Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Biologicial Science Technician (Wildlife)

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

Summary

The position is to perform a wide variety of interrelated or nonstandard biological science technical support assignments. Assists in conducting wildlife censuses and surveys and assembles basic information on wildlife populations.Collects data on condition of forage, range, or streams and makes preliminary determinations. Assists in the preparation of reports, plans, and guidelines. Enters and retrieves data from Geographic Information System (GIS) and/or other information management systems.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
12/26/2018 to 01/02/2019
Salary
$16 to - $16 per hour
Pay scale & grade
GS 5
Location
6 vacancies in the following location:
International Falls, MN
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel: You may be required to travel overnight away from home a few nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - 1039 Hours The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period is March - October 2019 but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: 3/31/2019
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
MW-1542-VOYA-19-10361006-DE
Control number
519877300

Duties

Help

This is a temporary, full-time position stationed at International Falls, MN. You will spend your time on a variety of wildlife ecology and management tasks, including wildlife surveys, wildlife capture and handling, vegetation/habitat surveys, and general natural resource management. Some data entry/data management, including use of ArcGIS, will also be integral to this position. Voyageurs National Park is a water-based park and travel by motorboat is required to conduct fieldwork. You will be expected to work in a variety of environmental conditions; weather can vary from near-freezing temperatures with rain and snow in May to hot and humid weather in late summer. You must be in good physical condition and able to hike one-way distances of up to 6 miles over rough terrain while carrying loads of 50 pounds or more. Biting insects or other pests such as black flies, deer flies, mosquitoes, and ticks are common.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Motorboat Operation/Instructor Certification: Applicant must possess or be able to obtain a current Motorboat Operator Certification (MOCC) or Motorboat Operator Instructor Certification (MOICC). If you do not possess this certification, you must be willing and able to participate in the necessary training needed to obtain a Motorboat Operator Certification (MOCC). Motorboat Operator Certification (MOCC) training will be provided for you. Include a copy of your MOCC certification with your resume.
  • Direct Deposit: Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • Drug Testing: You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
  • Incidental Driving: 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.
  • Uniform: You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • Work Schedule: You may be required to work evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
  • Government Housing: maybe available

Qualifications

Voyageurs National Park is a water-based park, where motorboat operation is the primary means of travel to/from the work sites, in a variety of weather conditions. This certification is required to complete the major job duties assigned to this position.

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess at least one or all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: wildlife management or research activities; collecting scientific data on wildlife; implementing/assisting with wildlife monitoring programs; testing and/or assessing wildlife; farm work where scientific methods are used on animals; or other related work. You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion a full four year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture or mathematics.At least 6 semester hours are directly related to the position such wildlife biology, zoology, ornithology, etc. IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: If you are using education to qualify you must document your coursework and/or degree completed in your resume or other application materials you submit. You must submit a copy of your transcripts or a complete list of college courses taken that identifies for each course the college or university, semester or quarter hours earned, grade received, and date completed. If you are qualifying based on education and you do not submit specific coursework information as described previously, your application may be rated not qualified for consideration. (A copy of your official transcripts will be required before entrance on duty, if selected).
. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
Combination: Successful combination of specialized experience as described above and education as described which total 100 percent. Only education beyond the 60 semester hours above high school is considered qualifying when combined with specialized experience. Thirty semester hours beyond the first 60 is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. For example, 6 month of specialized experience (50% of the specialized experience requirement) and 90 semester hours with at least 12 semester hours related to the position and 3 hours directly related to the position (50 % of the education requirement) would be considered qualifying. NOTE: If you are qualifying based in part, upon education, you MUST submit a copy of your 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

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: The 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 to scuba dive or operate a boat. Heavy items (e.g., equipment and packs up to 50 pounds) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis.

Working Conditions: The work is performed in an office or outdoors. The work performed involves regular and recurring exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals.

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 Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can 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:
  • Physical Strength and Agility
  • Research
  • Teamwork
  • Technology Application
  • Vehicle Operation
  • Wildlife Biology

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.