Student Trainee (Agronomist)

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility 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. If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts.

Program Eligibility Requirements Applicant must meet the definition of a student that is: Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited technical or vocational school, two-year or four-year college or university, graduate or professional school. You must be taking at least a half-time academic course load leading to a degree or certificate.

A certificate program is defined as a post-secondary education, in a qualifying educational institution, equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum. Be planning for or pursuing a certificate or degree in, or related to, the internship opportunity being advertised.

Examples of relevant educational fields for this position include but are not limited to: agronomy; or related discipline of science that includes agronomic subjects, such as those dealing with plant breeding, crop production, and soil and crop management or other natural resource-related disciplines that will allow applicants to qualify for the conversion requirements listed within the vacancy announcement upon graduation.

Position Qualifications: Applicants must meet position qualifications requirements as shown below at the time of appointment. The agency must be able to verify that the education was completed successfully before the applicant can be appointed. Below is the education requirement to be qualified for this position: GS-02 Completion of high school or possession of a GED diploma. GS-03 Completion of 1 full academic year of post-high school study. GS-04 Completion of 2 full academic years of post-high school study.

One full academic year of undergraduate education is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours or the equivalent as defined by the accredited college or university. One full academic year of graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours or the equivalent as defined by the accredited college or university.

Conversion Information: Candidates selected from this announcement may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a permanent position in the competitive service, provided that all terms of the Internship Program are met and there is an available position. Conversion is not mandatory or guaranteed and is at agency discretion. Pathways Interns may convert to a permanent position for which they qualify for (e.g., GS-0471) as outlined in the intern's Pathways agreement.

Upon conversion to the competitive service, this position will have a career ladder up to the GS-09 full performance level.

To be eligible for conversion, you must satisfactorily complete all Pathways Program requirements: Complete at least 480 hours of work experience prior to graduation; Complete all mandatory training requirements; Meet performance expectations and be recommended for conversion; Meet suitability requirements; and Meet the position's Qualification Requirements of the associated occupational series as outlined in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, General Schedule Qualifications Standards.

See the link below: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/agronomy-series-0471/ GS-0471 Basic Requirement: 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.

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.

Provide a career-oriented introduction to the background, philosophy, concepts, and scope of the Natural Resources Conservation Service Agronomy Management Programs and a practical understanding of the policies of the employing organization.,Assists in making site and condition surveys.,Assists in providing technical guidance to landowners and operators in the application of conservation practices such as cropping systems, nutrient, pest, tillage and irrigation management.,Assists with planning or conducting meetings for the purpose of assisting customers in getting a better understanding of their conservation problems,Assignments are developmental in nature and, in conjunction with formal education, the Intern will gain the necessary competencies leading to conversion to a permanent professional position in Agronomy,Work assignments are selected to ensure that the Intern receives on-the-job training and exposure to one or more program functions.,Receives training in the principles, concepts, work processes, and regulations of one or more functional areas of Agronomy and Biological Sciences.,As training advances and proficiency is demonstrated, work assignment are increasingly more demanding, and are designed to provide experience in a variety of activities,On a scheduled basis, following the Pathways Participant Agreement, receives assignments in various Agronomy and Biological Sciences functions.,Receives formal and on-the-job training in OPM, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resource Conservation Service policies, rules, regulations, and procedures,Is instructed on the use of personal computers, and file and data management.