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Biological Science Technician (Fisheries)

Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is part of the Welaka National Fish Hatchery.

NOTE: This is a TERM position NTE 13 months. At management's discretion, this appointment may be extended up to the 4-year limit. This TERM position provides eligibility for the incumbent to earn leave and to receive Federal retirement coverage, health insurance, and life insurance. However, TERM appointments do not confer competitive status and do not lead to permanent employment.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/12/2019 to 07/25/2019
Salary
$42,053 to - $54,670 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Welaka, FL
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - 13 months
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
7
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
R4-19-10533372-NM-DEU
Control number
539256800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens, CTAP

Duties

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Duties of the position include but are not limited to the following:

  • Assist with the hatchery's imperiled species program.
  • Care for and feed stocks of threatened, endangered and imperiled reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, and mussels in controlled environments.
  • Develop and field test methods to improve propagation and culture techniques for fish, wildlife, and plant resources.
  • Transfer stocks of threatened, endangered and imperiled reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, and mussels between rearing systems.
  • Locating, capturing, censusing, marking and tagging fish, snakes, tortoises, birds, and other imperiled species.
  • Assist in developing, managing, and implementing warmwater fish production and distribution programs and protocols.
  • Assist in routine maintenance and repair of grounds, buildings, pipelines, culture systems, ponds, and equipment.
  • Develop and use automated databases to enter, organize, and perform preliminary analysis of collected field data.

TEMPORARY VACANCY: Most Federal employees earn both annual and sick leave. For additional information, visit Leave Administration. Effective January 2015, employees on temporary appointments may be eligible for health benefits through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program and, if eligible, will receive the same government contribution as full-time permanent employees. To be eligible for consideration, temporary employees working full-time or part-time must be on appointments expected to last at least 90 days, or be on an intermittent work schedule and expected to work 130 hours per month for at least 90 days. Employees electing to participate in the FEHB will be responsible for the employee share of the premium while on the official agency roles, which is deducted from bi-weekly earnings. After separating from federal employment, employees will be offered to continue participation in FEHB under the Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) option. Employees electing to continue coverage under the TCC provision will be responsible for the full premium amount plus a 2% administration fee.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
  • Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform required
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • May be required to work a non-standard tour of duty that may include weekends, holidays, and night shifts

Qualifications

Only experience and/or education obtained by 07/25/2019 will be considered.

Minimum Qualifications for the 0404 Occupational Series at the GS-7 grade level:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience may include: working knowledge of the principles, methods, techniques, procedures, and terminology of threatened, endangered and imperiled reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, and mussels in controlled environments; operating, troubleshooting, and maintaining components of a hatchery imperiled species culture systems and aquaculture systems; communicating both orally and in writing, as well as ability to use computer software programs. OR

One full year of graduate level education (18 semester hours) that is directly related to this position. OR

An equivalent combination of graduate level education AND qualifying specialized 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.

Education

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been or may be involuntarily separated (e.g. reduction in force, declining to relocate/transfer outside their local commuting area) from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal or Removal Notice; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; or Removal and most recent performance appraisal.). For more information visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System at https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx

FWS has determined that the duties of this position are not suitable for telework.

We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of 07/25/2019.

A PCS move is not authorized.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

DRIVER'S LICENSE: You must possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during your tenure in order to operate Government-owned motor vehicles.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Work requires physical exertion such as regular and recurring walking or climbing over wet, muddy, rough, slippery, uneven or rocky surfaces, bending, crouching, stooping, lifting, reaching, seining, netting, wading, and snorkeling. Must be able to frequently lift and carry parts and equipment weighing up to 60 pounds and occasionally over 80 pounds.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed inside and outside and in the field. The office and laboratories are adequately lighted, heated, cooled, and ventilated. Exposure to adverse weather conditions or weather extremes such as cold, dampness, heat, humidity, and insects are often encountered. Work may occasionally be performed on a boat and while wading or snorkeling in ponds and streams.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the basic qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the basic qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience which resulted in you being listed in the highest quality category, you may lose consideration, or be assigned to a lower quality category for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

Knowledge of the principles, methods, techniques, procedures, and terminology of threatened, endangered and imperiled reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, and mussels in controlled environments.
Ability to communicate orally.
Ability to communicate in writing.
Skill in operating, troubleshooting, and maintaining components of the hatchery's imperiled species culture systems (including pumps, chillers, heaters, filters, timers, feeders, and plumbing).
Ability to operate stereo and compound microscopes, balances, syringes, pipettes, and water quality meters.
Skill in identification of threatened, endangered and imperiled reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, and mussels in controlled environments, and conducting surveys.
Skill in taking precise measurements; recording, compiling, organizing, and proofing data; and performing mathematical calculations and summary statistics.
Ability to operate safely: 1) government-owned or leased vehicles to various work sites, including all-wheel drive trucks towing trailers; 2) small motorized and non-motorized watercraft; and 3) UTV vehicles.

All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. The category ratings for this position are:

Best Qualified
Well Qualified
Qualified

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of Veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the basic qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 showing you were honorably discharged. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must attach an SF-15," Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" in addition to the proof required by that form.

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