Summary
These positions are with Region 3 and Region 6 for Law Enforcement and Investigations as a Field Training Officer with USDA Forest Service.
The incumbent will be expected to become an instructor in Firearms, Control Tactics/Conducted Energy Weapon, and/or Fitness for a zone(s) within a Region if not already an instructor.
For additional information about the duties of these positions, please contact SM.FS.LEI_RECRUIT@USDA.GOV
This job is open to
Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.
Clarification from the agency
Applications will be accepted only from current permanent Forest Service (FS) employees with competitive status; and CTAP/RPL eligible candidates.
Duties
- Serve as a Field Training Officer (FTO) and evaluates Field Training Evaluation Program (FTEP) trainee performance to determine effectiveness of course instruction/materials.
- Instruct specific courses for law enforcement personnel and/or Forest Protection Officers (FPOs).
- Provide assistance to other instructors and staff on instruction of law enforcement courses.
- Coordinate law enforcement planning activities with other USDA Forest Service units, State, Local and Federal agencies.
- Serve as an instructor for the unit's Forest Protection Officer (FPO) program which is responsible for conducting annual FPO training.
- Evaluate and document the Field Training and Evaluation Program trainee’s performance.
- Conduct full investigations of misdemeanor crimes and offenses of regulatory and Federal criminal laws affecting National Forest System lands.
- Plan, direct and conduct law enforcement patrols to prevent, detect and enforce violations of Federal laws and regulations on National Forest System lands related to resources, property, employees, and users.
- Develop worksheets, training exercises, and remedial training as necessary.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- Males born 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.
- 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.gov
- Must meet job-related medical, fitness, and/or physical standards as determined by an examination or test.
- This position requires initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996.
- This is a Drug Test Designated Position. You will be tested for illegal drugs prior to appointment and randomly thereafter. Appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results.
- Successfully completed the Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations Field Training Officer program and be a current certified Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations Field Training Officer.
- Successfully completed Land Management Police Training Program (LMPT) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, GA.
Qualifications
In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.
Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.
Due to the requirements of this position, applicants must have prior law enforcement experience that included the following activities: be a certified USDA Forest Service LEI Field Training Officer and enforcement of criminal laws of the United States through investigation, apprehension, or detection of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses against these criminal laws. This experience must be reflected in the resume.
Selective Placement Factor: Have you successfully completed the USDA Forest Service Law Enforcement Investigation Field Training Officer Course?
Specialized Experience Requirement:GS-11: Applicant must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as a majority of the following: mentoring trainees in developing independent problem-solving skills and resources; Assisting with development analysis, and evaluation of new or revised law enforcement policy statements and guidelines for the law enforcement and investigations program; Analyzing reports to find trends related to enforcement problems and concerns; Reviewing complete enforcement and investigative files for research and analysis purposes; Carrying out law enforcement activities such as detection, investigation, apprehension, detention, prosecution, and conducting full investigations of misdemeanors and assisting in felony investigations.
OR- Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related
OR- an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate-level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.).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.
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.
TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
There are no additional educational requirements. See the qualifications section for more information.
Additional information
This is a temporary promotion not-to-exceed 1 year and may be extended without further competition up to 3 years or may end earlier due to lack of work or funds, or at the discretion of the Hiring Manager.
At the end of the temporary promotion, it is expected that you will be returned to your permanent position of record with any increases that would have been received if not temporarily assigned. If it is not possible to be returned to the prior position, you should be placed in another position in the agency for which qualified, at the same grade and geographic location as before. Should this not occur, reduction-in-force procedures may be necessary. If selected, we will work with you and your supervisor on an agreement covering return rights so every effort will be made to return you to a properly classified position for which qualified and at the same grade level.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP 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 applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
This is a bargaining unit position and is represented by NFFE
Pay rates vary depending on location and the salary shown is for the Rest of the U.S. See
OPM.gov for additional information on pay rates.
These positions will be located at a Forest Service office, final determination of the duty station(s) will be made by the selecting official at the time of the job offer. To see where these Forest Service Offices are located click
here . Click each region to see the different locations.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the competencies listed below:
- Criminal Investigation
- Oral Communication
- Planning and Evaluating
- Teaching Others
- Writing
Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.
If you meet the qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities must meet minimum qualifications to be referred.
Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action.
To view the application form, visit:
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12830927
Required Documents
The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
Resume that includes: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages.
If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
Current Forest Service employees:
- Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND
- Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute.
Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), current performance appraisal with rating of at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
How to Apply
Please view Tips for Applicants - a guide to the Forest Service application process.
Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Mountain Time Zone, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement to be entered into the system prior to its closing. Resumes must not exceed two pages.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact the Agency Contact to request this.
To begin, click "Apply Online" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents.
Please verify that documents you are uploading from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Uploaded documents must be less than 5MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, TXT or Word (DOC or DOCX). Do not upload Adobe Portfolio documents because they are not viewable. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration. Please ensure your resume does not exceed two pages. Applicants who submit a resume that exceeds two pages will be removed from consideration.
Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure, etc.
Next steps
Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS account to check your application status.
You may receive an email asking if you are still interested in the position and requesting information by a given deadline. Failure to timely respond to this email may result in non-selection.
You must choose to turn on email notifications in your USAJOBS profile if you want to receive important email notifications that may impact your applicant experience (e.g. If you start an application and do not submit it prior to the closing date, USAJOBS will send an email reminder that the closing date is approaching and your application is in an incomplete status).
Under the Fair Chance Act, agencies are not allowed to request information about an applicant's criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made, except as allowed for access to classified information; assignment to national security duties or positions; acceptance or retention in the armed forces; or recruitment of a Federal law enforcement officer. An applicant may submit a complaint, or any other information related to an organization's alleged noncompliance with the Fair Chance Act. The complaint must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged noncompliance. To make a Fair Chance Act inquiry or complaint, send an email with the appropriate information to sm.fs.hrm_elr@usda.gov, subject line: Fair Chance Act.