Clarification from the agency

The Pacific West Region is recruiting for TEMPORARY seasonal positions not to exceed 1039 hours work in a service year. Dates of employment will vary depending on funding, weather conditions, and visitation. Within regulatory limitations, the length of initial appointment may be shortened or extended depending on work availability and funding. Under this announcement, we are accepting applications from: 1. All United States Citizens (U.S. Citizens) 2. CTAP/ICTAP Eligibles.

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Positions are concerned with research, conservation, and management of fish and wildlife, or determination, establishment, and application of the biological facts, principles, methods, techniques, and procedures necessary for the conservation, management, and control of fish and wildlife.

Major Duties:

• Performs routine and recurring testing of collected samples. Records all data collected and ensures adequate quality control. Makes field observations of natural resource conditions. Provides results to higher-level specialists for analysis.
• Provides logistical support and area orientation.
• Inventories, calibrates and/or orders equipment and supplies.

In addition to the above duties, GS 05 duties include:

• Utilizes a variety of computer programs to compile, reduce, store, retrieve, and report data and other resource management information, including natural science research and long-term monitoring projects.
• Installs, operates, and maintains resource management equipment.
• Prepares a wide variety of recurring correspondence, internal reports, and other documents.
• Establishes, updates and maintains office records and assists in the efficient operation of the office.

In addition to ALL the above duties, GS 06 duties include:

• Leads fish and/or wildlife censuses and surveys and assembles basic information on fish and/or wildlife populations.
• Uses standard statistical methods and procedures in performing routine and recurring testing of the field data collected.
• Leads field work which requires the ability to accurately distinguish wildlife by sight and sound.
• May assist state biologists in the capture of wildlife, applying visual and radio tags, and gathering physiological and spatial data.
• Enters and retrieves data from Geographic Information System (GIS) and/or other information management systems.
• Assists in the preparation of reports, plans, and guidelines. Recommends modifications to field activity procedures.
• Provides advice, assistance, and training to lower graded technicians, volunteers in gathering field data, including proper and safe handling of equipment and tools and operation of vehicles and/or watercraft.

Physical Demands: The work requires physical exertion as a regular and recurring walking, hiking, or climbing over wet, rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; bending, crouching, stooping, lifting or reaching to observe, collect, or record field data, or in some situations the work may require physical exertion to snorkeling (up to 6 hours a day) or operate a boat. Heavy items (e.g., equipment and packs up to 50 pounds) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis.

Working Conditions: The work is performed in an office or outdoors. The work performed involves regular and recurring exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals.

Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
• Complete the initial online assessment.
• Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• At the GS 04 grade level, you may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, you may be required to submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license.
• At the GS 05/06 grade levels, you will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
• You may be required to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 10 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
• Travel, transportation & relocation expenses will not be paid. Relocation expenses will be the employee's responsibility.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by 11:59 PM (EST) when the applicant limit is reached which may be sooner than the closing date of this announcement-12/20/2024-.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

SELECTIVE FACTOR: This position requires the qualified applicant must possess the experience and ability for regular and recurring walking, and hiking in a wilderness setting, lifting up to 50 pounds of equipment, and navigating on and off trail. is required. Candidates who do not meet this requirement by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position.

- AND -

To qualify for this position at the GS-04 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least six months of general experience and six months of specialized experience. General experience is any type of work that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of the position, or experience that provides a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Specialized experience demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of a Biological Science Technician. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to assisting in wildlife censuses and surveys to document and assess information on wildlife populations (such as: habitat use, animal presence, abundance, reproduction, and population dynamics); aquatic surveys to obtain basic information for management of fish, amphibians, macroinvertebrates, and aquatic ecosystems; and recording wildlife data into databases. You must include hours per week worked.

-OR-

EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least two years of study above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of courses in scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must be directly related to the position such as wildlife biology. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, three months of general experience and 3 months specialized experience (50% of the experience), and one year of education above high school which includes 6 hours of scientific or technical courses and 3 semester hours of directly related coursework (50% of the education) would qualify an applicant for this position. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must submit transcripts and a resume with hours/week worked.

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. Specialized experience for this position includes: conducting wildlife field surveys to document and assess animal presence, abundance, reproduction, and population dynamics; conducting biological aquatic surveys to obtain basic information for management of fish, amphibians, macroinvertebrates, and aquatic ecosystems; assisting researchers in wildlife surveys and monitoring activities; mapping wildlife locations using a Global Positioning Systems (GPS) unit; working with field crews to implement wildlife projects; and to assist in long-term monitoring projects by following established protocols to compile, store, analyze and report on wildlife data using a variety of computer programs. You must include hours per week worked.

-OR-

EDUCATION: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position to be filled. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

Successful completion of a combination of experience and education as described above. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to l year of specialized experience. Determine the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the year of specialized experience required at the GS-5 level. Then determine the applicant's education as a percentage of the education that meets the requirements for GS-5. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for GS-5. You must submit transcripts and a resume with hours/week worked.

To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. Specialized experience for this position includes assisting others (e.g., interns, student conservation assistants, conservation corps crews, or volunteers) involved in resource management projects and field research, leading surveys and other field work, leading a crew working to capture wildlife, applying visual and radio tags, and gathering physiological and spatial data. in addition to conducting wildlife field surveys to document and assess animal presence, abundance, reproduction, and population dynamics; conducting biological aquatic surveys to obtain basic information for management of fish, amphibians, macroinvertebrates, and aquatic ecosystems; assisting researchers in wildlife surveys and monitoring activities; mapping wildlife locations using a Global Positioning Systems (GPS) unit; leading field crews to implement wildlife projects; and assisting in long-term monitoring projects by following established protocols to compile, store, analyze and report on wildlife data using a variety of computer programs. You must include hours/week worked in your resume.

-OR-

EDUCATION: Successful completion ofone year of full-time graduate education leading to a master's degree with major study in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, ecology, entomology, animal husbandry, mammalogy, or zoology. Graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent. Transcripts must be submitted.

-OR-

Successful completion of a combination of experience and education that total at least one year. Experience and education should be computed as percentage of the overall requirements and must equal 100 percent when combined. Transcripts and hours worked per week must be submitted.

How you will be evaluated

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

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Occupational Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions may affect your rating.

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), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Stamina
• Spatial Orientation
• Teamwork
• Fishery Biology
• Wildlife Biology
• Technology Application (GS-05/06 ONLY)
• Leadership (GS 06 ONLY)

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of two categories:

• Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.

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.