Outdoor Recreation Planner Job

Vacancy No. PW-1546-PWRO-25-12585688-ST Department National Park Service
Salary $59,966.00 to $113,047.00 Grade 9 to 12
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/31/2024 Close Date 11/8/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
San Francisco, CASeattle, WA


Summary

These positions are located in Pacific West Regional Office, Interior Regions 8, 9, 10, and 12, in the Partnerships, Interpretation, Education, and Youth Programs Division.

Government housing is not available.

Annual pay rate for San Francisco, CA is $59,966.00-$113,047.00

Annual pay rate for Seattle, WA is $67,147.00-$126,585.00

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Who may apply: All current permanent competitive service Department of Interior (DOI) career/career-conditional employees; Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA); Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA); or Persons eligible under other Special Hiring Authorities (30% Disabled Veterans, Military Spouse, Public Land Corps (PLC) eligibles); CTAP and ICTAP eligibles within the local commuting area.

Duties

The NPS RTCA Program serves communities and partners across DOI Regions 8, 9, 10, and 12 (California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Hawai'i). Selectees will largely serve projects in the Pacific Northwest and California. Pay rates vary between duty locations.

Major Duties include:

  • Develop outdoor recreation and natural resource/conservation plans at a variety of scales for parks, natural areas, green spaces, trails, pathways and waterway (rivers, lakes, coastal bays, shoreline) access addressing community needs focused on connections to the outdoors and natural resource management.
  • Coordinate collaborative planning through organizing and supporting teams and facilitating diverse community and partner engagement.
  • Analyze data and information related to outdoor recreation and natural resource planning and management including: analysis of land uses, natural and community resources, outdoor recreation needs and trends and natural resource/resiliency considerations.
  • Develop and implement strategies for engaging stakeholders and diverse community interests in outdoor recreation and natural resource conservation planning using a variety of tools and venues, both face to face and virtually.
  • Develop work plans for collaborative planning clarifying visions and roles, defining goals and tasks, setting deadlines, monitoring progress, and adapting plans to promote outcomes and accountability.
Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required.
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service); with few exceptions as outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal civilian employees applying for reinstatement who have had a break in service of less than one year, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointments. Time-in-grade does not apply to new excepted service appointments. Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
  • You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
  • If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 5 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/08/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.

For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

To qualify at the GS-09 grade level, you must meet at least one of the following minimum qualification requirements:

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position and must include demonstrated ability to plan and coordinate the use of land, water, and related resources for recreation and conservation purposes. Additional examples of specialized experience include: work involving the analysis and evaluation of outdoor recreation data and trends, including assessing and meeting the interests of diversified groups; evaluation of land or water areas for their potential recreation or related use; preparing plans or programs for visitor use; analyzing barriers to public accessibility and recommending solutions to meet Federal standards; and developing alternative solutions for providing visitor use opportunities while preserving or restoring the quality of the outdoor environment. You must list the number of hours worked per week on your resume.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least a master's or equivalent degree or two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree in outdoor recreation planning or a related field such as sociology, forestry, landscape architecture, economics, biological science, park administration, earth science, natural resource management and conservation, civil engineering, urban planning, or recreation. Applicants who qualify on the basis of graduate work in related disciplines must have one or more courses in outdoor recreation. You must submit a copy of your transcripts..
-OR-
Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, I have six months of the specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement), and 27 semester hours or 41 quarter hours of directly related graduate level college study in an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education). You must list the number of hours worked per week on your resume and submit a copy of your transcripts.

To qualify at the GS-11 grade level, you must meet one of the following minimum qualification requirements:

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: leading and delivering multi partner planning for outdoor recreation or natural resource conservation, site planning for outdoor recreation and resiliency, engagement in resource analysis, comprehensive mapping (inventory, documentation, and analysis); and leading collaborative teams in outdoor recreation and conservation/natural resource planning. Engage with agencies, groups, and stakeholders as a lead planner to produce outdoor recreation (park, trail, river) plans and strategies. Provide planning expertise for natural areas and green spaces at various scales (community, interconnected, large landscape). Collect, organize (write and produce), and present information about such projects to decision makers and general audiences. You must list the number of hours worked per week on your resume.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a PhD or equivalent graduate degree at an accredited educational institution concentrated in a field that is directly related to the work of this position. The degree should have a major study in outdoor recreation planning or a related field such as sociology, forestry, landscape architecture, economics, biological science, park administration, earth science, natural resource management and conservation, civil engineering, urban planning, or recreation. Applicants who qualify on the basis of graduate work in related disciplines must have one or more courses in outdoor recreation. You must submit a copy of your transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, I have 6 months of the specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement) and 45 semester hours or 68 quarter hours or appropriate directly related graduate education (50% of the education requirement). You must list the number of hours worked per week on your resume and submit a copy of your transcripts.

To qualify at the GS-12 grade level, you must meet the following minimum qualification requirement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: serving as a specialist with demonstrated professional skills in creating outdoor recreation and natural resource/conservation plans that comprehensively include well documented vision and goals, resource assessments, mapping (inventory, documentation and analysis) site plans, and concepts for outdoor recreation (trails, access, amenities), and natural resource conservation. Specialty in organizing and directing complex collaborative planning projects for comprehensive outdoor recreation and land use planning and management focused on park, trail, river, and land and natural resource conservation. Engage in and lead active participation with a variety of professional and non-professional agencies, groups, stakeholders to develop outdoor recreation and conservation plans and strategies. Provide professional planning expertise for natural areas and green spaces at various scales (community, interconnected, large landscape) including considerations for green infrastructure and ecological resiliency. Collect, organize, and present information about such projects to decision makers and general audiences. Serve as mediation and practice conflict resolution skills to address key planning challenges. You must list the number of hours worked per week on your resume.

There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 grade level of this announcement.

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.

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Additional information

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.

Physical Demands: The work is mostly sedentary. The employee is expected to lead or participate in meetings and field visits in a variety of settings including urban, suburban, rural, and at times, front and backcountry environments. Travel may be frequent and involves the normal risks and discomforts of automobile, bus, rail, or air transportation travel. Walking, bending, carrying, stooping, and at times hiking, bicycling, and paddling with occasional camping in tents or cabins, and the use of rafts, kayaks and ATVs. The use of photography, global positioning satellite systems, video equipment and emerging technologies may be required when visiting and surveying some sites.

Working Conditions: Work is performed primarily in an office environment, meeting room, or similar setting. Travel may be frequent and involves the normal risks and discomforts of automobile, bus, rail, or air transportation travel. During periods of fieldwork the employee may be exposed to a variety of climates, altitudes, and other environmental factors. Job may require occasional hiking and camping in tents and travel in or on off-road vehicles, and use of rafts, kayaks and bicycles.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Documentation for the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) eligibility, submission of ALL SF-50s and performance information for each period of temporary/term employment that qualifies for LMWFA. Performance documentation can be obtained by contacting the supervisors for the positions you served in during your 24 months. If they did not complete performance appraisals ask them to provide a statement of performance for each period of service. The statement must specify the dates for each employment period and your level of performance (dates should match the dates on the SF-50s).

Benefits

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.

Review our 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.

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are highly qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Candidates who apply under Noncompetitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

Conflict Management
Oral Communication
Partnering
Project Management
Public Planning
Written Communication
Reasoning
Judgement
Interaction

The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link:

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process.

If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 11/08/2024.

  1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year format, and indicate hours worked per week. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
  2. Complete All Required Assessments
  3. Merit Promotion Eligibility Documentation such as:
  • Federal employees must submit a copy of their latest SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" reflecting career or career-conditional status in the competitive service (Tenure 1 or 2), shows position title, series, grade and an additional SF-50 showing highest permanent grade ever held, if not reflected on your latest SF-50. Examples of acceptable SF-50s include: Promotion, Within Rate Increases (WRI/WGI), or Appointment SF-50s. Do not submit an Award SF-50 as it does not provide the needed information. Time in grade will be determined by reviewing your resume and required SF-50s.
  • Former federal employees separated from Federal Government over a year ago must submit their separation Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) that reflects career or career-conditional status in the competitive service (Tenure 1 or 2) and shows position title, series, grade. Please do not submit an Award SF-50 as it does not provide the needed information. Your last Federal performance appraisal plan for your last position must reflect a rating of Fully Successful or equivalent.
  • If the SF-50 showing highest permanent grade ever held has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess the one-year time-in-grade, as required by this announcement. In this instance, your resume must clearly show that you held that grade for one-year.
  • Documentation for the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act eligibility, which includes ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH appointment as well as ALL performance evaluations, for each qualifying period of temporary employment claimed.
  1. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as:
    • Veterans Preference Documentation:
      • If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service - VA letter and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
      • If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
      • If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.
    • Performance Appraisals and Awards:
      • All applicants must submit their most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record and signed by a supervisor. If submitting a performance appraisal not dated within the last 18 months, a statement as to why it is the most recent must be submitted. If no performance appraisal is available, applicants must submit a statement as to why it is not available (including if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level).
  2. College transcripts, if qualifying based on education.
  3. Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above 85 on the rating criteria for this position.
  4. Special Hiring Authority. Applicants who are eligible must submit appropriate documentation - certain Military Spouses, 30% or More Disabled Veterans, former PLC members (certificate of eligibility & participant verification work hours sheet).
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments, and required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. You must provide documentation to support your claim for each eligibility selected. Please review the required documentation listed in the eligibilities language to ensure you submit the appropriate information. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation. The application process is as follows:

  1. Click the Apply Online button.
  2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12585688
  3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
  4. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
  5. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
  6. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
  7. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
  8. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.
For more general information, system requirements, reasonable accommodation information, and to request assistance regarding the USA Hire Assessments, review the following resources: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=USA_Hire_Assessments.

Applicants may not update assessment responses after submitting an application at any time during the announcement open period, however, applicants will be able to update the other portions of the application such as eligibilities and supporting documents.

To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.

Agency contact information

Christina Sanchez
Address
Pacific West Regional Office, Interior Regions 8, 9, 10, and 12
Interim Office 909 First Avenue, Suite 500
Seattle, WA 98104
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.

Once the Occupational Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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