Reclamation is a contemporary water management agency. Reclamation is best known for Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River, and Folsom Dam on the American River. Today we are the largest wholesaler of water in the country and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the western United States. View our video titled "Traditions, Talent, and Teamwork" here.
Summary
Reclamation is a contemporary water management agency. Reclamation is best known for Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River, and Folsom Dam on the American River. Today we are the largest wholesaler of water in the country and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the western United States. View our video titled "Traditions, Talent, and Teamwork" here.
Current and former Federal employees serving under competitive service career or career-conditional appointments; current and former time-limited employees eligible under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA); Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP); Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP); VRA; VEOA; 30% Disabled; Military Spouses; Schedule A; Individuals with Disabilities; Peace Corps; AmeriCorps; Vista.
Reclamation is seeking a mid-career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on his/her expertise as a Biological Science Technician. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.
Would you enjoy serving as a Biological Science Technician for the Durango Office? Responsibilities include performing a variety of technical and administrative tasks. Here is a great opportunity to join a great organization with excellent growth potential!
LOCATION: UPPER COLORADO REGION, WESTERN COLORADO AREA OFFICE (WCAO), RESOURCES MANAGEMENT DIVISION, SOUTHERN LAND AND RECREATION MANAGEMENT GROUP IN DURANGO, COLORADO. For living conditions click HERE
Major Duties
- Assists Resources Management Specialist and Realty Specialist with various land and minerals management activities and contracts, prepares reports, maintains files and documents. - Conducts field reviews as necessary to identify current land use, verify data and identifies any trespass and encroachments. - Assists in conducting Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) surveys to determine presence or absence of nesting migratory birds as part of environmental compliance for project work. - Assists with re-vegetation surveys on the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply (NGWSP) to determine whether re-seeding and re-planting of the water pipeline area has been successful. - Assists with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Services, to update and manage ownership maps and records. Conducts field data gathering and posts processing in the office. - Administers various databases. Prepares documents for electronic filing, scans old drawings, photos and documents in electronic databases. - Provides support for preparing purchase request packets. Assists in creation and maintenance of present and out year work orders. - Serves as the Recreation Use Data Report (RUDR) Coordinator. Responsible for the collections and reviewing of recreation use data for the Durango office that is received from recreation managing partners.
Work Environment: The majority of the work is performed in a typical office setting with adequate heating, ventilation, and lighting. Travel to meetings may be required 25% of the time will be in the field to conduct reviews and inspections. Field work may involve exposure to various outdoor elements, including extreme temperatures, adverse weather, steep and rough terrain and construction activities and their inherent dangers. The employee observes safety precautions and wears appropriate personal protective equipment.
Physical Demands: Work is a mix of office and field work. 25% of the time will be spent in the field may involve considerable amounts of walking, stooping, bending and climbing on smooth and rough terrain and driving in remote areas. Appropriate safety equipment must be worn at all times. This work may also require driving to various county and Federal offices and project sites.
Additional vacancies may be filled from this vacancy announcement.
Must apply online, submit resume & supporting documents (See How to Apply).
You must meet specialized experience requirements (See Qualifications).
Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
May be subject to initial 1 year probationary period.
For veterans consideration, submit document(s) under Required documents.
You must meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions and any selective placement factors by the closing date of this announcement.
TIME-IN-GRADE: Currrent career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b).
Qualifications
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Specialized experience must demonstrate the applicant has been equipped with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is directly related to the work to be performed. To qualify for the GS-8 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience (described below) equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the GS-7 level of the position in the Federal service. Specialized Experience for the GS-08: Applicants must have experience in 4 of the following areas: Conducting avian studies; Monitoring vegetation or identifying plants; Collecting and processing data using GPS/GIS; Conducting field reviews and field visits; Experience in recreation; Working with electronic databases preparing reports; Maintaining electronic files and documents; Experience preparing purchase requests.
NOTE: Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree meets the requirements for GS-9. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.
If you do not meet the qualification requirements listed above, you will be determined not qualified for this position.
Education
This vacancy announcement allows substituting education for experience. You must submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support your education if you are substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred.
Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, applicants must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For further information, visit: Foreign Education.
Additional information
Telework: Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. References: On your application, please include the names and current phone numbers for at least 3 supervisory references. If any individual is no longer available for contact, you are requested to provide the name and current phone number of another person with the company (team lead, acting supervisor, etc.) that would know your work history. E-Verify: DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit: E-Verify. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. For more information visit: Selective Service. Equal Employment Opportunity: The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability and genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Working for the Bureau of Reclamation offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. To explore the major benefits offered to most Federal employees, visit the Benefits URL above.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Human Resources (HR) will review resumes and transcripts(s) if applicable, to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided in the assessment questionnaire. The assessment questionnaire will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Applicants determined best qualified will be referred to the selecting official.
Applicants will be further evaluated on the following "Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)" through your resume and responses to the online questions.
KSA 1: Knowledge of land and minerals management principles and practices to assist resource specialists with various land and minerals management activities; recreation area reviews; gather data; participate in field reviews; and assist in reports preparation. KSA 2: Skill in preparing and maintaining geographic information system (GIS) data. KSA 3: Knowledge of database principles and practices to serve as Durango Lands & Recreation databases coordinator; maintain acquisitions, transfer and out grant records; maintain the lands group Access database; management data input and output; and prepare summary reports. KSA 4: Skill in using a computer and various software to gather, compile, evaluate and populate lands and recreation databases; replying to routine letters of enquiry; preparing requisitions; managing an electronic database for drawings, photographs and documents; and maintaining drawings database.
Applicant's answers to questions will be verified against information provided in their online resume. Be sure that the resume clearly supports the responses to all the questions by addressing experience, education and/or training relevant to this position. Applicants must make a fair and accurate assessment of their qualifications. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is apparent in your description of experience, competencies, skills, and/or education/training OR that your resume/application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible or your score may be lowered.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Working for the Bureau of Reclamation offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. To explore the major benefits offered to most Federal employees, visit the Benefits URL above.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
To be considered for this position, applicants are required to submit an on-line assessment questionnaire and the following supporting documents as appropriate:
Resume: A resume with dates of employment. Your resume may be submitted in any format. If you submit more than one copy of your resume, only the most recent version will be reviewed. The latest timestamp will be used to determine which version of your resume is "most recent." It is your responsibility to check the status and timestamp of all documents you submit as part of your application. For qualifications determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week and the dates of employment (i.e., HRS per week and month/day/year to month/day/year or month/day/year to the date you are submitting the resume). If using an automated resume builder, be sure to include this specific information in the narrative portion of your work description. Any period of employment that does not include this specific information will not be credited toward meeting the qualifications requirements of the position.
Transcript(s): All applicants MUST furnish a copy of your college transcript(s), if applicable. If selected, you will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify your educational qualifications prior to reporting for work.
SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action: Status applicants (transfer, reassignment, reinstatement, promotion, etc.) MUST submit a copy of their SF-50, verifying highest rate of pay and documenting career or career-conditional status in the competitive service (Tenure 1 or 2) for which you are claiming eligibility. Failure to submit an SF-50 verifying status, will result in the applicant not being considered for this position.
VEOA: For candidates eligible under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) you must submit the appropriate DD-214 (Member 4 Copy) documenting your eligibility. For information on veteran's eligibility visit the Vet Guide.
Special Non-competitive Appointing Authorities: For more information on special non-competitive appointing authorities click here.
CTAP/ICTAP: Provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified, i.e. meet the minimum qualification requirements, including selective factors, education and experience requirements and score at least 90 on the assessment questionnaire as established, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP/ICTAP click here.
Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) Eligibles: If you are a current or former land management agency appointee – you must provide documentation to verify eligibility as follows: a) A copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that reflects having initially been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited (temporary/term) appointment. b) A copy of SF-50(s), Notification of Personnel Action(s), that reflect having served under one (1) or more time-limited (temporary/term) appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two (2) or more years. c) A copy of your Performance Appraisal Plan and/or Supervisor Memorandum that reflects having performed at an acceptable level during each period of service. For more information on LMWFA click here.
Current or former Public Land Corps (PLC) eligibles: If you are a current or former Public Land Corps participant-you must provide documentation to verify eligibility as follows: a) Verification of Participant Work Hours for Conservation Projects. Document must reflect at a minimum 640 hours of satisfactory conservation project hours with at least 120 hours through PLC within the last 2 years. b) Certificate of Non-Competitive Eligibility. Signed documentation from a bureau PLC coordinator that a participant has satisfactorily completed all service requirements and meets eligibility for non-competitive hiring status.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Applications (resume and assessment questionnaire) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. When you're ready to apply, click the blue APPLY ONLINE button at the side of any page.
This vacancy is being announced through Bureau of Reclamation's Hiring System--HireMe. For more information about the HireMe system and the registration process, visit: HireMe.
As part of the on-line application process, applicants may be required to submit supporting documents. Failure to submit the requested supporting documents may result in your not being considered for this position.
Options for submitting supporting documentation include Auto Requested Fax or uploading from your USAJOBS profile - instructions provided during the online application process. In addition, you may E-mail your supporting documentation to abagwell@usbr.gov, fax directly to the HR Office at (801) 524-3187, mail to 125 South State Street, Room 8100 (UC-546), Salt Lake City, Utah 84138, OR hand-deliver to 125 South State Street, Room 7102A (UC-546), Salt Lake City, Utah 84138. Be sure to include your name and the vacancy number on the supporting document(s).
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us at the phone number shown at the bottom of this page. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
125 S. State St., Room 7102A
Attn: UC-546
Salt Lake City, Utah 84138-1147
United States
Next steps
After all application packages have been received, resumes and transcripts will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. Each applicant who meets the basic qualifications will be further evaluated on the information provided in the Assessment Questionnaire. Best-qualified applicants will be referred to the selecting official. After making a tentative job offer, a suitability and/or security background investigation will be conducted. A final job offer is typically made within 40 days after the deadline for applications. Applicants should monitor their status for positions with the Bureau of Reclamation, by regularly checking their public status notifications in their USAJOBS profile.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To be considered for this position, applicants are required to submit an on-line assessment questionnaire and the following supporting documents as appropriate:
Resume: A resume with dates of employment. Your resume may be submitted in any format. If you submit more than one copy of your resume, only the most recent version will be reviewed. The latest timestamp will be used to determine which version of your resume is "most recent." It is your responsibility to check the status and timestamp of all documents you submit as part of your application. For qualifications determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week and the dates of employment (i.e., HRS per week and month/day/year to month/day/year or month/day/year to the date you are submitting the resume). If using an automated resume builder, be sure to include this specific information in the narrative portion of your work description. Any period of employment that does not include this specific information will not be credited toward meeting the qualifications requirements of the position.
Transcript(s): All applicants MUST furnish a copy of your college transcript(s), if applicable. If selected, you will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify your educational qualifications prior to reporting for work.
SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action: Status applicants (transfer, reassignment, reinstatement, promotion, etc.) MUST submit a copy of their SF-50, verifying highest rate of pay and documenting career or career-conditional status in the competitive service (Tenure 1 or 2) for which you are claiming eligibility. Failure to submit an SF-50 verifying status, will result in the applicant not being considered for this position.
VEOA: For candidates eligible under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) you must submit the appropriate DD-214 (Member 4 Copy) documenting your eligibility. For information on veteran's eligibility visit the Vet Guide.
Special Non-competitive Appointing Authorities: For more information on special non-competitive appointing authorities click here.
CTAP/ICTAP: Provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified, i.e. meet the minimum qualification requirements, including selective factors, education and experience requirements and score at least 90 on the assessment questionnaire as established, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP/ICTAP click here.
Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) Eligibles: If you are a current or former land management agency appointee – you must provide documentation to verify eligibility as follows: a) A copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that reflects having initially been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited (temporary/term) appointment. b) A copy of SF-50(s), Notification of Personnel Action(s), that reflect having served under one (1) or more time-limited (temporary/term) appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two (2) or more years. c) A copy of your Performance Appraisal Plan and/or Supervisor Memorandum that reflects having performed at an acceptable level during each period of service. For more information on LMWFA click here.
Current or former Public Land Corps (PLC) eligibles: If you are a current or former Public Land Corps participant-you must provide documentation to verify eligibility as follows: a) Verification of Participant Work Hours for Conservation Projects. Document must reflect at a minimum 640 hours of satisfactory conservation project hours with at least 120 hours through PLC within the last 2 years. b) Certificate of Non-Competitive Eligibility. Signed documentation from a bureau PLC coordinator that a participant has satisfactorily completed all service requirements and meets eligibility for non-competitive hiring status.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Applications (resume and assessment questionnaire) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. When you're ready to apply, click the blue APPLY ONLINE button at the side of any page.
This vacancy is being announced through Bureau of Reclamation's Hiring System--HireMe. For more information about the HireMe system and the registration process, visit: HireMe.
As part of the on-line application process, applicants may be required to submit supporting documents. Failure to submit the requested supporting documents may result in your not being considered for this position.
Options for submitting supporting documentation include Auto Requested Fax or uploading from your USAJOBS profile - instructions provided during the online application process. In addition, you may E-mail your supporting documentation to abagwell@usbr.gov, fax directly to the HR Office at (801) 524-3187, mail to 125 South State Street, Room 8100 (UC-546), Salt Lake City, Utah 84138, OR hand-deliver to 125 South State Street, Room 7102A (UC-546), Salt Lake City, Utah 84138. Be sure to include your name and the vacancy number on the supporting document(s).
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us at the phone number shown at the bottom of this page. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
125 S. State St., Room 7102A
Attn: UC-546
Salt Lake City, Utah 84138-1147
United States
Next steps
After all application packages have been received, resumes and transcripts will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. Each applicant who meets the basic qualifications will be further evaluated on the information provided in the Assessment Questionnaire. Best-qualified applicants will be referred to the selecting official. After making a tentative job offer, a suitability and/or security background investigation will be conducted. A final job offer is typically made within 40 days after the deadline for applications. Applicants should monitor their status for positions with the Bureau of Reclamation, by regularly checking their public status notifications in their USAJOBS profile.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
