About this role

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your probationary your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. **QUALIFICATIONS** All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/04/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. To receive credit for experience, 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.

Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying 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. Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following: To qualify for the Natural Resources Specialist (0401) series, you must meet one of the following: Degree: In 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 in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. You must submit transcripts To qualify for the Botanist (0430) series, you must meet one of the following: Degree: botany; or basic plant science that included at least 24 semester hours in botany. OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in botany or basic plant science that included at least 24 semester hours in botany, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

You must submit transcripts. -AND- Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-07 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: participation in the planning and execution of plant studies; performing established tests and analyses on a broad range of plant samples; and mapping and documenting botany species; and preparing and/or reviewing reports on ecological investigations to determine project impacts on vegetation including Threatened and Endangered plant species.

You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Education: To qualify based on education, you must have 36 semester hours of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in a directly related field of study. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience. Combinations of successfully completed higher level graduate education and professional experience may be used to meet total experience requirements.

Only graduate level education in excess of 18 semester hours may be combined with experience. To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-09 level that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of a Botanist/Natural Resource Specialist (Botany).

Examples include evaluating proposed projects or actions for impacts to vegetation including T&E species; developing and implementing conservation methods for plant species and habitats; planning and executing botanical investigations under the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act rules and regulations; recommending course of action to solve botanical issues; and create, evaluate, and review vegetation GIS data.

You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Education: To qualify based on education you must have 54 semester hours of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a directly related field of study. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience. Combinations of successfully completed higher level graduate education and professional experience may be used to meet total experience requirements.

Only graduate level education in excess of 36 semester hours may be combined with experience. 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.

Source listing: usajobs