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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- 0404-7 working in Ibapah, Utah for the R6-Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge.


Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
09/18/2023 to 09/22/2023
Salary
$46,696 to - $60,703 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Ibapah, UT
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
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
R6-23-12131616-KO-MP
Control number
749589700

Duties

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

  • Assists in refuge plant and wildlife inventory and monitoring program including vegetation, bird, small mammal, and invertebrate surveys.
  • Carries out field studies on plants and plant ecology; inventorying and monitoring exotic plants and leads field crews in exotic plant eradication.
  • Makes field observations of natural resource conditions.
  • Evaluates observed conditions and problems, and interprets variables, trends, correlations, and interrelationships among data and conditions.
  • Recommends management actions based on prescribed guidelines in existing refuge plans.
  • Uses a variety of computer programs to compile, reduce, store, retrieve, analyze, and report data and other resource management information.
  • Uses a wide variety of specialized equipment to carry out resource management projects.
  • Assists in planning, organizing, scheduling, and implementing refuge natural resource management and habitat restoration projects.
  • Works with regional, complex, refuge staff, and various partner organizations and agencies, serving as lead when applicable.
  • Provides logistical support for resource management projects.
  • Provides training to students, volunteers, and lower graded technicians.

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.
  • 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.
  • Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 09/22/2023 will be considered.

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

Minimum Qualification [GS-07]

  1. Possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the Federal Service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes: 1) Carrying out field studies on plants and plant ecology; 2) Conducting exotic plant eradication; 3) Assisting in logistics planning and data collection in the field; 4) Entering field-collected data into automated databases such as ArcGIS Online or other similar global positioning system; 5) Determining timing and methods of mapping for treatment of invasive species, including timing and methods of habitat restoration projects; 6) Maintaining and using field equipment (i.e., all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility vehicles (UTVs), survey equipment, and hand tools); 7) Interpreting and summarizing survey and mapping data; and 8) Using a variety of computer software programs for designing databases, reports, and presentations to provide relevant information related to habitat restoration projects. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified; OR
  2. Possess 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. Possess a combination of education and experience as described above which together equals 100% of the requirement. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify your education.
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.

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 or ICTAP applicants must be determined to be well-qualified for this position in order to receive special selection priority. To be well-qualified, a CTAP or ICTAP applicant must meet the following: OPM qualification requirements for the position, all selective factors, where applicable; special OPM approved qualifying conditions for the position; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate, to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and receives a rating of at least 85 on the questionnaire. For more information visit: OPM's Employee Guide to Career Transition

Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority (Fish and Wildlife Service only): 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.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. Note: If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, your score may be lowered, or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are highly qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Candidates who apply under Noncompetitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

  • Knowledge of the biological sciences methods, procedures and technology related to invasive species mapping and control, habitat restoration, plant and animal inventory and monitoring, and basic facilities and equipment maintenance.
  • Knowledge of basic statistical analysis methods.
  • Knowledge of invasive species inventory, monitoring, and mapping methods as well as data collection and management methods, including use of global positioning systems (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS).
  • Skill in oral and written communication for designing reports and delivering informative presentations to staff, stakeholders, and partners.

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