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Biological Science Technician (Insects and Disease)

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located at the R3 Regional Office in Albuquerque, NM.

The incumbent is responsible for performing a variety of complex and recurring duties supporting Forest Health Protection/Pest management implementation.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Andrew Graves at andrew.graves@usda.gov.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/22/2022 to 08/26/2022
Salary
$45,102 to - $55,169 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 9
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Albuquerque, NM
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
9
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
22-R3SV-11537684-JG-DP
Control number
671774400

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Duties

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  • Duties listed are at the full performance level.
  • Performs project planning activities for pest management and forest health protection.
  • Designs, coordinates, and executes forest health protection/pest field and laboratory projects.
  • Develops work plans to select the methods for pest detection, collection, identification, and evaluation
  • Resolves administrative and safety concerns related to the project.
  • Conducts aerial and ground surveys, including forest health monitoring, biological evaluations, and pilot tests.

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.

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-7: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6); 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 (such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture); OR combinations of graduate level education that is directly related to the position, and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. Examples of specialized experience are:

  • Used tools such as a map, compass, or Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation, collected biological data and/or modified procedures in performing insect-related biology assignments and project activities;
  • Assisted in scheduling, organizing, and conducting field and laboratory projects for identifying pest problems;
  • Assessed technical support studies of field data in order to assist in preparing drafts and reports of insect and plant disease-related biological data and findings;
  • Compiled and summarized data obtained from aerial and ground surveys;
  • Received training on aerial detection surveying for insect and disease in biological science and/or forested environments.
For the GS-8: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-7); OR two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level education or master's degree if the coursework is directly related to the work of the position (such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture); OR combinations of graduate level education that is directly related to the position (in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. Examples of specialized experience are:
  • Scheduled and organized forest pest/forest health related projects for identifying pest problems;
  • Conducted field and laboratory projects for detecting, identifying, and evaluating insect and disease pests;
  • Compiled, consolidated, and assessed biological data from ground and aerial surveys;
  • Independently prepared charts, graphs, and/or reports to present results;
  • Assisted with aerial detection surveying for insect and disease in biological science and/or forested environments.
For the GS-9: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-8); OR two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level education or master's degree if the coursework is directly related to the work of the position (such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture); OR combinations of graduate level education that is directly related to the position (in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. Examples of specialized experience are:
  • Assisted in planning biological projects designed to detect, identify, and evaluate insect pests and plant diseases;
  • Assisted with developing reports related to biological science and/or forest health management;
  • Performed aerial detection surveying for insect and disease in biological science and/or forested environments;
  • Prepared reports on the development of new procedures and techniques.
The incumbent must have normal color and stereovision as this is essential for accurate recognition of discolored, injured vegetation.

Applicants should have the ability to fly in low-flying, small, fixed-wing aircraft with frequent turns and elevations change without incapacitating motion sickness for extended period of time.

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

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

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.

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

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed.

This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/

This is a non-bargaining unit position.


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 including removal from the Federal service.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11537684

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