Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Biological Science Technician

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

Summary

This position is a Biological Science Technician, GS- 0404-5/6 working in Willow Beach, AZ for the R2-Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery.


This position is also open to status candidates under announcement R2-23-11681708-MT-MP. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
10/17/2022 to 10/28/2022
Salary
$36,756 to - $53,265 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 6
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Willow Beach, AZ
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
6
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
R2-23-11681707-MT-DE
Control number
683604800

Duties

Help

The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-6. At lower grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence.

As a Biological Science Technician your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Incumbent performs a wide variety of duties related to all phases of fish hatchery production.
  • Collect, measure, and record biological information such as species, size, weight, sex, age, percentage mortalities, etc.
  • Monitor appearance and activity of fish for obvious signs of illness, disease, discontent, and general physical condition.
  • Administer preventative and curative disease treatment.
  • Conducts biological surveys following specific sampling procedures and protocols.
  • Computes, compiles, and analyzes routine data in tabular, graphic, or narrative form (e.g., production reports, distribution reports), reporting unusual or unexpected results in detail.
  • Operate and perform limited maintenance on a wide variety of fish trapping, sorting, counting, passage, and distribution structures and equipment.
  • Operate complex equipment systems such as gates, pumps, valves, filters, and sterilizers, to regulate water quantity and quality.
  • Uses word processing equipment to create, copy, edit, store, retrieve, and print a variety of documents. Transcribes correspondence and reports into proper format from electronic and hand written drafts. Reviews correspondence and other documents, checks for and corrects spelling, typographical errors, and conformance to formats. Incorporates tables
    and graphics into documents and prepares indexes and/or tables of content.
  • Composes routine correspondence. Ensures proper format and grammatical correctness, obtains all required clearances and signatures, distributes and marks copies for filing as necessary. Provides administrative guidance to field station
    personnel related to current policies, procedures, and regulations. Develops record systems which control the location, arrangement, and use of active files, and systematic retention and/or disposal of records according to established plans. Maintains reference files of frequently consulted regulations, policies, directives, and other material.
  • Processes invoices for payment and reconciles payments with monthly and year-end financial reports. Reconciles charge card statements (vehicles and personal), verifies that supporting documentation is provided, ensures correct cost code is assigned and obtains approvals.
  • Receives telephone calls, visitor inquiries, and incoming email or fax messages, and monitors voicemail. Responds to general inquiries. Directs callers and visitors to the appropriate office/individual, directs technical inquiries to the correct party, and takes and delays messages.
  • Researches vendor catalogs, previous purchases, and obtains price quotes for supply or equipment items needed by the office. Prepares manual or automated acquisition requests and forwards request to authorized purchaser to place order.
  • Transcribes data from unedited and un-coded source documents into a computer, uses general knowledge of content to recognize, question, and/or correct erroneous or out of range data; maintains databases, and generates standard database reports.
  • Conducts the inventory of all nonexpendable property and accountable documents. Initiates transfer and survey documents necessary to reconcile the annual inventory. Maintains property files and location of IT equipment.
  • Ensures that required documentation is submitted to the Regional Office for a variety of personnel actions and enters the electronic personnel action request in the integrated personnel/payroll system.
  • Serves as timekeeper for the immediate office and also backup for other offices. Advises on proper codes for use on electronic time keeping system, responds to routine questions involving topics such as earning and using leave,
    overtime, and hazardous duty pay.
  • Maintains general and specialized files and filing system; files and retrieves information; reviews and purges obsolete material; and forwards material requiring long term retention to appropriate staging area or archive.
  • Performs user level maintenance on office machines such as copiers and printers, to include clearing paper jams, replacing toner cartridges, filling paper, and calling maintenance provider for repairs beyond the user level. Maintains a stock of consumable office supplies, ordering or restocking replacement stock when necessary. Makes photocopies Maintains paper and electronic office directories, mailing lists, organizational rosters and databases. Orients new employees to the office, assists with obtaining facility and IT access, introduces to coworkers and counterparts in other offices, and assistants with other in-processing requirements. Relays messages between office supervisor and staff on
    office policies.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How to Apply).
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
  • Driver's License: Selectees MAY be required to possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during their tenure.
  • Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform MAY be required.
  • Probationary Period: Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 10/28/2022 will be considered.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification.

Minimum Qualification [GS-5]

  1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-5 in the Federal service that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and that was in the same field or field directly related to this position.. Specialized experience may include 1) collecting and managing biological data; 2) collecting and recording written and computerized data; 3) operate equipment such as gates, pumps, valves, filters, and sterilizers to regulate water quantity and quality; 4) conducting fish culture activities such as feeding, cleaning, and/or monitoring fish rearing units; 5) composing routine correspondence ensuring proper format and grammar. OR
  2. Successfully completed a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study, or at least 24 semester hours, in any combination of courses in biology, chemistry, statistics, microbiology, genetics, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture or mathematics, AND which includes at least 6 semester hours in fisheries related course work. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, or the equivalent in an accredited college or university. OR
  3. A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement
Minimum Qualification [GS-6]
  1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-5 in the Federal service that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and that was in the same field or field directly related to this position. Experience may include 1) collecting, measuring, and recording biological data; 2) procuring supplies, equipment, or services for an organization in accordance with regulations governing the type of purchase; 3) conducting biological surveys involving fish; 4) Operate complex equipment systems such as gates, pumps, valves, filters, and sterilizers to regulate water quantity and quality; 5) compiling and analyzing biological data into production report; 6) transcribing correspondence and reports into proper format. OR
  2. Completed at least 9 semester hours of graduate level education in course work directly related to the work of this position, such as fishery biology, ichthyology, limnology, aquaculture, etc. OR
  3. A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement

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


PCS INFORMATION:
-No PCS entitlements authorized

TELEWORK:
This position is suitable for telework and may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.

Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.

Prolonged standing, walking, stooping, bending and climbing are required, as are lifting carrying, and setting up equipment. Items up to 10 pounds are lifted frequently, and objects weighing 50 pounds or more are handled occasionally.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP):Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP and ICTAP click here

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire

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 based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

Skill in general office support activities such as: user maintenance and obtaining repairs for equipment; maintaining supply stocks; taking and relaying messages; taking meeting notes; and sorting and distributing mail.

Knowledge of standard methods, techniques, tools, and equipment of fish culture.

Knowledge of the appearance, behavior, and life cycles of fish sufficient to perform the full range of fish culture duties from spawning through release/distribution.

Knowledge of equipment use and maintenance, including hatchery water system- to regulate water quality and quantity.

Skill in basic written communication skills in order to prepare simple letters or memoranda, prepare summaries of documents, write instructions, or relay messages.

Attention to Detail
Customer Service
Flexibility
Influencing/Negotiating
Integrity/Negotiating
Interpersonal Skills
Learning
Reading
Self-Management
Stress Tolerance
Teamwork

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

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 protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the 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).

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.