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Biologist (DHA)

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in Grand Canyon National Park, in the Division of Resource Management. Please visit find a park for additional park information.


This announcement is issued under the Direct-Hire authority to recruit for positions for which there is a critical hiring need.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
05/01/2024 to 05/03/2024
This job will close when we have received 30 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$72,553 to - $94,317 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
Grand Canyon, AZ
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—Employer paid and reimbursed relocation expenses are considered taxable income. The NPS does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Employees should consult professional tax, legal and accounting advisors regarding concerns about the financial implications of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS).
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
INTRM-24-12374783-DHA-OPM
Control number
788828800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position will be filled under the Office of Personnel Management's Direct-Hire Authority and is open to All United States Citizens and U.S. Nationals. Veterans' Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applications do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Duties

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Grand Canyon National Park is a world-renowned destination for hiking, river rafting, wildlife observation, photography, and scientific study. GRCA was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979. The great biological diversity of the park includes five of the seven life zones and elements of three of the four deserts in North America (the Great Basin, Sonoran, and Mojave). The park serves as an ecological refuge, with relatively undisturbed remnants of dwindling ecosystems, and numerous rare, endemic, or specially protected (threatened/endangered) plant and animal species. GRCA is home to over 1,750 plant species, which includes 189 non-native plant species, of which 82 are considered invasive and negatively impact desirable plant communities. The geologic record of the Grand Canyon is particularly well-exposed and includes a rich and diverse fossil record. Numerous caves in the park contain extensive and significant geological, paleontological, archeological, and biological resources.

The South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is located in Northwest Arizona, approximately 60 miles north of Williams and 85 miles Northwest of Flagstaff at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Temperatures range from approximately 90 degrees in the summer to 17 degrees in the winter. Grand Canyon Village has schools K-12, a daycare center, post office, general store, banking facilities, churches, a recreation center, a clinic with resident physicians and several restaurants. The park community consists of some 2,000 people, including employees of the NPS and concessionaires and their family members. There are often employment opportunities for family members in the park and surrounding areas. The park community is small enough that many employees choose to walk or bike from their homes to work. Complete shopping, educational, medical and professional services are available in Williams and Flagstaff. Recreational opportunities include hiking, river rafting, fishing, cross-country and downhill skiing, and golfing in nearby communities.

  • Develop and Prepare portions of resources management plan and specific action plans.
  • Coordinate natural resources strategies/programs to achieve broad ecosystem protection strategies.
  • Review proposed park projects and develop restoration plans for impact on native park vegetation.
  • Develop and maintain liaisons and working relations with external partners and collaborators.
  • Assist in negotiating cooperative/interagency agreements.
  • Test and implement scientific monitoring protocols to identify, evaluate, and do long-term monitoring.
  • Summarize field efforts/restoration successes in annual reports and for use as a science communication tool to inform staff and visitors.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 14 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
  • Occupancy of government quarters may be available.
  • Must obtain Arizona Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator license within 6 months of employment and acquire NPS chainsaw operator competencies.
  • You must be able to lift 50 pounds.

Qualifications

To be eligible for this position, you must meet one of the Basic Requirements AND the Minimum Qualification Requirement.

Basic Requirements:

Degree: Successfully completed a bachelor's or higher degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to this position. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.

OR

Combination:
Successful completion of education and experience in courses equivalent to a major course of study, as shown in statement A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field. NOTE: You must provide a copy of your transcripts and your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience.


In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered:


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level in which you are applying:


Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing the following: (1) planning and conducting comprehensive vegetation studies and serving as a technical resource/expert on vegetation management issues; (2) following established protocols, coordinating natural resources strategies/programs to achieve broad ecosystem protection strategies; (3) conducting scientifically credible protection, mitigation, and restoration projects; (4) conducting analysis of standard data, preparing management and scientific reports, AND preparing environmental assessments (EAs) for projects; (5) providing guidance or leadership to employees, contractors, cooperators, etc., on carrying out management, monitoring, and protection of natural resources.

OR

Education: Successful completion of at least 3 years (54 semester hours or 81 quarter hours) of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.

OR

Combination: Successful completion of a combination of graduate-level education and specialized experience as described above. To determine if you qualify under this combination, first determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the specialized experience required; then determine your education as a percentage of the graduate education required. Only graduate education in excess of the first two years (36 semester hours or equivalent) is creditable for this combination. Then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.


Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Volunteer 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.

You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

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.

Additional information

Physical Demands: The position may require strenuous physical activity including periods of standing, walking, climbing, and lifting and carrying heavy objects. Some activities will occur in physically dangerous areas or settings. Documentary research and report writing work is sedentary, which entails the ability to concentrate and write for long periods of time.

Working Conditions: Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in all types of weather. Assignments may be performed in potentially hazardous areas including steep slopes, rocky terrain, volcanoes, caves, firelines, arctic environments, swamps, deserts, and forests. Flying in fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters is possible.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.

A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please contact San Antonio Services Branch at SASBMailbox@opm.gov or 816-541-8101.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements.

Direct Hire Authority: These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. The "Rule of Three", Category Rating and Veterans Preference will not apply to this vacancy. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see: OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet.

Veterans: Although the Direct Hire Authority permits hiring without regard to Veterans Preference, applicants who are eligible for Veterans Preference are still encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (i.e. DD-214, or other substantiating documents). View information on veterans' preference.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you are qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

To preview the assessment questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12374783

All documents above MUST be received by 11:59 (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date of 05/20/2024 to be considered.

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