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Biological Science Technician (Insects & Disease)

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Multiple positions being filled in support of the Wildland Fire Crisis Strategy. These positions are responsible for responsible for performing a variety of duties supporting forest health protection and pest management implementation.

For duty location and grade level information visit Biological Science Technician and Archeology Careers | US Forest Service (usda.gov).

For additional information about the duties of these positions, please contact sm.fs.nationalhire@usda.gov.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/19/2023 to 08/02/2023
Salary
$51,713 to - $57,118 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 8 - 9
Locations
Boise, ID
1 vacancy
Coeur d'Alene, ID
1 vacancy
Missoula, MT
2 vacancies
Santa Fe, NM
1 vacancy
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
Yes—A recruitment or relocation incentive, or reimbursement of relocation expenses may be authorized at the discretion of management in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
00 - Promotion Potential will vary based on position filled and will either be at the GS-08 or GS-09 grade level.
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
23-WCS-ID-12056303-DH
Control number
737967100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

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Duties

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  • Performs project planning activities concerning pest management and forest health protection.
  • Develops a project work plan which includes selecting the methods for pest detection, collection, identification, evaluation, and pilot testing.
  • Conducts aerial and ground surveys including forest health monitoring, biological evaluations, and pilot tests to collect the data required.
  • Studies and evaluates data and writes up methods, findings, recommendations, and other conclusions for approval.

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.

For the GS-08 grade level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as two or more of the following: executing forest pest/forest health related projects for identifying pest problems; and/or compiling and assessing insect and disease biological data from ground and aerial surveys; and/or recording forest damage from insects and pathogens, and conducting routine analyses.

OR

Two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level education or master's degree with coursework that is directly related to the work of the position (such as biological sciences, entomology, insect taxonomy, insect physiology, insect ecology, or plant pathology).

OR

A combination of graduate level education with coursework that is directly related to the work of the position such as biological sciences, entomology, insect taxonomy, insect physiology, insect ecology, or plant pathology) in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours and specialized experience.

For the GS-09 grade level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-08 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as two or more of the following: assisting with planning biological projects designed to detect, identify, and evaluate insect pests and plant diseases; and/or developing reports related to biological science and/or forest health management; and/or conducting aerial and ground surveys, including forest health monitoring, biological evaluations, and pilot tests to collect data.

OR

Two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level education or master's degree with coursework that is directly related to the work of the position (such as biological sciences, entomology, insect taxonomy, insect physiology, insect ecology, or plant pathology).

OR

A combination of graduate level education with coursework that is directly related to the work of the position (such as biological sciences, entomology, insect taxonomy, insect physiology, insect ecology, or plant pathology) in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours and specialized 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

See above for education that may be qualifying for the specific grade level.

Additional information

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.

Final determination of the duty station will be made by the selecting official at the time of the job offer. Pay rates vary depending on location, the salary shown is for the Rest of the U.S. See OPM.gov for additional information on pay rates.

Selections made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would be given a new appointment.

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.

Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.

Forest Service daycare facilities may be available.

Government Housing may be available.

These positions may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. These positions 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/

How you will be evaluated

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

This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, 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/12056303

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