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Biological Science Technician (Plants)

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in Region 6, on the Mt. Adams Ranger District of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Trout Lake, WA.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Andrea Montgomery at andreamontgomery@fs.fed.us or at 509-395-3414.

This position has a seasonal work schedule where full-time work is guaranteed for 18 pay periods and when not working, employee is placed in non-pay/non-duty status.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
09/25/2018 to 10/15/2018
Salary
$41,365 to - $53,773 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 07
Location
Trout Lake, WA
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - Position may involve work away the official duty location to remote worksites within commuting distance (49 miles) and may also require overnight travel and/or camping per work assignment.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—- Basic moving expenses with no discretionary expenses: Entitlements for payment of basic moving expenses, as required and to the extent allowed by the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) 302-3.101, are authorized for eligible applicants changing duty station when the change meets the distance tests as provided in FTR 302-1.1 and 302-2.6. Additional relocation benefits are not available.
Appointment type
Seasonal
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
07
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
18-SVQ4-0603-503396-G-RK
Control number
511939600

Duties

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Independently, or as a crew leader, plans, participates, and conducts a variety of field studies of native and non-native botanical species and their habitats.

Coordinates with resource specialist in planning work.

Develop plans to collect data for use in habitat and species condition analyses.

Collects survey and inventory data to determine species identity, population characteristics, environmental conditions, and factors affecting the vigor and extent of the species and their habitat. Keeps records of all data and produces maps of survey areas.  

Schedules, organizes, and executes botanical projects involving native and/or non-native species.

Resolves common administrative and safety concerns related to the projects. Improves, adapts, and develops techniques, methods, and equipment based on experience, practical knowledge, and prescribed procedures.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be Selective Service registered or exempt
  • Successful completion of a one-year probationary or trial period

Additional Information:
Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses (2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Public Law 115-97).  Questions should be directed to the Travel Help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email asc_tos@fs.fed.us

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement as defined below.  For more information on the qualifications for this position, go to:  http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/group-stds/gs-admin.asp

For the GS-07 level:  Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include:  Performed field work projects related to vegetation management such as field measurement of density, diversity, etc. experimental layout, seeding or planting, fertilizer or pesticide treatment.  Monitored plant phenology and made collections of seed and vegetative materials.  Conducted surveys for sensitive plants in project areas that included on-the-ground reconnaissance and record examination.

OR

One full year of graduate level education in a related field such as:  botany, ecology or classes in other programs that include the study of ecological relationships or habitat restoration.  The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

OR

An appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience.

TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

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.

To receive consideration for this position, you must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

See above for education requirement(s) for this position.

Additional information

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION AND FINGERPRINT CHECK: Selection and retention in this position is contingent on a successfully adjudicated FBI National Criminal History Check (fingerprint check) and a background investigation.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): 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.

Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.

E-Verify: Federal law requires agencies to use the E-Verify system to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. If you are selected as a newly hired employee, the documentation you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 on your entry-on-duty date will be verified through the DHS E-VERIFY system. Under the system, the new hire is required to resolve any identified discrepancies as a condition of continued employment.

Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career- conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.

Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better.

For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the Veteran’s Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website.

Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).

This is a bargaining unit designated position.

This is a bargaining unit position represented by the National Federation of Federal Employees, IAMAW.

Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.

Government housing is not available.

This position is not eligible for telework.

We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.  

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below:

  • Ability to collect and analyze data
  • Ability to provide technical support for biological science studies
  • Ability to communicate effectively in writing
  • Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing
Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities need to meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.


To view the application form, visit: https://fs.usda.ntis.gov/cp/?event=jobs.previewApplication&jobid=AB5D14C1-0846-4AE5-97E1-A96200E2A0CC

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