Summary This position serves as the National Director of Tribal Relations, providing leadership, guidance, and professional advisory services to the Chief, Associate Chief, and other senior leaders on matters related to Tribal consultation, government-to-government relations, and Federal Trust responsibilities, and is responsible for planning, developing, and evaluating Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) policies, initiatives, and high-profile Tribal efforts within the Agency. Responsibilities Develop, advise, and integrate the agency's natural resources programs and policies as they impact the unique conditions, scientific challenges, management concepts, principles and practices of Federally recognized Tribal lands. Provides guidance and professional advisory services to senior officials in USDA's Farm Production and Conservation Mission Area, USDA's Office of Tribal Relations, and NRCS leadership. Develops, assembles and analyzes data, and designs a systemic approach to conducting reviews, studies, and addressing deficiencies; establishes priorities and areas of emphasis for Federally recognized Tribal lands. Responsible for partnership and collaborative efforts requiring the incumbent to plan and direct special studies/analyses of complex questions necessary for the evaluation and development of policies and standards. Serves as the senior policy and technical expert, analyst, and advisor to the Chief, NRCS, and other members of the senior executive team on all programs and policies as they relate to Federally recognized Tribal lands. Manages differing and conflicting technical and policy viewpoints from inter-Agency partners and external partnership groups and represents USDA's interests and priorities for Federally recognized Tribal lands with the scientific community. Plans the work to be accomplished by the staff, assign work to employees, and establish production or quality standards for the unit's work. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled (e.g. one year at the GS-14 grade level for consideration for the GS-15 grade level). Basic Education Requirement: Degree: Biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered: Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-15 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. This experience must include: Experience in scientific principles, methods, theories, and concepts to serve as a recognized technical authority on creating solutions to emerging and innovative advancement in the field of natural resources as it relates to and impacts Federally recognized Tribal lands; Experience negotiating complex and sensitive natural resource issues as they pertain to Tribal lands; Experience in working to direct highly complex scientific and administrative programs and delegate authority appropriately; Plan and assess the impact of external influences; Use resources efficiently and effectively; and Resolve complex scientific and technical issues involving all aspects of assigned programs/projects. Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-15 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 You must submit a copy of your college transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify all education requirements (i.e. substitution of education and/or basic education requirement). 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. You must document all requirements on every vacancy; we cannot use previous determinations as a basis for rating. All required information must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and non-submission of all required documents/documentation will result in non-consideration. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. This information must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Non-submission of these documents will result in non-consideration. 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. Applicants must, therefore, only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation via this link. All education claimed by applicants will be verified accordingly. 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. Additional Information This position is being concurrently announced under Delegated Examining Announcement Number: NRCS-24-12401780-DE-DC-JH. This announcement is open to all qualified candidates. Applying to both announcements may expand the possibilities of consideration since different referral criteria apply to each type of announcement. See the above announcement for more 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. CONFIDENTIAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT: If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report. Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary in nature. The work may require some physical effort, such as standing, walking, bending, or sitting. The incumbent will be required to do keyboarding for long time periods. There are no other special physical demands. Work Environment: The work is in a climate-controlled office setting involving everyday risks and discomforts. Normal safety precautions are required. PLEASE NOTE: In the interest of filling these positions 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. This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements. Supervisors in the national capital region must be in the office 50 percent of the time (5 days per pay period). Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.