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Biological Science Technician

Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is part of the Region 3 Fisheries.

**This is a Term appointment, not-to-exceed 13 months, which can be extended for a total appointment of up to 4 years.

**Salary will be based upon duty station and locality pay once selected. Locality tables may be found at
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2020/general-schedule/. (See 'Additional Information' for more salary information.)

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/06/2020 to 04/17/2020
Salary
$43,251 to - $56,222 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Locations
Carbondale, IL
Few vacancies
Wilmington, IL
Few vacancies
Alpena, MI
Few vacancies
Trenton, MI
Few vacancies
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - 13 months
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
R3-20-10784196-CO-DE
Control number
564734700

Duties

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Major duties of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Assist in planning and conducting biological surveys of waters for the conservation and rehabilitation of the fishery resources in large rivers, lakes, and streams, and on Federal land areas.
  • Conduct surveys to detect and monitor presence, movement, and abundance of aquatic invasive species to inform management decisions.
  • Conduct surveys to monitor presence, movement, and abundance of native fish species to inform management decisions.
  • Develop and use automated databases to enter, organize, and perform preliminary analysis of collected field data, using standard statistical methods in preparation of fisheries written and oral reports.
  • Operate a variety of field equipment commonly used in fisheries studies, including small watercraft, fish sampling gear (such as trawls, gill nets, fyke nets, and electrofishing), generators, cars and trucks, and cameras.

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
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
  • Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform required
  • Possess and maintain a valid state-issued driver's license for entirety of appointment

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 04/17/2020 will be considered.

You may qualify at the GS-07 level, if you fulfill one of the following qualification requirements:

  1. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrated your ability to collect, weigh, and measure fish and aquatic organisms; collect and record biological and physical data; operate, repair, and maintain equipment and materials used in stream and lake surveys and treatments; and use a variety of tools including maps, compass, GPS, computer, and other resources to navigate both in populated and remote areas; OR
  2. One full year of graduate education to substitute for specialized experience when the education is directly related to the work of the position, such as fisheries/ aquatics; OR
  3. Have a combination of education and experience as listed above.

Note: 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.

Education

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been or may be involuntarily separated (e.g. reduction in force, declining to relocate/transfer outside their local commuting area) from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified with a score of 85 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal or Removal Notice; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; or Removal and most recent performance appraisal.). For more information visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

Selective Service:To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System at https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx

Telework: FWS has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

More than one position may be filled from this announcement.

Relocation: A PCS move is not authorized.

Salary Range:

  • Alpena, MI; Ashland, WI; Carbondale, IL; Columbia, MO; New Franken, WI; Onalaska, WI: $43,251 - $56,222
  • Trenton, MI: $47,492 - $61,735
  • Wilmington, IL: $47,965 - $62,351
Condition of Employment:
  • Valid, state-issued driver's license
  • Official Fish and Wildlife Service uniform
Alternate Application: If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, go to https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information for information regarding an Alternate Application:

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the basic qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the basic qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience which resulted in you being listed in the highest quality category, you may lose consideration, or be assigned to a lower quality category for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

  • Technical knowledge of the principles, practices, and terminology related to fishery biology and fisheries management.
  • Ability to operate cars, trucks, small watercraft, and equipment used for fisheries studies.
  • Skill in observing, collecting, recording, and reporting biological, physical, and environmental data.
  • Ability to use computer technology to maintain and retrieve information from automated data systems, develop spreadsheets, and use word processing and statistical software programs in order to develop reports.
All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. The category ratings for this position are: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified.

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of Veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the basic qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 showing you were honorably discharged. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must attach an SF-15," Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" in addition to the proof required by that form.

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