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Biological Science Technician

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Explore a new career with the BLM-where our people are our greatest natural resource.

For additional information about the BLM, please visit Our website.

All positions may not be filled or they may be filled at different times depending on budget, hiring needs, and requirements. These positions are temporary and are expected to last for approximately 6 months. These positions have no promotion potential, if you want to be considered for a higher grade you must apply for the higher grade.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
04/15/2019 to 04/19/2019
This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$12.95 to - $16.27 per hour
Pay scale & grade
GS 03 - 05
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Lander, WY
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Overnight travel may be required on a regular and recurring basis and employee will be required to obtain and use a government charge card, when travel is necessary.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Seasonal - The length and actual dates of employment may vary depending on the position.
Work schedule
Full-time - These are full-time competitive service temporary seasonal positions; Not to Exceed 6 months.
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
No
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
WY-TEMP-2019-0024
Control number
530660500

Duties

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Biology Technicians (Plants) make observations and record data relating to plant studies; documents occurrence and distribution of identified species; inventory rare and endangered species habitat; participate in environmental studies documenting factors affecting plant species and habitat; they lead or conduct field searches for populations of sensitive, threatened or endangered plant species; photograph, collect and mount plant specimens encountered at different stages of development; collect ecological site information for population distribution, condition, trend, associated species, geology, soil type and prepare reports. Work is performed in an outdoor environment that ranges from very cold and wet to very hot and dry. This work may require physical exertion over very steep, wet, muddy, slippery, rough, uneven or rocky surfaces; and also may include bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, and similar activities.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Direct Deposit Required
  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Read the "How to Apply" and "Required Documents" Sections
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license; nor can
  • you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Land
  • Security Clearance/Background Investigation is required.

Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the specialized experience as defined in the announcement or vacancy questions. In addition, your responses to the questions must be adequately reflected in your resume.

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the one year of specialized experience requirement - please be sure to include this information in your resume. 


GS-3 Biological Science Technician – Successful completion of l year of study that included at least 6 semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics.

GS-4 Biological Science Technician –6 months of general experience and 6 months of specialized experience. Examples of general experience may include working in any professional, technical, or other responsible field that provided you with a familiarity of native plants in their natural habitat or techniques of collecting scientific data. Examples of specialized experience may include following specific instructions to check extensive data relating to the survey/study area; collecting samples; or observing and recording specific information (i.e., vegetative cover, water quality samples, flora or fauna). -OR- Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must be directly related to the position to be filled. -OR- A combination of experience and education to meet total experience.

GS-5 Biological Science Technician- one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-4 level. Examples of specialized experience may include inventorying rare and endangered species habitat based on guidelines; taking soil samples by layer; and taking root samples. -OR- Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position to be filled.  -OR- A combination of experience and education to meet total 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.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the early consideration/closing date of the announcement.

Additional information

Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System website.

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at CTAP or ICTAP. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found well qualified for this vacancy. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form.

CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they fall within the Well or Best Qualified categories on the rating criteria for this position.

If tentatively selected for this position you will be required to complete and submit a OF-306 Declaration for Federal Employment prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

The person tentatively selected for this position is subject to completion of a favorable background investigation. Failure to satisfy the preliminary background check will result in cancellation of the tentative job offer. Failure to satisfy the full investigation requirements may be grounds for termination, once you are placed in the position.

A valid driver's license is required for some positions. If you are selected for one of these positions you must be 18 years old and have a current driver's license.

MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT: Employees required to operate a motor vehicle must be at least 18; otherwise, you must be at least 16 at the time you report for work.

A pre-employment physical may be required.

Overnight travel may be required on a regular and recurring basis and employee will be required to obtain and use a government charge card, when travel is necessary.

If you are selected for this position, prior to appointment, you may be subject to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use. If drug testing is required for this position, it will be provided at Government direction and expense. Once hired, you may also be subject to random drug testing during employment. This is in accordance with Executive Order 12564 and under the Department’s Drug Free Workplace Program.

This position is not eligible for Telework

How you will be evaluated

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

Upon receipt of your complete application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. Your rating will be based on your responses to the Job Specific Questionnaire and the information stated in your resume. If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. In addition, interviews may be conducted for this position. The interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis or may be scored. The job specific questions relate to the following knowledge, skills and abilities required to do the work of this position.

  1. Knowledge of technical methods, and procedures of botany management to plan and accomplish a variety of botany projects.
  2. Knowledge of and skill in applying the basic theories and practices of botany to resolve botany related issues.
  3. Knowledge of computer capabilities sufficient to produce reports with graphics; produce simple maps; develop spreadsheets; and enter, retrieve and manipulate data.
  4. Skilled at reading maps and using GPS equipment to determine locations.

To preview questions please click here.

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