Clarification from the agency

Under this announcement we are accepting applications from 1. All United States citizens 2. CTAP/ICTAP Eligibles.

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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.

At the GS-05 Level: The technician may work independently or in pairs and will be assigned to work on bird projects that involve area searches, point counts, nest searches, and spot mapping for passerines. Duties will include: surveying for passerines using a variety of survey techniques in wilderness and front country settings; surveying for passerines for long periods of time using binoculars; navigating using GPS technology; entering, proofing, and summarizing data; interacting with the public regarding sensitive avian wildlife management issues; and presenting scientific information to peers and the public. The technician must be able to identify at least 50 species of passerines that regularly occur in the Sierra Nevada by sight and sound and have work experience surveying for passerines.

At the GS-06 Level: In addition to the duties described at the GS-05 level, the incumbent's duties may include any or all of the following or similar duties: organizing and scheduling field crews; updating and maintaining Microsoft Access databases or other similar databases; producing maps using GIS; carrying out literature searches; and assisting in the preparation of reports that include a description of methods, preparation of figures and tables, and a summary of findings.

At GS-07 Level: In addition to the duties described at the GS-05 and GS-06 levels, the incumbent's duties may include any or all of the following or similar duties: being responsible for data and database management; conducting data analysis using statistical software and/or GIS; and supervising crews comprising 1 to 4 people.

FOR ALL GS LEVELS: Technician must have strong hiking, backpacking, and wilderness camping skills, be comfortable in remote wilderness settings with limited human contact, and be able to work in cold, hot, wet, windy, buggy, and potentially stormy conditions. The incumbent must be able to work well independently and in a small crew, be detail-oriented, able to maintain equipment and gear, and have excellent problem solving and communication skills. The incumbent must be able to hike up to 16 miles per day, on and off trail, over rough terrain, while carrying a heavy backpack (weighing a third of person's body weight). This position requires a high degree of physical fitness, navigation expertise, and hiking skills.

Physical Demands: The work requires physical exertion such as regular and recurring walking, hiking, and climbing over wet, rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; bending; crouching, stooping, lifting or reaching to observe, collect or record field data. 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.

Yosemite National Park, California, known worldwide for its spectacular natural beauty is the backdrop for this position. Sitting astride the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the park covers 1,182 square miles of varied wilderness ecosystems, from river valleys to alpine meadows to lofty 13,000 foot high peaks. Yosemite Valley is located 208 miles from San Francisco, 81 miles from Merced, and 94 miles from Fresno. Shopping, medical, postal and laundry services are available in the park. Elevation at the Valley floor is approximately 4,000 feet and 2,200 feet in El Portal. The park is open year-round with the majority of activities occurring during the busy season March through October.

Poor air quality afflicts Yosemite National Parks, especially during summer months - generally May to October. High ozone levels and due to fires occurring in the nearby areas may be the most harmful pollutant here. In summer months, concentrations often exceed the federal ozone health standards.

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 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.
• You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• Government housing is available
• The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster or by superintendent approval.
• Travel, transportation & relocation expenses will not be paid. Relocation expenses will be the employee's responsibility.
• 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.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by 11:59 EST when the 'applicant cut-off' is reached (which may be sooner than 12/19/2025).

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 FACTORS:
Applicants must be proficient in ornithology and have experience conducting surveys for passerines native to the Sierra Nevada ecosystem (specifically point counts and area searches).Applicants must be able to accurately identify at least 50 of these passerine species by sight and sound. Applicants MUST demonstrate in their resume that they possess these skills.
-AND-
This position requires long, arduous days hiking up to 16 miles over rough terrain carrying a backpack weighing up to one third a person's body weight. Applicants MUST demonstrate in their resume that they possess these skills. Candidates who do not meet these requirements by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position.
- AND -
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 full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: assisting biologists with passerine research, conducting surveys for passerines using standardized methods, data collection on passerine age, gender, reproductive status, behavior, and habitat use, recording field notes in a well-organized fashion, recording observations, entering data, and using a GPS unit, assisting with writing reports using data collected, navigating using a topographic map and compass. You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 4 full years of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree or equivalent undergraduate degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as wildlife management, biology, ornithology, zoology, or ecology. At least 6 semester hours must be directly related to the position to be filled. You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, only education beyond the first 60 semester hours may be considered as qualifying for substitution of specialized experience. Convert the amount of qualifying education into a percentage of the total requirement. Then take the number of months of full-time specialized experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts.

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 full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: assisting biologists with management and conservation of passerine populations, conducting surveys for passerines using standardized methods, collecting data on passerine age, gender, reproductive status, behavior, and habitat use, conducting field surveys for passerine species, entering, analyzing, and managing passerine data, preparing scientific reports on data collected, preparing field schedules, and organizing/maintaining gear. You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours study leading to a master's degree with major study in a directly related field such as wildlife management, biology, ornithology, zoology, or ecology. You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, convert the amount of qualifying graduate education into a percentage of the total requirement. Then take the number of months of full-time specialized experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You MUST submit a copy of your transcript.

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: leading crews of 1 to 4 wildlife biology technicians assigned to complete avian survey projects; surveying for passerine birds using point count, area search, and nest searching protocols; entering, managing, and analyzing passerine data, updating and maintaining Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and Access databases or other similar electronic databases, producing maps using GIS, preparing scientific reports using data collected, preparing field schedules, and organizing/maintaining gear. You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours study leading to a master's degree with major study in a directly related field such as wildlife management, biology, ornithology, zoology, or ecology. You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, convert the amount of qualifying graduate education into a percentage of the total requirement. Then take the number of months of full-time specialized experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts.

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.

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

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

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.

• Data Management
• Technical Competence
• Wildlife Biology
• Reasoning: GS-06/07 Only
• Leadership: GS-07 Only