Program Leader

• Provides the leadership and direction for major divisions of an important program of national and international scope and impact.
• Provides leadership and guidance for research of great importance significance and difficulty which is often undertaken to solve urgent and practical problems.
• Creates and develops strategic alliances and networks.
• Furnishes advice and counsel on important action decisions from the planning and execution of policy to the drafting of proposed legislation.
• Serves as an authoritative nationally recognized professional scientific or technical expert for the program.
• Exercises the full range of leadership responsibilities for the assigned program.
• Performs supervisory duties 20% or less of the time.

• 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.
• 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 .
• Selectee is subject to financial disclosure requirements and must submit form OGE-450 Confidential Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter.

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 Managements 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.

This is an interdisciplinary position and may be filled in any of the job series listed below.

Basic Requirement:
GS-0101 Series:
Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelors or higher degree that included a major field of study in behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
OR
Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

GS-0401 Series:
Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelors or higher degree that included a major field of study in biological sciences agriculture natural resource management chemistry or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
A bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in a major field of study that included 24 semester hours in course work in biological sciences agriculture natural resource management chemistry or related disciplines appropriate to the position. Related course work generally refers to courses that may be accepted as part of the program major.
OR
A combination of education and experience that included 24 semester hours in course work in biological sciences agriculture natural resource management chemistry or related disciplines appropriate to the position AND experience sufficient to demonstrate that I possess the knowledge skills and abilities required to perform work in the occupation that is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field needed to perform the work of the position.

GS-1301 Series:
Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelors or higher degree in physical science engineering or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics dynamics properties of materials and electronics.
OR
Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.

Specialized Experience Requirement:
For the GS-15 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 grade level.
Qualifying specialized experience is defined as three or more of the following:

• Provided national level leadership and expertise for a complex scientific or technical program;
• Led strategic national program development and planning including assessing existing activities identifying emerging issues anticipating knowledge needs and coordinating across mission areas;
• Advised senior Forest Service and USDA leaders on strategic and technical program matters;
• Led national program planning coordination and integration across mission areas;
• Developed justified and managed program budgets and evaluated program performance;
• Worked as a team leader or team member to support interdisciplinary interagency collaboration and ensure accountability for integrated policy communication and customer service.