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Sunday, February 5, 2012

National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Washington, DC


Job Title:National Program Leader (Cropping Systems)

Department:Department Of Agriculture

Agency:National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Job Announcement Number:NIFA-S12M-0005

SALARY RANGE:

$89,033.00 to $136,771.00 / Per Year

OPEN PERIOD:

Tuesday, January 31, 2012 to Monday, March 05, 2012

SERIES & GRADE:

GS-0401-13/14

POSITION INFORMATION:

Full Time - Permanent

PROMOTION POTENTIAL:

15

DUTY LOCATIONS:

1 vacancy(s) - Washington DC Metro Area, DC United States

WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED:

US Citizens and Status Candidates

JOB SUMMARY:

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is the Federal component of a nationwide extramural research, educational, and outreach system which supports the global, science-based agricultural enterprise and accomplishes its missions in partnership with land-grant universities and other academic and scientific organizations. To learn more about NIFA, please visit http://www.nifa.usda.gov

The Institute of Food Production and Sustainability is a major component of NIFA. This Institute is responsible for research, education, and extension for enhancing global food security through productive and sustainable agricultural systems.

The purpose of this position is to promote the research, education and extension portfolio to advance the strategic goals and management objectives of NIFA and the administration. As a National Program Leader, you will actively engage in multi-Institute, trans-disciplinary teams to address mission critical priorities.

    KEY REQUIREMENTS


  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or National to apply for this position.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation
  • Financial Disclosure is required.

DUTIES:

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The National Program Leader performs critical tasks in the following areas:

  • Initiating program development and collaboration;
  • Networking and collaborating with partners and stakeholders to identify mission-relevant problems, opportunities and issues requiring Federal attention and support;
  • Conceiving, formulating, and executing programs and activities to respond to existing or emerging problems, opportunities, priorities and issues for development;
  • Developing and applying science-based knowledge by working with university and other partners; and
  • Evaluating and assessing the quality, outcomes and impacts of these programs.


QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

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Specialized Experience:

GS-13:

To qualify for the GS-13, you must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in federal service which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience includes the following: 1) experience developing and evaluating Cropping Systems programs; (2) knowledge and expertise in scientific research related to Cropping Systems; and (3) experience obtaining grants and/or evaluating Cropping Systems research, education and extension.

GS-14:

To qualify for the GS-14, you must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in federal service which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience includes the following: 1) experience developing and evaluating Cropping Systems programs; (2) knowledge and expertise in scientific research related to Cropping Systems; (3) experience obtaining grants and/or evaluating Cropping Systems research, education and extension; and (4) the ability to understand, interpret, analyze, and implement Cropping Systems guidelines, policies, and procedures.


MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for this position, you must meet one of the minimum education requirement described below.

GS-0401: You must have

A) A four year degree (or higher) in the biological sciences, crop science, weed science, agronomy, horticulture, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR

B) A combination of education and experience that included at least 24 semester hours of coursework in one or more of the fields listed in A above, that provided the applicant with knowledge of the discipline(s) equivalent to a major, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Time-in-grade restrictions apply for all candidates considered under Merit Promotion.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

Applicants are normally expected to report for duty within 30 days of accepting an offer.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

U.S. Citizens: Your application will be evaluated and rated under the Category Rating Procedures. Your resume will be reviewed and compared against your responses to the online questionnaire. You must answer every question that accompanies this vacancy, as your responses will better highlight your specific qualifications. The score you receive is based on these responses and is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the requirements of the position. Eligible candidates will then be placed for selection consideration into two categories as described below:

Well Qualified Category:
Exceeds the minimum qualification requirements based on review of resume and responses to the online questionnaire.

Best Qualified Category:
Outstanding level based on review of resume and responses to the online questionnaire.

Please note that your resume must thoroughly support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. High self-assessment in the applicant questions that is not supported by information in your resume may eliminate you from best-qualified status and subsequent referral to the selecting official.

Status Candidates: Your application will be evaluated and rated under the Merit Promotion Procedures. Your resume will be reviewed and compared against your responses to the vacancy specific questions. You must answer every question that accompanies this vacancy, as your responses will better highlight your specific qualifications for this position. The score you receive is based on these responses and is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the requirements of the position. Eligible candidates will then be placed for selection consideration into two categories as described below:

Well Qualified Category: Exceeds the minimum qualification requirements based on review of resume and responses to the vacancy specific questions.

Best Qualified Category: Outstanding level based on review of resume and responses to the vacancy specific questions.


BENEFITS:

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A benefits package is authorized for this position. CLICK HERE for more information concerning federal benefits.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Veterans' Preference:
To determine your eligibility for Veterans' Preference,
CLICK HERE.

Selective Service System:
Males over age 18 who were born after December 31, 1959, must have registered with the Selective Service System (or have an exemption) to be eligible for Federal employment.
CLICK HEREfor further information.

Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment:
If you are selected for this position, you will be required to complete this form before an offer may be made.
CLICK HEREto access the Optional Form 306.

Relocation Expenses:
Payment of relocation expenses will be determined in accordance with P&P 412.5, Recruitment and Retention Incentives and Other Special Pay, Sections 6 and 7, as amended by Bulletin 03-402.
CLICK HEREfor specific information concerning these items.

Financial Disclosure Requirement:
The Research, Education and Economics (REE) agencies inspire public confidence in our missions by maintaining high ethical principles. Employees are subject to Federal government-wide regulations and statutes as described on the
REE Ethics Webpage. You may be required to submit a financial disclosure report if hired for this position.

False Statements:
If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; may be fired after beginning work; or may be fined or jailed.

Reasonable Accommodation:
Reasonable accommodation is provided to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, or have questions regarding reasonable accommodation and/or accessibility for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Disability Program Manager on 202-720-6161 or through the DC Relay Service on (202) 855-1234 (TDD). The decision to grant reasonable accommodation is made on a case-by-case basis.


Civil Rights Policy Statement:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Discrimination is prohibited in all USDA programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA Target Center on (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD).


HOW TO APPLY:

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Your application package must be complete by 11:59 p.m. (EST) on Monday, March 05, 2012. You must apply online or by fax (see below for details). Applications sent by mail (including e-mail) or hand-delivered will not be accepted.

Choose either Option A or Option B to apply for this position:

Option A: Online Application

Click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. From USAJOBS, you will be routed to Application Manager. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire and upload (or reuse) supporting documents. You must click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.

If you need technical assistance with the online application process, please send an e-mail to ApplicationManagerHelpDesk@opm.gov.

Note: To return to a previously saved or incomplete application, use the following link: https://applicationmanager.gov/. Track your progress to a Complete Application Package using the My Application Packages checklist and status displays in Application Manager.

To fax supporting documents that you are unable to upload:
1. Click here to print a fax cover page

2. Complete all blocks on the cover page using Vacancy ID 594822. Documents will not be processed if information is missing.
3. Fax the completed cover page and your documents to 1-478-757-3144.

Option B: Fax

If you cannot apply online, follow these steps to fax your complete application package.

1. Click the following link to print the occupational questionnaire View Occupational Questionnaire
2. Print the
1203FX form, which you will use to provide your responses to the occupational questionnaire, and
3. Fax the completed 1203FX (all 6 pages), your resume, and supporting documents (including those specified in the Required Documents section below) to 1-478-757-3144. The 1203FX will serve as the cover page for your fax transmission and must be placed on top of all other documents.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

The following documents are required:
• Assessment questionnaire (completed online or submitted by fax using the 1203FX)
• Resume

In addition, you may also need to submit supplemental documentation. Failure to submit supplemental information by the closing date of this announcement will result in the loss of the particular consideration you are requesting.

Merit Promotion: If you are a current or previous Federal employee with competitive status and would like to be considered under merit promotion procedures, you must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 and performance appraisal. Additionally, if you are requesting consideration for non-competitive eligibility, but do not yet hold the full performance level of this position, you must submit an SF-50 that documents your full performance level. Failure to do so may cause you to lose consideration for this position through merit promotion procedures.

Special Hiring Authorities: To be considered under special hiring authorities (e.g. Schedule A, VRA, 30% or More Disabled Veteran's Program, etc.), you must submit documentation that provides evidence of this eligibility.

5-Point Veterans' Preference: To claim 5-point veterans' preference, submit member 4 copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility.

10-Point Veterans' Preference: To claim 10-point veterans' preference, submit an SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, plus the documentation required by that form.

Displaced/Surplus Employees: Applicants requesting consideration under the CTAP or ICTAP programs must submit documentary evidence of eligibility. Well qualified CTAP and ICTAP applicants within the local commuting area will receive selection priority as provided by OPM regulations. Well-qualified means the applicant meets the basic qualification and eligibility requirements; is rated above minimally qualified based upon your resume/application and responses to the vacancy specific questions; and is able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry. If you are requesting consideration as a CTAP or ICTAP applicant, you must submit the following:
1) A copy of your RIF Separation Notice or Certification of Expected Separation or other documentation indicating that you are a surplus employee;
2) Evidence of full performance level of current position;
3) A copy of your most recent performance appraisal; and
4) A copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action.

Transcripts: If you indicate that you possess any form of post-secondary education, you must submit transcripts detailing your coursework and/or degree(s). At the time your education was obtained, the entire institution, applicable school within the institution, or the applicable curriculum must have been appropriately accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education. You may lose consideration for this position if you fail to provide this information.
CLICK HEREfor more information on this topic.

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education outside the U.S., you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. There is normally a fee associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that are accredited to evaluate education, visit
National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

Vivian Brooks-Marshall
Phone: (301)504-1758
TDD: 202-855-1234
Email: VIVIAN.BROOKS@ARS.USDA.G
OV
Agency Information:
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
800 9th Street SW
Washington, DC
20024

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

Once your complete application package (including all required documents) is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The best qualified candidates will be referred for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the outcome.

http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/308112500

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