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Biological Science Technician

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

Summary

This position is a Biological Science Technician, GS- 0404-6/7 working in Tulelake, California for the R8-Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

This position is also open to the public under announcement R8-21-11169681-DMJ-DE. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/13/2021 to 07/26/2021
Salary
$39,311 to - $56,790 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 6 - 7
Location
Tulelake, CA
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
7
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
R8-21-11169680-DMJ-MP
Control number
607435300

Duties

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As a Biological Science Technician your duties will include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Lead field crew and/or independently carry out planned studies.
  • Plan, manage, and implement wildlife censuses and, surveys.
  • Determine research methods, establish practical procedures for accomplishing and reporting the work, and determine other needs, such as costs, equipment, and personnel.
  • Monitor, plan, and implement activities related to conservation, management, and/or control of wildlife.
  • Capture, apply visual and radio tags, and gather physiological and spatial data on wildlife.
  • Plan, manage, and implement projects that may include: spawning; ground surveys; snorkel surveys; census surveys; stream habitat surveys; carcass surveys; distribution and abundance estimation; habitat restoration monitoring; fish passage studies; radio telemetry studies; mark/recapture studies; and fish and habitat assessments.
  • Develops news release drafts for area media and/or develops and delivers informational and/or environmental education programs to individuals, local organizations, and schools.
  • Uses specialized techniques and methods to collect biological and physical environment data from field investigations and reports findings to determine actual and potential impact on fish, wildlife or plant resources from development projects, restoration projects or habitat improvement projects
  • Enter and retrieve data from geographic information systems (GIS) and/or other information management systems
  • Provides basic information on fish and wildlife resources and the United State Fish and Wildlife Service to groups and individuals.
  • Monitor elements of the physical environment, such as temperature, precipitation, stream flow, snow depth, wind speed, and humidity.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply).
  • Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation.
  • Driver?s License: Selectees must possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during their tenure.
  • Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform is required.
  • Probationary Period: Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 07/26/2021 will be considered.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification.

Minimum Qualification [GS-07]:

  1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-06 in the Federal service. Specialized experience may include: Identifying and conducting invasive species and organisms removal; identifying target species and populations; wildlife monitoring, mowing/seeding activities, vegetation removal, and GPS mapping of pest species; data collection and recording; collecting biological data including vegetation and habitat data, biological surveys and field investigations; implementing habitat restoration techniques to wetland habitats for the benefit of various species with emphasis on invertebrates and waterfowl; manipulating water levels within wetland units through a water control system; independently conducting maintenance on building and/or fencing projects and working with light maintenance oriented tools. OR
  2. Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university within 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 of the coursework must be directly related to the position being filled. OR
  3. A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement.
Minimum Qualification [GS-06]:
  1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience may include: identifying invasive species and organisms; Identifying target species and populations; Monitoring and assisting in the control of nuisance and invasive species; Assisting with wildlife monitoring, mowing/seeding activities, vegetation removal, and GPS mapping of pest species; data collection and recording. OR
  2. Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university within 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 of the coursework must be directly related to the position being filled. OR
  3. A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement.

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.


Time In Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically,

i. Area of Consideration.
ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502.
iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions or for Federal Wage System (FWS), wage grade positions, applicants are evaluated using the OPM Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations and the job element examining method.
Your SF-50 will be used to confirm you meet all requirements

Current appointees:

  • Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency;
  • Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; AND
  • Must have performed at an acceptable level.

Former appointees:

  • Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency;
  • Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24-months without a break in service of 2 or more years;
  • Must apply for position within 2-years after separation;
  • Must have been separated for reasons other than misconduct or performance; AND
  • Must have performed at an acceptable level.

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

PCS INFORMATION: No PCS entitlements authorized
-Discretionary entitlements are not authorized for this position

Telework: This position is suitable for telework only in an emergency or natural disaster.

Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. 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 any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

For information on CTAP and ICTAP click here

The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA),P.L. 114-47, allows certain individuals who currently or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies to compete under merit promotion procedures.

For Eligibility Information click here: USAJOBS Help Center | Land Management

Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority: Served as a qualified youth on an appropriate conservation project completing a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service that included at least 120 hours through the PLC and received a certificate of non-competitive eligibility. Completed most recent Corps service, for which a certificate of non-competitive eligibility was issued, within the last 2 years. Appointment must be effected within the 2-year period.

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 how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Flexibility
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork
  • Technical
In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Technical Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  1. Knowledge of wildlife species specific to the designated survey areas sufficient to complete the field investigation and gather required data within the timeframe allotted.
  2. Ability to capture, handle, and tag or collar various wildlife.
  3. Ability to collect biological and water resources data from field investigations and report findings.
  4. Knowledge of plant species specific to the designated survey areas sufficient to complete the field investigation and gather required data within the timeframe allotted.
  5. Ability to identify species from pictures, field guides, dichotomous keys, and written descriptions, and monitors them in riparian, upland, and/or coastal habitats.
  6. Skill in written communication sufficient to write reports.


Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

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