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Biological Science Technician (Plants)

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This announcement is for three positions. Two will be filled on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Please contact Michael Martin at 715-264-2511 ext 2222, email michael.a.martin@usda.gov for more information. One will be filled on the White Mountain National Forest. Please contact Leighlan Prout at 603-536-6223 email leighlan.prout@usda.gov for more information.

These positions will be permanent full-time seasonals. See below for more information about the duties of these positions.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
11/18/2019 to 11/21/2019
Salary
$42,053 to - $42,053 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Locations
3 vacancies in the following locations:
Campton, NH
Glidden, WI
Hayward, WI
Lakewood, WI
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel for site visits, meetings, and/or training may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
20-R9GVSEP-404-Plants-7DP
Control number
551601100

Duties

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  • Coordinate with a specialist to plan and conduct a variety of field studies of native and non-native botanical species and their habitats.
  • Develop plans to collect data for use in habitat and species condition analyses.
  • Collect survey and inventory data to determine species identity, population characteristics, environmental conditions, and factors affecting the vigor and extent of the species and their habitat.
  • Maintain records of data collected and produce maps of survey areas.
  • Schedule, organize, and execute botanical projects involving native and/or non-native species.
  • Compile and summarize data collected from surveys, inventories, biological evaluations, and monitoring.
  • Evaluate data and make recommendations for improvement of habitat.
  • Assist with analysis, interpretation, and refinement of botanical data, and development of reports.
  • Independently coordinate work efforts with other technician, professionals, and scientists who are involved with relevant projects.
  • Collect native plant seed and propagate native plants.
  • Conduct habitat improvement projects benefiting wildlife, including pollinators.
  • Control non-native and invasive plants through hand, mechanical, and chemical methods.
  • Positions will be full-time seasonal on an 18-8 schedule.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
  • The positions on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest will be bargaining unit positions represented by the National Federation of Federal Employees, IAMAW.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

For the GS-07 level: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as one or more of the following: Performing field work for projects related to vegetation management and botany including taking measurements, recording observations, and identifying common native and non-native plants; Assisting with conducting surveys for sensitive plants in project areas that included on-the-ground reconnaissance and record examination; Recording and compiling vegetation and botanical data for use in analysis and reporting

OR One full year (18 semester/27 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level coursework that is directly related to the work of the position botany, plant science, plant biology, horticulture, or general biology, environmental studies, environmental conservation, entomology, ecology disciplines with an emphasis on plants

OR Combination of graduate level education as described above that is directly related to the position and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

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.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered.

This announcement will be used to fill positions with a seasonal work schedule where full-time work is guaranteed for 18 pay periods and when not working, you will be placed in non-pay/non-duty status.

For the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, one position will be filled on the Great Divide Ranger District with a duty station of either Glidden, or Hayward, Wisconsin, and one position will be filled on the Lakewood/Laona Ranger District with a duty station of Lakewood, Wisconsin.

For the White Mountain National Forest, one position will be filled on the Ecosystem Management Team with a duty location of Campton, New Hampshire.

The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.

This position is being concurrently announced under Merit Promotion Announcement Number 20-R9GVSEP-404-Plants-7G. Current or former Federal employees or other eligible applicants may apply to both announcements to expand all possibilities of consideration since different referral criteria apply to each type of announcement. See the above announcement for more information.

Forest Service daycare is not available.

Government housing may be available.

These positions are not eligible for telework.

How you will be evaluated

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

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

You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. You will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Individuals with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to and including removal from the Federal service.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10651979

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