Do you want to work for a contemporary water management agency whose mission is to assist in meeting the increasing water demands of the West while protecting the environment and the public’s investment? Join the staff of the Bureau of Reclamation as a Student Trainee (Biological Science).
This is a temporary student internship opportunity under the Pathways Program. The major objective of the Pathways Program is to employ students, giving them a chance to work in a Federal agency and resume or continue their education without interruption caused by financial pressure. Students appointed may work part-time while school is in session and full-time (depending upon the needs of the agency) when students are on a vacation period or whenever the school is officially closed.
This position is located with the Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region, Phoenix Area Office, located in Glendale, AZ. Work will be performed in and around that area. You must be able to report to this location for duty by June 12, 2017 in order to be eligible for this job opportunity.
Additional vacancies may be filled from this vacancy announcement.
This position has no promotion potential and does not provide non-competitive eligibility for conversion to a term, career conditional or career appointment in the competitive service.
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 at the location designated will be the responsibility of the selected employee.
Summary
Do you want to work for a contemporary water management agency whose mission is to assist in meeting the increasing water demands of the West while protecting the environment and the public’s investment? Join the staff of the Bureau of Reclamation as a Student Trainee (Biological Science).
This is a temporary student internship opportunity under the Pathways Program. The major objective of the Pathways Program is to employ students, giving them a chance to work in a Federal agency and resume or continue their education without interruption caused by financial pressure. Students appointed may work part-time while school is in session and full-time (depending upon the needs of the agency) when students are on a vacation period or whenever the school is officially closed.
This position is located with the Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region, Phoenix Area Office, located in Glendale, AZ. Work will be performed in and around that area. You must be able to report to this location for duty by June 12, 2017 in order to be eligible for this job opportunity.
Additional vacancies may be filled from this vacancy announcement.
This position has no promotion potential and does not provide non-competitive eligibility for conversion to a term, career conditional or career appointment in the competitive service.
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 at the location designated will be the responsibility of the selected employee.
Assist biologist with updating the Gila River Basin Native Program website and conduct other information and education activities related to native fish.
Performs sampling using a wide range of equipment and methods.
Summarizes data using simple charts graphs, and routine reports.
Uses and maintains field equipment.
Performs routine office assignments.
Assist with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance
Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation;
Submit a resume, transcripts, and supporting documents; (See How to Apply)
For veterans consideration, submit document(s) under "Required Documents";
Subject to pre-employment physical and Pulmonary Function Test;
Must possess a valid State driver's license.
To be eligible for this opportunity, applicants must:
be at least 16 years of age or older;
be in good academic standing as defined by the school they are attending;
be a student who has been accepted for enrollment for next semester and must maintain at least a half-time course load as defined by your educational institution while serving in this position OR be a student who is currently enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in an accredited high school, technical or vocational school, 2-year or 4-year college or university, graduate or professional school.
Interns must continue to meet program eligibility requirements throughout the duration of the appointment
In addition, they must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Qualifications
Education/Experience Requirements: Must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment with an accredited college or university at least part-time, seeking a degree, and in good academic standing (as defined by the school).
GS-03: Completion of 1 full academic year of post-high school study.
Academic Year: At the undergraduate level, 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours is comparable to 1 year of undergraduate education. Four years of progressive study or 120 semester hours meets the degree requirements. At the graduate level, 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours.
A period of student trainee work experience is equal to 320 hours of work experience, if applicable.
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.
Telework: Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.
E-Verify: DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. For more information visit: http://www.sss.gov.
Equal Employment Opportunity: The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability and genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor.
Valid State Driver’s License. You must maintain a valid State Driver’s License at all times because you are required to drive government vehicles on government and public roads. If you fail to maintain a valid State Driver’s License at all times, you will be removed from your position.
Optional Form 306 (OF-306): Before final selection, you will be required to sign and certify the accuracy of the information in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.
Employment Conditions: - This is a temporary position, with a not-to-exceed date. When the not-to-exceed date is reached or whenever services are no longer needed, the selectee will be terminated from Federal Service. -Successful adjudication of personnel security investigation required. -All Federal employees are required by PL 104-134 to have federal payments made by direct deposit.
Pre-employment Physical: If selected, you are required to obtain and successfully pass a pre-employment physical examination by a licensed physician certifying to your ability to perform the duties of the position. This is not required if a comparable examination was required for placement in your current position and was completed within the last year; however, verifiable documentation of a comparable physical is required. Periodic (annual or biennial) physical examinations are required to be successfully passed for continued employment.
This position may be extended based on available funding.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
The selectee of this position is ineligible for benefits (e.g., life insurance; retirement including the Thrift Savings Plan; and long term care insurance). However, after 1 year of continuous service, the selectee of this position may become eligible to enroll in the health benefits program though at full cost at his/her own expense.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
After the vacancy announcement closes, a Human Resources Office representative will review your application/resume to ensure you meet the basic eligibility and minimum qualification requirements of the job. Your eligibility and qualification status will be based on an assessment questionnaire conducted using qualification standards, your responses to job-related questions, information provided in your resume, and required supporting documents (see the Required Documents section). Applicant’s answers to questions will be verified against information provided in their online resume. Be sure that the resume clearly supports the responses to all the questions by addressing experience, education and/or training relevant to this position.
Veterans’ preference applies to the selection for positions in the Pathways Program. The examination and selection of applicants will be made in accordance with the requirements of 5 CFR 302.
Applicants must make a fair and accurate assessment of their qualifications. Applicants rating themselves higher than is apparent in their description of experience, competencies, skills, and/or education/training OR whose resume/application is incomplete may be removed from employment consideration.
The duties of the position align with the following knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the duties of the position:
KSA 1: Knowledge of the organization's structure, work flow, terminology and procedures to comprehend and apply guides and instructions in support of staff biologist, archaeologist, and environmental specialist. KSA 2: Knowledge to operate commonly-used office and basic field/laboratory equipment, including vehicle equipment, for analyzing routine samples or assisting professionals with other operations. KSA 3: Knowledge, experience, and ability to operate motor vehicles. KSA 4: Knowledge and skill in using various computer programs to store and retrieve data and produce documents or reports
Category rating and selection procedures will be used for evaluating this position. If you meet the basic qualification requirements, your on-line responses to the vacancy assessment questionnaire will be used to determine the quality and extent of your experience, education, training, etc., for placement in one of the following categories: 1) Best Qualified, 2) Well Qualified and 3) Qualified. Veterans with preference will be placed at the top of their respective category. The assessment questionnaire will take you approximately 20 minutes to complete.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
The selectee of this position is ineligible for benefits (e.g., life insurance; retirement including the Thrift Savings Plan; and long term care insurance). However, after 1 year of continuous service, the selectee of this position may become eligible to enroll in the health benefits program though at full cost at his/her own expense.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
To be considered for this position, applicants are required to submit a resume (with dates of employment/education, i.e. month/day/year and hours per week spent in the activity), an on-line assessment questionnaire, and the following supporting documents, as appropriate:
1. Transcript(s): All applicants MUST furnish a copy of your college transcript(s), if applicable. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university, specific courses, and the number of semester/quarter hours currently enrolled. Applicants not currently enrolled must provide a student schedule for the upcoming semester/quarter verifying at least half-time enrollment status. If selected, applicants will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify their educational qualifications prior to reporting for work
2. Proof of Pathways Student Eligibility; Applicants must show proof such as a letter from their accredited U.S. educational institution that verifies:
they have been accepted for enrollment;
the degree/diploma/certification program in which they are enrolled;
that they are enrolled at least half-time (as defined by the school); and
their anticipated graduation date.
Please note: Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/ and U.S. Department of Education websites at http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html websites.
Foreign Education: If your education was completed or is from foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
3. DD-214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, if applicable; Applicants entitled to veterans’ preference must provide a copy of their DD-214, and should indicate on their application materials the type of veterans’ preference they are claiming. Veterans’ preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. -- For 5-point veterans' preference, submit a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 Copy), or an official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty, or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions. -- For 10-point veterans' preference, please submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, DD-214, and the required documentation requested by this form. --For information on veteran's eligibility visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide/
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
Applications (resume, assessment questionnaire, and supporting documents) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. When you're ready to apply, click the blue APPLY ONLINE button at the top of the page.
This vacancy is being announced through Bureau of Reclamation's Hiring System--HireMe. For more information about the HireMe system and the registration process, visit: http://www.usbr.gov/pmts/hr/hireme.html.
As part of the on-line application process, applicants may be required to submit supporting documents. Failure to submit the requested supporting documents may result in your not being considered for this position.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us at the phone number shown at the bottom of this page. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
P.O. Box 61470
Attn: LC-5413
Boulder City, NV 89006-1470
US
Next steps
After all application packages have been received, resumes, assessment questionnaires and transcripts will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. Qualified applicants will be referred to the selecting official in an unranked order and in accordance with rules regarding veterans' preference. After making a tentative job offer, a suitability and/or security background investigation will be conducted. A final job offer is typically made within 40 days after the deadline for applications. Applicants should monitor their status for positions with the Bureau of Reclamation, by regularly checking their public status notifications in their USAJOBS profile.
Candidates are advised to make no irrevocable employment decisions based on receiving an interview, or a tentative job offer.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To be considered for this position, applicants are required to submit a resume (with dates of employment/education, i.e. month/day/year and hours per week spent in the activity), an on-line assessment questionnaire, and the following supporting documents, as appropriate:
1. Transcript(s): All applicants MUST furnish a copy of your college transcript(s), if applicable. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university, specific courses, and the number of semester/quarter hours currently enrolled. Applicants not currently enrolled must provide a student schedule for the upcoming semester/quarter verifying at least half-time enrollment status. If selected, applicants will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify their educational qualifications prior to reporting for work
2. Proof of Pathways Student Eligibility; Applicants must show proof such as a letter from their accredited U.S. educational institution that verifies:
they have been accepted for enrollment;
the degree/diploma/certification program in which they are enrolled;
that they are enrolled at least half-time (as defined by the school); and
their anticipated graduation date.
Please note: Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/ and U.S. Department of Education websites at http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html websites.
Foreign Education: If your education was completed or is from foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
3. DD-214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, if applicable; Applicants entitled to veterans’ preference must provide a copy of their DD-214, and should indicate on their application materials the type of veterans’ preference they are claiming. Veterans’ preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. -- For 5-point veterans' preference, submit a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 Copy), or an official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty, or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions. -- For 10-point veterans' preference, please submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, DD-214, and the required documentation requested by this form. --For information on veteran's eligibility visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide/
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
Applications (resume, assessment questionnaire, and supporting documents) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. When you're ready to apply, click the blue APPLY ONLINE button at the top of the page.
This vacancy is being announced through Bureau of Reclamation's Hiring System--HireMe. For more information about the HireMe system and the registration process, visit: http://www.usbr.gov/pmts/hr/hireme.html.
As part of the on-line application process, applicants may be required to submit supporting documents. Failure to submit the requested supporting documents may result in your not being considered for this position.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us at the phone number shown at the bottom of this page. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
P.O. Box 61470
Attn: LC-5413
Boulder City, NV 89006-1470
US
Next steps
After all application packages have been received, resumes, assessment questionnaires and transcripts will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. Qualified applicants will be referred to the selecting official in an unranked order and in accordance with rules regarding veterans' preference. After making a tentative job offer, a suitability and/or security background investigation will be conducted. A final job offer is typically made within 40 days after the deadline for applications. Applicants should monitor their status for positions with the Bureau of Reclamation, by regularly checking their public status notifications in their USAJOBS profile.
Candidates are advised to make no irrevocable employment decisions based on receiving an interview, or a tentative job offer.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
