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Biological Science Technician

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary


These positions are Full-Time temporary positions not-to-exceed 1039 regular hours (about 6 months) in a service year. Positions may be terminated sooner or extended depending on management needs. Individuals selected under this vacancy announcement are eligible for rehire in subsequent service years.
The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for National Capital Regional Office is March - October, but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: March 2018

Noncompetitive/Special Hiring Authorities - Those eligible to be considered for this position based on a Special or Noncompetitive Hiring Authority (i.e., VRA, 30% or more Disabled Veterans, Schedule A, Returning Peace Corps Volunteers, VISTA Alumni, Certain, Military Spouses, Public Lands Corps Alumni, etc.) may apply for this position.

Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. All travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the sole responsibility of the selected employee.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
11/06/2017 to 11/20/2017
Salary
$36,281 to - $47,171 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 5
Location
Washington DC, DC
Few vacancies
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - 1040 hours
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Supervisory status
No
Announcement number
NC-1616-NCRO-18-10064135-DE
Control number
481965800

This job is open to

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Duties

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  • Implement invasive plant control in a wide variety of settings.
  • Mix and apply herbicides.
  • Operate and maintain mechanical equipment.
  • Supports park personnel with invasive plant control, identification, inventory and mapping methods.
  • Supports and advocates for the safety of the team and park employees as well as ensuring that all members follow established program protocols.
  • Supports storage and safe operation and use of pesticides, chain saws, personal protective equipment and other equipment as required.
  • Supports on the job training for team and park personnel in the areas of inventory and mapping and operational control of invasive plants.
  • Supports native plant restoration work including seedbed preparation, planting and initial maintenance.
  • Conducts resource monitoring programs

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.

  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, you may be required to submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
  • This position has a mixed work schedule based on the varying workload, and your work schedule is subject to change from part-time to full-time to on-call as workload dictates.

Qualifications

Specialized experience: Must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-04 grade level which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience includes research activity or control program work; nursery work that required the growing and maintenance of plants in a controlled environment; work in a field where weather, environment, and activity records were kept in accordance with established protocols. OR

Education: Successful completion of a full four (4) year course (120 semester hour or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or 24 semester hours of course work in a related field of scientific or technical study, such as in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics, or other directly-related subject matter. (At least 6 semester hours of this coursework was in plant, botany, or water management/analysis related subjects). OR

A combination of education and specialized experience as described above.

Volunteer 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.

You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your 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.

Additional information

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Individuals selected under this vacancy announcement are eligible for the possibility of extensions or rehire in subsequent service years.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Work requires physical exertion such as regular and recurring walking, hiking, or climbing over wet, rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; bending; crouching; stooping, lifting or reaching to observe, collect or record field data; or in some situations the work may require physical exertion.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed in an office or outdoors. Work performed involves regular and recurring exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Click the following link for more information, 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.

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Occupational Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

  • Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
  • Botany
  • Information Management
  • Oral Communication
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork
  • Technical Competence

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