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Biological Science Technician (Plants)

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

Summary

This position is located within the National Park Service, Pacific West Region, at Death Valley National Park, in the Resources Management Division in Death Valley, California.

This position is a Permanent, Full-Time position.

Under this announcement, we are accepting applications from: U.S. Citizens

This job announcement is open to receive applications from the first 50 applicants. The job announcement will remain open until either the quota of 50 applicants, or December 06, 2017 is reached. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration, even those that exceed the 50 applicant limit.

Tribal Preference: "In employing individuals to perform any construction, maintenance, interpretation, or other service in the park, the Secretary (Selecting Official) shall, in so far as practical, give first preference to qualified members of the Tribe": (Timbisha Shoshone Homeland Act, Nov 2000). To receive current preference eligibility, members of the TIMBISHA SHOSHONE TRIBE must submit a copy (not the original) of the letter certifying their tribal membership.

Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will be paid if the selectee lives outside of the local commuting area and is otherwise eligible for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
11/29/2017 to 11/30/2017
Salary
$40,684 to - $52,893 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Death Valley, CA
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Announcement number
PW-1547-DEVA-17-10036284-DE
Control number
485356600

This job is open to

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Duties

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This position requires the experience and ability to safely hike several miles in a day carrying heavy items, such as equipment packs weighing up to 50 pounds, on a regular basis.

The purpose of this position is to perform a wide variety of Biological Science technical support functions. Technician work is typically associated with and supportive of a professional field; work may involve substantial elements of the work of the professional field, but requires less than full knowledge of the field involved. This position is intended to report to a Specialist or Resources Manager in the same or a related field. Performs biological activities and implements natural resource projects to (1) biological inventory and monitoring activities by conducting field surveys in remote locations to document and assess animal presence, abundance, management issues, and population dynamics using established protocols and standard scientific equipment; (2) one or more aspects of vegetation management such as: basic vegetation inventories, surveys to determine plant species composition, density, percent cover and vegetation change using established protocols; participating in site rehabilitation, restoration projects or weed treatments; and conducting habitat surveys; and (3) use of standard scientific equipment to effectively and efficiently carry out field work such as: GPS, radio telemetry equipment, field tablets, vegetation sampling equipment, hand tools, communication devices, and safety equipment. In carrying out this work, following established protocols and record data using computer software such as Microsoft Access, Excel, Word, ArcGIS, Pathfinder Office or comparable 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 will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also 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 disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • If you are a new employee in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 2-7 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.

Qualifications

All qualification requirements (including any applicable selective factors) must be met by the closing date of the announcement in order to be considered.

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience for this position includes: Work involving a combination of (1) biological inventory and monitoring activities by conducting field surveys in remote locations to document and assess animal presence, abundance, management issues, and population dynamics using established protocols and standard scientific equipment; (2) one or more aspects of vegetation management such as: basic vegetation inventories, surveys to determine plant species composition, density, percent cover and vegetation change using established protocols; participating in site rehabilitation, restoration projects or weed treatments; and conducting habitat surveys; and (3) use of standard scientific equipment to effectively and efficiently carry out field work such as: GPS, radio telemetry equipment, field tablets, vegetation sampling equipment, hand tools , communication devices and safety equipment. In carrying out this work I followed established protocols and recorded data using computer software such as Microsoft Access, Excel, Word, ArcGIS, Pathfinder Office, or comparable ones.
(You must include hours per week worked.)

-OR-

EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one full year of graduate level education (18 semester hours OR 27 quarter hours) of graduate study in Biology, Entomology, Botany or Agriculture from an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education). OR a combination of specialized experience and graduate level education. If using education to qualify, you must include transcripts. If using education to qualify, you must include transcripts.

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

If you would like more information about this position, please contact:
Josh Hoines, Chief of Resources
760-786-3253
josh_hoines@nps.gov

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

Physical Demands: Heavy items (e.g., equipment and packs up to 50 pounds) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis.

  • Exerts oneself physically over long periods of time without tiring (which may include performing repetitive tasks such as data entry or coding).
  • Conduct safely fieldwork requiring regular physical exertion such as walking or climbing over wet, rough, uneven and/or rocky surfaces to observe, collect and/or record field data
  • Hike safely several miles in a day carrying heavy items, such as equipment packs weighing up to 50 pounds, on a regular basis
  • Lead crews and work in remote areas under adverse weather conditions
  • Use and maintain hand tools and field equipment such as Pulaski, reciprocating saw, rock bar, shovels, hand lens and plant presses
  • Make accurate field observations of natural resource conditions in remote field locations

Working Conditions:The work is performed in an office, laboratory, and in the field. Field work includes exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, pesticides, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals. Laboratory work may involve exposure to hazardous chemicals.

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:
  • Biology
  • Decision Making
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Quality Management
  • Stamina
  • Technology Application
  • Writing

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