This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/567401100. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
This position is part of the Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office located in Maricao, Puerto Rico.
This announcement is being advertised concurrently under R4-20-10808862-JMJ-MP for current and former federal employees serving under a competitive service career or career-conditional appointment or reinstatement eligible. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.
Learn more about this agency05/05/2020 to 05/18/2020
$34,916 - $50,598 per year
GS 5 - 6
2 vacancies in the following location:
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
No
Permanent
Full-Time
Competitive
6
No
No
R4-20-10808862-JMJ-DE
567401100
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
U.S. Citizens, CTAP, ICTAP
Duties of the position include but are not limited to the following:
Assists Wildlife Biologists and Senior Technician in the routine maintenance of the captive Puerto Rican Parrot flock, participates in the preparation of food for captive birds and daily cleaning of bird cages, collects information on behavior, breeding activity and safety and flock health problems. Observes birds on a daily basis and assists implement management actions.
Assists in the captive population studies related to the management of the Puerto Rican Parrot flock including accurate record keeping and management of computerized database.
Carries out wildlife studies by following research methods and established procedures for accomplishing and reporting the work and captures, applies visual and radio tags, and gathers physiological and spatial data on wildlife.
Enters and retrieves data from the Geographic Information System and/or other information management systems and develops graphs, charts and illustrations for reports and technical publications using computer software, such as Microsoft PowerPoint and Harvard graphics.
Assists and supports in interagency recovery efforts including activities related to the establishment of a second Puerto Rican Parrot wild population. Assists technicians and biologists from the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources in Puerto Rican Parrot recovery activities and population and habitat surveys of other endangered species.
Assists distributing information, new releases and informational talks on the Puerto Rican Parrot recovery program and other endangered species in environmental fairs and schools along with sending and/or preparing environmental educational posters, brochures material of limited difficulty.
Operates light trucks, vehicles, and various other equipment such as generators, radios, radio tracking equipment, water monitoring equipment, global positioning systems and cameras.
Assists in work direction and guidance to biological aids, technicians, and volunteers including safe handling of tools and operation of motorized vehicles.
Minimum Qualifications for the GS-05 level:
1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience may include: Collects biological samples ensuring correct documentation, reporting, storage, transport and delivery of samples taken; enter, organize and perform preliminary analysis of collected data, using standard statistical methods in preparation of reports; carrying out a variety of research and survey methods, analyzing established data, and monitoring environmental elements related to conservation, management, and/or control of wildlife. OR
I have a bachelor's degree, or have successfully completed of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study (or at least 24 semester hours of study) in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours are directly related to this position. OR
I have less than one year of specialized work experience as described above and have not yet completed four years of education above high school as described above. I do have, however, a combination of experience as described above and education as described above which, when combined, is equivalent to 100% of the qualification requirement. (Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours may be used in this calculation). To calculate your percentage of education, first determine the total number of semester hours that exceed 60 semester hours (or your school's definition of one year of study), then divide the total number of your excess semester hours by 30 (or your school's definition of one year of study). To calculate your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by 12. Now, add the two percentages together. The sum of the percentages must equal at least 100%.
Minimum Qualifications for the GS-06 level:
1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience may include: Assisting in planning and implementation of wildlife censuses and surveys; Assisting in captive population and wildlife population studies and monitoring activities; Analyzing data using standard statistical methods and procedures in preparation of wildlife reports; Assisting with sending and/or preparing environmental educational posters and brochures; Operating light trucks, vehicles, and various other equipment such as generators, radios, radio tracking equipment, water monitoring equipment, global positioning systems and cameras. OR
Completion of at least 9 semester hours of graduate education from an accredited college or university in a discipline related to the position. OR
I have less than one year of specialized work experience as described above and have not yet completed four years of education above high school as described above. I do have, however, a combination of experience as described above and education as described above which, when combined, is equivalent to 100% of the qualification requirement. (Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours may be used in this calculation). To calculate your percentage of education, first determine the total number of semester hours that exceed 60 semester hours (or your school's definition of one year of study), then divide the total number of your excess semester hours by 30 (or your school's definition of one year of study). To calculate your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by 12. Now, add the two percentages together. The sum of the percentages must equal at least 100%.
Promotion Potential: This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed represent the performance level of GS-05. At lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-06. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds.The selectee may be promoted without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.
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
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 suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
More than one position may be filled from this announcement.
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):
Practical knowledge of wildlife management theories, practices, and principles in order to carry out the Ecological Services Field Office work programs and understand the technical terminology used in the fields of fish and wildlife biology and similar disciplines.
Ability to identify the Puerto Rican Parrot flock, various other birds, wildlife and wildlife plant species for the purpose of censuses and recording biological data.
Skill in operating survey equipment.
Ability to use computer technology to maintain and retrieve information from automated data systems, develop spreadsheets, and use word processing and statistical software programs in order to assist with development of reports.
Ability to communicate in writing in order to meet and exchange information with individuals encountered in the scope of regular duties.
Ability to communicate orally in order to meet and exchange information with individuals encountered in the scope of regular duties.
Ability to follow assigned protocols to perform tasks with many steps and to interpret the collection of data to make various management recommendations.
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.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/567401100. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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