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As a Biological Science Technician (Fisheries) within the Great Lakes Science Center, some of your specific duties will include:

• Conducts field studies and surveys to collect fisheries data and/or specimens. Collects and organizes field data using a variety of data collection methods, techniques, procedures, and equipment.
• Provides the full range of coordination, logistical support, and area orientation for contract and cooperating scientists and technicians.
• Compiles, analyzes, and summarizes field and lab data for preparation of final reports and publications.
• Identifies species, counts and measures zooplankton and benthos in fields samples.
• Operates a government owned or leased motor vehicle as an incidental driver. Operates and maintains boat less than 26 feet in length.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The work involves bending, walking, and a moderate amount of physical exertion. Field work will require the ability to lift or pull objects weighing up to 75 pounds. In many field situations, the duration of the activity (such as most of a workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. In other situations, such as in a laboratory, there may be special requirements for agility or dexterity such as exceptional hand/eye coordination (e.g., sorting plankton or larval fish samples under a microscope). Physical ability to handle live fish in the laboratory is required.
If/when field work is aboard research vessels less than 26 feet requires: (1) The incumbent be able to stand and walk with moderate pitching and rolling of the vessel. (2) The incumbent must not be prone to debilitating seasickness.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Duties are performed in a laboratory setting, consisting of an office and wet laboratory facilities, or aboard fisheries research vessels less than 26 feet. In the laboratory, adherence to established biosafety guidelines is required. The technician also may be required to wade in shallow water bodies (wetlands, rivers, lake shorelines) and traverse rocky areas and beaches. In order to minimize risk to self and others, the incumbent must be diligent in maintaining a safe work environment and promulgate safe work practices. The incumbent may be exposed extreme temperatures varying from below zero to 90 degrees Fahrenheit as well as to adverse weather conditions.

This vacancy is limited to the first 75 applications received and will close at midnight Eastern Time on the day this application limit is reached regardless of the closing date specified in this vacancy announcement. Any application received prior to midnight Eastern Time of the day the application limit is reached will be accepted and considered. You are strongly encouraged to submit all required supporting documents at the time of application should the vacancy close earlier than stated in this announcement due to the applicant limit being reached. Supporting documents will not be accepted once the vacancy announcement closes.

Conditions of employment

Key Requirements:

1. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
2. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
3. Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period.
4. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
5. Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record.
6. Must be able to obtain and maintain DOI's Motorboat Operator Certification Course
7. Selectee subject to successful completion of a pre-employment medical exam.

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?

• Pre-Employment Medical - Taking and passing a pre-employment medical examination at Federal expense is required due to the physical demands of this job.
• Driver's License/Driving Record - You will be required to operate a government-owned or -leased vehicle in the performance of your official duties. Applicants for this position must meet the following requirements:(1) possess a valid State license, and (2) possess a safe driving record. If selected, you will be required to provide proof of a valid State license & a copy of your driving record.
• Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment. Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued.

• A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
• Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualifications

For GS-07:

Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-07 level:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 level in the Federal service that is in or related to the duties of this position. Specialized experience may include work as a technician or aid in a research activity or control program work, nursery work that required the growing and maintenance of plants in a controlled environment, or work comparable to that with a large dairy farm where production records, animal environment, and sanitary conditions were kept in accordance with modern dairy practice if it equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. Farming experience that was not performed in a controlled environment, or experience as a laborer who was not responsible for planning and scheduling his/her own work, but only performed assigned tasks, would not qualify as specialized experience.

Examples of GS-06 level assignments include: 1) collecting insect and disease samples and assisting in the identification & damage assessment of any problems they have caused; compiling and summarizing data from surveys, biological evaluations, and pilot tests; and/or running routine computer programs and checking resulting data for inconsistencies; 2) assembling basic information on fish and/or wildlife populations such as habitat use, sex and age structure, seasonal movement and harvest characteristics; 3) assuming responsibility for limited projects such as maintaining a network of seasonal traps; 4) collecting anatomical materials and making preliminary assessments of such things as habitat preference and population dynamics. For examples 1-4, a designated authority initially provided direction on the priorities and objectives for work assignments and assisted with any unusual situations that did not have clear precedents.

**OR applicants may substitute successful completion of 1 year of appropriate graduate level education (18 semester hours, 27 quarter hours or the equivalent) in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics or other field of study directly related to the work of this position for the required 1 year of specialized experience if it provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of this position.

**OR applicants may substitute a combination of appropriate specialized experience (as described above) and appropriate graduate level education (as described above) that is beyond the first 1/2 year of progressive graduate study to meet the qualification requirements.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

--Basis of Rating: 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 occupational questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. Category rating will be used in the ranking and selection process for this position. The quality categories are Best Qualified, Qualified. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Attention to Detail
• Biology
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Self-Management
• Teamwork

• Technology Application
• Collect Scientific Data
• Laboratory Techniques
• Interpersonal Communication
• Leadership & Supervision
• Pressure/Deadlines
• Scientific Knowledge

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and occupational questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

--NOTE: 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.

To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12317865