1: Building agroecosystems for intensive, resilient production via GxExM.Component 2: Increasing efficiencies for agroecosystem sustainability.Component 3: Achieving agroecosystem potential.Responsible for independently identifying and conducting basic and applied research, and leading development of the Unit's future vision for practices that improve economic and environmental viability of wheat production systems.As Research Leader, the incumbent exercises line authority over the Unit's scientists and support personnel.Enhance Unit creativity and productivity.Hire personnel and manage human, fiscal, and physical resources.Serve as fund holder.Provide technical information and consultation, both internal and external to ARS.Ensure the proper interpretation and reporting of scientific research results and informationTravel Required25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Supervisory status

Yes

Promotion Potential

15
Requirements Conditions of EmploymentYou must be a US Citizen or US NationalMales born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exemptSubject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint checkSuccessful completion of a three year probationary period.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/. 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 Requirements:Economist Series, 0110:A. Degree: economics; that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.
ORB. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in economics, 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.
ORB. 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.Additional Requirements:
In addition to meeting the basic requirements described above, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below.At the GS-14:
Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-14 level of this position are:
Experience managing a soil, crop, water or natural resource management research project, including personnel, equipment, facilities and fiscal resources;Experience publishing research focused on soil, crop, water or natural resource management; ANDExperience conducting research in at least ONE of the following:
1. Experience improving crop management in dryland production systems;2. Experience increasing efficiencies of agroecosystem sustainability;3. Experience developing and evaluating management strategies for sustainable use of agricultural production; or4. Experience determining economic, environmental and production tradeoffs of improved soil management practices.At the GS-15:
Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-15 level of this position are:
Experience managing a soil, crop, water or natural resource management research project, including personnel, equipment, facilities and fiscal resources;Experience publishing research focused on soil, crop, water or natural resource management;Experience conducting research in at least ONE of the following:
1. Experience improving crop management in dryland production systems;2. Experience increasing efficiencies of agroecosystem sustainability;3. Experience developing and evaluating management strategies for sustainable use of agricultural production; or4. Experience determining economic, environmental and production tradeoffs of improved soil management practices. ANDExperience improving the economic and environmental viability of a crop production system.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.To further support your qualifications, it is strongly recommended that you submit a one-page abstract of your MS thesis and/or Ph.D. dissertation. Failure to do so could result in loss of your consideration/referral. Also, please submit a list of names, addresses, and phone numbers of persons familiar with your stature, contributions, recognition; any honors or awards received; memberships in professional or honor societies; invitations to make presentations at scientific/technical meetings; scientific society office and committee assignments; presentations (other than invitation); and publications.
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.
Additional informationCONFIDENTIAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT: Federal employees are subject to prohibitions against officially dealing with outside organizations in which they have a financial interest. If hired for this position, you may be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of the effective date of your appointment and annually thereafter.
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 71 out of a possible 100.
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.Supervisory/Managerial Competencies - the following KSAs will also be used to evaluate candidates in the interview and selection process:
1. Ability to lead and accomplish work through others (i.e. team building, conflict management, cultural awareness, strategic thinking, technology management, and political savvy.)
2. Ability to communicate with individuals or groups from diverse backgrounds in a variety of situations.
Research scientists have open-ended promotion potential. Research accomplishments and their impact on the duties and responsibilities of positions are evaluated periodically. The grade level is limited only by the individual's demonstrated ability to perform research of recognized importance to science and technology. *Final grade level may be determined by a peer review panel.
Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.
This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. How You Will Be EvaluatedYou will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. Eligible applicants will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Applicants with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.
Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.
Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.
To view the application form, visit:Background checks and security clearanceSecurity clearance
Not Required
Drug test required
No
Position sensitivity and riskNoncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate RiskTrust determination processSuitability/FitnessThis job is open to
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

The public

U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.