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Biological Sciences Technician (Fisheries)

Department of the Interior
Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Northwest Region
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Superintendent, Flathead Agency, Flathead Irrigation Project in Saint Ignatius, Montana.


NOTE:
TRAVEL AND RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE AUTHORIZED. ANY RELOCATION EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH REPORTING FOR DUTY WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SELECTED EMPLOYEE.

This position will support the Federal Government's response efforts to COVID-19.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
04/15/2020 to 05/06/2020
Salary
$43,251 to - $56,222 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Saint Ignatius, MT
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - May be required for training, meetings or work related activities.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Seasonal - Seasonal and subject to PLACEMENT IN NON-PAY STATUS when services are not needed due to lack of work.
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
7
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Q Access Authorization
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
NW-20-79
Control number
565749800

Duties

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  • Collect and deliver water supply to water users.
  • Operate, construct and maintain fish screens and passages.
  • Assist in monitoring the in-stream fish flow.
  • Operate tools and equipment to repair structures of concrete, metal, and wood.
  • Read and interpret blueprints and other drawings to maintain and repair fish screens and facility passages.
  • Assist with planning of work schedules and budgets of the facility to protect fishery activities.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472). Form BIA -4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference.
  • You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit
  • You may be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
  • A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
  • Incumbent is required to operate a government motor vehicle, must possess a valid driver's license, and have a safe driving record within the 3 year period immediately preceding submittal of GSA Form 3607.
  • This position is subject to both pre-employment and random drug testing as a condition of employment. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.
  • Position is SEASONAL and subject to PLACEMENT IN NON-PAY STATUS when services are not needed due to lack of work, funds, or unforeseen circumstances as designated during the year, a minimum of 2 weeks and maximum of 26 weeks.
  • As a minor duty, incumbent may be required to work as an Irrigation System Operator on a temporary basis, for delivery of irrigation water.

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for Technical and Medical Support positions, GS-0404).

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
GS-7:
1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level. Specialized experience in operating tools and welding skills needed to construct equipment to operate fish screens and passage structures to capture and handle instream fish flows and protect the fish. Monitor in-stream fish flows, carry out fishery program activities, protect and maintain fishery facility. OR 1 full year of graduate level education courses in a field of study directly related to the position to be filled such as in biology, microbiology, marine biology, botany wildlife biology, ecology, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture or mathematics or other field of study directly related to the work of this position. OR, a combination of specialized experience and education.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: Graduate education must be related to the occupation and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Merit Promotion candidates must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the announcement closing date.

Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472).

Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur in the same location within 90 days from the closing date.

Education

If you are qualifying based on your education, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

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.

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.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education which shows the 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. For further information, visit: FOREIGN EDUCATION

Additional information

All new hires earn the beginning salary of their pay grade (Step 1). See 2020 Salary Tables here and select the duty station from the Saint Ignatius, Montana to choose the appropriate pay chart. If no specific chart is listed for this geographic location, see the "rest of U.S." chart.

The full performance level of this position is GS-7.

TELEWORK: Indian Affairs has determined that the duties of the position are not suitable for telework under any circumstances.

You will be required to operate a government-owned or leased motor vehicle in the performance of duties, therefore, a valid driver's license is required. Incumbent must have a safe driving record within the three-year period immediately preceding submittal of GSA Form 3607 and be able to meet the safe driving requirements of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated 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 for the position with a score of 85 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

Certain candidates may be eligible to apply under a special hiring authority including those for disabled individuals, Peace Corps employees, Foreign Service employees, veterans, etc. For more information, visit the following OPM websites: USAJOBS Information Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/; Vets Info Guide: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/.

Former Federal Employees are required to indicate whether they received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) buyout in their previous employment with the Federal government, and are required to submit a copy of the applicable Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) regarding the VSIP. Most individuals who accept reemployment with the Federal government within 5 years of receiving the VSIP amount, must repay the gross amount of the separation pay prior to reemployment.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application package will be evaluated against the minimum qualification requirements specified above. In order to qualify, your resume must specifically describe your work history and the duties you performed in each position. Your resume will be evaluated after the closing date of 05/06/2020 to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position. Competencies measured include:

  • Administration and Management
  • Fishery Biology
  • Reading

We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. If the information in your resume does not support your responses to the assessment questions, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your qualifications.

Qualified Indian preference candidates will be referred to the hiring manager in order of veterans' preference.

You may preview the assessment questions here in the https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10796612.

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