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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- 0404-6/7 working in Manteo, North Carolina for the R4-Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office.

This position is also open to the public under announcement R4-23-12124192-LP-DE. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
09/18/2023 to 10/02/2023
Salary
$42,541 to - $61,454 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 6 - 7
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Manteo, NC
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
7
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
R4-23-12124193-LP-MP
Control number
748821400

Duties

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This Biological Science Technician position is with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Red Wolf Recovery Program in northeastern North Carolina. The position performs a variety of red wolf related duties, such as those described below, in support of Program biologists and other stakeholders towards the management and conservation of red wolves in the only wild population.

  • Conduct canid-trapping operations in the wild using foothold traps for the purpose of attaching radio collars, taking biological samples and the translocation of individuals.
  • Observe landscape use and movement patterns of wild canids via tracks, remote sensing cameras, scat, radio telemetry and sightings, and record this information using maps, databases, etc.
  • Work with private landowners to address any red wolf-related questions, issues and concerns to build a rapport and increase tolerance of red wolves.
  • Conduct the care and feeding of canids in permanent and temporary pens. Consists of providing food and water, administering medications in their food, cleaning scats out of the enclosures, observing canids for signs of injury or illness, etc.
  • Independently conduct routine maintenance of enclosures such as regularly inspecting enclosures, repairing fencing, filling in holes, etc. to maintain them in working order.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Resume (See "Required Documents"). Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is provided on resume.
  • Eligibility and Supporting documents - You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to AND submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section.
  • Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. (See "QUALIFICATIONS" for additional information)
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation.
  • Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
  • 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.
  • Employee MAY be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends and holidays.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 10/02/2023 will be considered.

In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualification [GS-06]:

  1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-05 in the Federal service. Experience includes working as part of a technical team assisting in the protection of wildlife and their habitat (1) conducting field work in a remote setting which includes monitoring, trapping, collecting and recording data (2) construction of release pens and care of wildlife in release pens (3) performing wildlife and sign detection (GPS, radio-telemetry, remote sensing cameras, and sign (tracks/scats) to monitor location, movements and activities of free ranging wildlife, and recording and organizing surveys and data (4) Entering data in various databases (5) maintaining food caches or conducting supplemental feeding for predator wildlife. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified.
Minimum Qualification [GS-07]:
  1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-06 in the Federal service. Experience includes providing technical wildlife management assistance in a team setting leading others in dynamic field efforts in the protection of wildlife and their habitat (1) independently performing and conducting field work in a remote setting, which includes monitoring, trapping (i.e., foothold trapping), collecting and recording data (2) construction of release pens and care of wildlife in release pens (3) performing wildlife and sign detection (GPS, radio-telemetry, remote-sensing cameras and sign (tracks/scats) to monitor location, movements and activities of free-ranging wildlife, and recording and organizing surveys and data (4) Entering data collected into various databases (5) maintaining food caches or conducting supplemental feeding for predator wildlife (6) Handling large carnivores and the use of chemical immobilization drugs, (7) Preparing maps, graphs and figures for biological reports, (8) performing community outreach opportunities with diverse groups to work on resolving complex and controversial issues, (9) Maintaining vehicles, UTV's, snow machines, and travel trailers. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. -OR-
  2. One year of graduate education directly related to the work of the position. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the one year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify your education. -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.

Time-in-Grade Requirements: Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service). Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Time-in-Grade Requirements: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically,
i. Area of Consideration.
ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502.
iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions or for Federal Wage System (FWS), wage grade positions, applicants are evaluated using the OPM Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations and the job element examining method
Your SF-50 will be used to confirm you meet all requirements

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.

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

The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA),P.L. 114-47, allows certain individuals who currently or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies to compete under merit promotion procedures.

For Eligibility Information click here: USAJOBS Help Center | Land Management

Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority: Served as a qualified youth on an appropriate conservation project completing a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service that included at least 120 hours through the PLC and received a certificate of non-competitive eligibility. Completed most recent Corps service, for which a certificate of non-competitive eligibility was issued, within the last 2 years. Appointment must be affected within the 2-year period.

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):

  • Ability to collect biological and water resources data from investigations and report findings.
  • Knowledge of wildlife species specific to the designated survey areas sufficient to complete investigations and gather required data within the timeframe allotted.
  • Knowledge of wildlife species.
  • Ability to follow detailed sampling and laboratory procedures and recognize departures from established quality control and quality assurance guidelines.
  • Skill in oral communication.
  • Attention to Detail; Flexibility; Integrity/Honesty; Interpersonal Skills; Learning; Reading; Self-Management; 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.

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