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Summary The primary purpose of the position is to serve as the American Indian Tribal Liaison and coordinate between the tribes and NRCS leadership to address challenges relating to implementation of NRCS conservation programs on tribal lands and identify partnership opportunities. The incumbent provides training, technical guidance and coordination for tribal, outreach and civil rights activities for NRCS. Responsibilities Coordinates programs and activities addressing program delivery needs for American Indians among different tribes. Facilitates government-to-government meetings between tribes and NRCS leadership, identifying problems, establishing agendas and arranging logistics for the meetings. Advocates Farm Bill programs, PL-566, and Emergency Watershed Program (EWP) activities and opportunities of mutual interest to USDA and American Indians by educating tribes of benefits available through these programs. Develops relationships and attends meetings, conferences and events to assist area and district conservationists in engaging Tribal leaders and individuals in obtaining services from NRCS. Identifies barriers and looks for commonalities among the tribes proposing solutions to address barriers. Provides assistance in developing state policies, procedures and directives to strengthen relationships with American Indians and tribes. Designs and develops procedures and guidelines for identifying underserved customers and for evaluating the effectiveness of service being provided. Applies qualitative and quantitative techniques to analyze, assess and evaluate issues and concerns between NRCS, tribes and tribal communities. Develops cultural awareness training and support specific tribal needs for NRCS employees; establishes training needs and provides briefings at meetings. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. Specialized Experience to qualify for GS-11 level: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: Providing training, technical guidance, and coordination for tribal, outreach, and civil rights activities related to conservation programs and projects. OR Substitution of education in lieu of experience: 3 year(s) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. Specialized Experience to qualify for GS-12 level: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. The specialized experience includes: Developing, establishing and maintaining partnerships with public and private organizations both traditional and non-traditional at the state and local levels to enhance efforts to address natural resource conservation issues; AND/OR Identifying and preparing training requirements and providing technical guidance and support of tribal needs and activities related to conservation planning. Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-12 level. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=GS-PROF. 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. Education If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: You must submit a copy of your transcripts to include course number, title, completion and grade. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement. Important: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Click on this link for more information. Failure to provide all of the required documents/information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating. 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. 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 work is predominately sedentary; however, occasional travel is required to attend meetings, conferences, meetings with landowners at their place of business, or farms. Physical activity during site visits may include walking, bending, and light lifting. The employee is required to operate a motor vehicle. Work Environment: The work is performed primarily in an office setting and involves everyday risks or discomforts requiring normal safety precautions typical of an office setting; however, occasional trips will be made to the field. This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements. Current USDA policy includes telework for an 8 hour work day, 4 days per week; other flexibilities are possible dependent upon availability and/or the position and its associated duties. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor. PLEASE NOTE: In the interest of filling this position as efficiently as possible, we are requiring the following: If called for an interview, applicants must be available to interview within 3 business days of being contacted. If a tentative job offer is extended, selectee will have 2 business days in which to accept or decline. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.