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Botanist (Identifier)

Seatac, WA   Savannah, GA   Atlanta, GA

The primary responsibility of the incumbent is to perform specialized and difficult taxonomic work based on major subject matter expertise. The incumbent provides expertise in pest biology, taxonomy and risk analysis as a recognized specialist and consultant or team member to Agency import policy staff, survey design groups, survey personnel, and Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) program managers.

Duties

  • The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
  • The duties may include, but are not limited to:
  • Identifies or verifies identification of plants and plant parts, such as seeds, leaves, dormant parts and wood, to family, genera or species for quarantine or regulatory action.
  • Serves as a recognized specialist in the broad area of botany and deals primarily in programs involving the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Threatened Endangered plant species and Federal noxious weeds
  • Maintains, develops, and supplements information on taxonomy, hosts, distribution and other related information pertaining to intercepted and/or survey plant pests.
  • Consults with and advises Department of Homeland Security (DHS), State departments of agriculture and other cooperators on the identity and biology of plants and plant parts.
  • Develops or aids in developing training modules and appropriately illustrated identification aids and works with national program staff to deliver training to PPQ, DHS and State employees.
  • Exercises agency regulatory authority by initiating regulatory action, e.g. for quarantine pests intercepted from imported commodities or new State or county determinations from domestic surveys.
  • Provides technical assistance regarding program pests, and the pathways with which they enter the US by analyzing interception records for trends of pest entry, monitoring inspection procedures and establishing contacts with industry.
  • Assists in providing oversight of laboratory support staff including laboratory technicians, student employees and data entry assistants.

Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National.
  • Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • 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/
  • Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
  • All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.

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 REQUIREMENT:

  1. Degree: botany; or basic plant science that included at least 24 semester hours in botany.

OR

  1. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in botany or basic plant science that included at least 24 semester hours in botany, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

FOR THE GS-9 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-7 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

  • Identifying or verifying identification of plants and plant parts, such as seeds, leaves, dormant parts and wood, to family, genera or species for quarantine or regulatory action
  • Maintaining, developing, and supplementing information on taxonomy, hosts, distribution and other related information pertaining to interception and/or survey of plant pests
  • Reviewing accepted taxonomic databases and contemporary taxonomic literature.
  • Dissecting microscope and microscopic digital imaging systems to aid in seed identification and for cataloguing seed collections.
  • Developing and maintaining herbaria and seed specimens.

OR

2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree in Botany or related discipline or master's or equivalent graduate degree.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-9 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

  • Utilizing accepted taxonomic databases and contemporary taxonomic literature for identification and treatment work.
  • Dissecting microscope and microscopic digital imaging systems to aid in seed identification and for cataloguing seed collections.
  • Utilizing Scanning Electron Microscope to advance and refine taxonomic identification of seeds.
  • Maintaining, developing, and supplementing information on taxonomy, hosts, distribution and other related information pertaining to intercepted and/or survey plant pests.
  • Developing and maintaining specimen collections of plant pests.
  • Developing training modules and identification aids.

OR

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

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

TRANSCRIPTS are required if:

  • This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified.
  • You are qualifying for the position based on education.
  • You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.
  • This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-9/11 GRADE LEVELS: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level.

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.

Additional information

  • 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 85 out of a possible 100.
  • First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected.
  • Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection.
  • Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
  • Physical Demands: The position is generally sedentary, although there is prolonged standing at times. Occasional field survey/investigations or collection trips require walking, bending, crouching and climbing for prolonged periods in rough terrain subject to a variety of weather conditions.
  • Work Environment: The work is performed in an inspection station or a laboratory setting. There are regular and recurring risks associated with working around and with chemicals.
  • The incumbent may be required to work overtime, weekends, holidays or other irregular tours of duty and shifts.