Soil Scientist, Bureau of Land Management

Buffalo, WY

Position Title: Soil Scientist

Organization: Bureau of Land Management

Location: Buffalo, WY

Duties:

  • GS7: Participates as a member of an interdisciplinary team to learn the types of surface disturbing activities that impact soils resources.
  • GS7: May recommend alternatives to reduce erosion, improve forage production and plant diversity, and accomplish project objectives.
  • GS7: Utilizes existing soil and/or ecological site description data to learn how to interpret the information for land health evaluations.
  • GS7: Coordinates with a senior specialist and the supervisor to learn how to interpret if existing soils data is sufficient for data analysis or if additional soils data must be obtained.
  • GS7: Participates as an interdisciplinary team member in collecting and compiling soils data and information from a field setting to determine the baseline soils conditions.
  • GS7: Assists with investigations of direct effects of restoration activities on soil health.
  • GS9: Participates as a member of an interdisciplinary team to assess surface disturbing activities
  • GS9: Utilizes existing soil and/or ecological site description data information to support activities such as land health evaluations.
  • GS9: In coordination with a senior specialist identifies, classifies, and describes the soil chemical profiles based on the existing field and laboratory examination and existing scientific determinations of soil physical characteristics.
  • GS9: Assists and coordinates with senior specialists on conducting investigations of the direct effects of restoration activities.
  • GS9: Is an interdisciplinary member that participates in the development of monitoring criteria for reclamation and restoration plans and/or standards.
  • GS11: Serves as the expert advisor and consultant on soil productivity, quality, suitability, and limitations in which the generated information is used in land health assessments, land use planning, and in analyzing land use activities.
  • GS11: Leads an interdisciplinary team or participates as a member of an interdisciplinary team to assess surface disturbing activities with respect to the impacts to the chemical and physical properties of soils.
  • GS11: Prepares and conducts formal and informal technical training for other Federal agencies, State agencies, private entities, and BLM specialists.
  • GS11: Provides technical skill to independently determine if existing soils data is sufficient for data analysis or if additional soils data must be obtained.
  • GS11: Independently collects, compiles, and conducts complex analysis of soils data and information from a field setting to determine the baseline soils conditions.
  • GS11: Is a team lead or interdisciplinary member in the development of achievable reclamation and restoration plans and/or standards.

Qualifications: This position has an individual occupational requirement. In addition to meeting the IOR in order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements – please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements – please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

FOR GS-7: In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, you must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-011 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples:

  • This position requires knowledge and technical skills in research, interpretation, and advising on ecosystem restoration. Assists, coordinates, or conducts investigations of direct effects of restoration activities, to be used when developing restoration plans and/or standards.
  • This includes identification, interpretation, and description of impacts, as a result of surface disturbing operations

-OR- Education: 1 year of graduate-level education

– OR-Superior Academic Achievement (See OPM’s General Policies, Application of Qualification Standards Section 4.f.) S.A.A. must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled.

-OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position

FOR GS-9: In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, you must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-011 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples:

  • The position requires understanding and technical skill in research, interpretation, and making recommendations on ecosystem restoration.
  • Assists and coordinates with higher graded specialists on conducting investigations of direct effects of restoration activities, to be used when developing restoration plans and/or standards.

-OR- Education: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master’s degree or master’s or equivalent graduate degree.

-OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

FOR GS-11: In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, you must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-011 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples:

  • This position researches, interprets, and advises on ecosystem restoration.
  • Directs, coordinates or conducts investigations of direct effects of restoration activities, to be used when developing restoration plans and/or standards.

-OR- 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

-OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

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 meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Physical Demands: This position involves both office and field work. Office work (performed roughly 60% of the time) is primarily sedentary in nature. Field work (performed roughly 40% of the time) involves gathering samples and other data, monitoring and inventory activities, and participation in project work. This work requires some physical exertion such as long periods of walking, standing, bending, crouching, stooping, reaching, lifting, or riding in or driving vehicles over rough, uneven, or rocky terrain. The incumbent must travel into remote locations on foot or by vehicles (two and four-wheel drive trucks or UTV’s) under a wide variety of climatic conditions and elevations to carry out some assignments. The work may also include lifting of moderately heavy items, such as equipment and samples. Field work may also involve working in areas characterized by burning vegetation, snags, and other dangers inherent to wildfire

Salary/Pay: $49,025 – $94,317 per year

Application Deadline: 10/02/24 

How to Apply: Please use the online application to view the full job description as well as how to apply.