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Elk Reduction Worker

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

Summary

This position serves as an elk reduction team leader assigned to lead groups of skilled volunteers tasked with the lethal removal of elk from the park. This position provides direction to no more than four volunteers performing demanding work under challenging field conditions. Routine use of GPS units, range finders, spotting scopes, rifles, hand-held radios, and data loggers is required to efficiently locate and remove elk, collect biological samples, record accurate data, and lead volunteers.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Posted 06/17/21
Location
3 vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$21.61 - $25.22 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 7
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Temporary - 1039 hours
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
MW-1542-THRO-21-11143878-DE
Control number
604701000

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Duties

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  • Works closely with supervisors, volunteer coordinators, and team leaders, daily, to ensure the safety of the team and maximize reduction success in the field.
  • Provides direct oversight and leadership to a team comprised of two to four volunteers engaged in elk reduction activities (i.e., locating, shooting, field dressing, recording data, collecting samples, quartering, and packing out elk).
  • Interpreting GPS location data of elk, to determine the safest method and route for removal activities.
  • Maintains field equipment assigned to the team to include packs, firearms, knives, electronics, vehicles, and optics.
  • Promotes safe operations and ensures standard elk reduction protocols are closely followed.
  • Routinely operates field radios and navigational equipment.
  • Ensures that salvageable meat is being recovered efficiently, safely, and quickly.
  • Routinely navigates and leads pack crew teams into rugged back-country terrain (approximately eight to ten miles) to remove elk and pack out meat.
  • Records field data and collects biological and morphological samples/measurements at each kill site in addition to assisting in record-keeping and shipping samples to appropriate labs.
  • Carries sixty to eighty pounds of meat in a pack across rugged and slippery terrain, in various weather conditions, daily.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Appointment subject to medical evaluation to ensure applicant's ability to meet the physical requirements of this position.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
  • Direct Deposit: Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors:

  • Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREEN OUT)
  • Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (other than blueprints)
  • Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Dexterity and Safety
  • Knowledge of materials
  • Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic)
  • Use of Measuring Instructions


SCREEN OUT: Able to perform the most difficult and complex elk removal and reduction worker tasks associated with a reduction/removal program. Supervised more than four other workers in the performance of such tasks as a regular part of my duties. Have extensive experience in locating elk using "sign" (e.g., tracks and feces and other indicators of presence); field dressing large game animals to include gutting, skinning, quartering, and packaging of meat for packing; navigating with a compass, map, and/or GPS unit. Have operated, maintained, and repaired a high-powered rifle associated with the duties of this position as a regular part of my duties.

If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors.

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.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions.

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.

Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 or 1730 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS).

If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility.

The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.

Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.

Physical Demands: Approximately 60-75 percent of the work week will be in the field and considered extremely strenuous in nature. Frequent lifting of objects (packs, equipment, elk meat) up to 75 pounds will be required and crawling, bending, stooping, and crossing rivers will be common during the daily pursuit and processing of elk. Administrative and other office-related duties are generally sedentary in nature, requiring the ability to sit and concentrate for extended periods of time.

Working Conditions: Weather conditions during fall and winter could range from 80° to -30°F, with wind, snow and rain events common. While in the field, exposure to biting insects, high winds, venomous. snakes, bison and other wildlife, and high pollen levels can be expected. The incumbent will be required to pack heavy loads over moderate to steep terrain under dry, slippery, snowy, or icy conditions where vegetation may be non-existent to dense but provides little protection from the elements. In addition two-way radio and GPS equipment, incumbent will be required to carry and safely operate a firearm while in the field.

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.

National Park Service

The Department of Interior places a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspectives and encourages applications from all interested eligible candidates, including candidates from all ethnic and racial backgrounds, women, LGBT individuals, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Please visit find a park for additional park information.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is located in the badlands of western North Dakota. The park consists of three separate Units: The South Unit, Elkhorn Ranch Unit, and North Unit. The colorful Little Missouri River Badlands provide a scenic backdrop to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which is home to a variety of plants and abundant wildlife, including bison, elk, wild horses, and bighorn sheep to name a few. The headquarters office is located in the South Unit. The position is based at park headquarters in Medora (population 100), which is located on I-94, 26 miles from the Montana line. Medora is a mostly seasonal town with a wider variety of services available from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Services in winter are limited but include a U.S. Post Office, bank, restaurant, convenience store/gas station, and a few shops. For more information about the park go to www.nps.gov/thro. For information about Medora, ND go to www.medorand.com

Agency contact information

MWR HR West Team
Phone
(605) 745-3663 X224
Email
mwr_nekota_hr@nps.gov
Address
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
PO Box 7, 315 2nd Ave
Medora, ND 58645
US

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