Supervisory Research Agronomist​/Agricultural Economist​/Soil Scientist​/Microbiologist

The incumbent will serve as a Supervisory Research Agronomist, Agricultural Economist, Soil Scientist or Microbiologist Leader for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Soil and Water Conservation Research Unit in Pendleton, OR.

As Research Leader of the Management Unit, incumbent is the responsible 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.

• A. Degree: economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.
• OR
• B. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

• 1. Degree: microbiology; or biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included at least 20 semester hours in microbiology and other subjects related to the study of microorganisms, and 20 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences combining course work in organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics, and college algebra, or their equivalent.
• OR
• 2. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in microbiology, biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

• 1. Degree: soil science or a closely related discipline that included 30 semester hours or equivalent in biological, physical, or earth science, with a minimum of 15 semester hours in such subjects as soil genesis, pedology, soil chemistry, soil physics, and soil fertility.
• OR
• 2. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in soil science or a related discipline that included at least 30 semester hours in the biological, physical, or earth sciences. At least 15 of these semester hours must have been in the areas specified in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

• 1. 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.
• OR
• 2. 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.

Graduate

Education:

Agronomy, or one of the related disciplines or fields of science, such as plant physiology, soils, or genetics, where the curriculum or pattern of training placed major emphasis on field crops or agronomy. Graduate study in related fields, such as botany, plant pathology, and biochemistry may also be qualifying, provided it placed a sufficient amount of emphasis on agronomy.

Examples of advanced degrees appropriate to this position include: agronomy, agricultural economics, natural resource economics, biology, soil science, microbiology, plant physiology, geology, meteorology, botany or the management of soils, water, crops or natural resources.

In addition to meeting the basic requirements described above, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below.

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 includes:
Independently identifying and conducting basic and applied research for crop production systems and soil science.

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 includes: developing advanced technologies, improved techniques, and optimized equipment for crop production and soil and water conservation and overseeing research projects.

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.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace…