Biological Science Technician

Summary

Positions are TEMPORARY, not to exceed 1039 hours in a service year. Locations are at multiple park and have multiple focuses, such as Plants/Wildlife.

This is an open continuous announcement. Applicants will be referred periodically throughout the announcement period. Final application disposition will be completed once all positions have been filled or the announcement reaches the end of the open period stated in the announcement. The first cut-off date is 11:59 pm (est), 12/8/2023.

Duties

Assateague Island National Seashore (Berlin, MD): Assateague Island National Seashore is located on the Atlantic coast of Maryland and Virginia, approximately 130 miles east of Washington, DC. The area is largely rural, with numerous small towns and the seaside resorts of Ocean City, MD and Chincoteague, VA nearby. Complete shopping and medical services are available, as are public and private schools. The small city of Salisbury, MD is about 30 miles west of the headquarters area and has shopping centers, a university and a large hospital. Summers are hot and humid, with high temperatures commonly in the 90's. Winters are mild with little snow and daytime temperatures usually above freezing.

GS-06 Wildlife: As a field technician for wildlife management program, the incumbent will work assisting permanent park staff to coordinate and independently complete daily field activities including the control and enhancement of wildlife populations, pest species management, threatened species management, population inventory and assessment, habitat restoration and threat mitigation. The GS-6 position must be familiar with all primary tasks and take responsibility to provide training, safety, function, oversight, quality control, repair, and alternative actions to other staff when supervisors are not on site. The technician will also conduct QA/QC and metadata requirements for all aspects of data collection and work output.

GS-05 Wildlife: As a field technician for wildlife management programs, the incumbent will work under permanent park staff to carry out field activities including the control and enhancement of wildlife populations, pest species management, threatened species management, population inventory and assessment, habitat restoration and threat mitigation. The primary focus of this position will be related to a breeding population of federally threatened shorebirds and other species of management concern. The technician will collect field observation data for resource monitoring programs evaluating terrestrial wildlife populations, habitat dynamics, ecological processes, and public recreation issues.

GS-05 Plant: The Biological Science Technician will work primarily with plants at Assateague Island National Seashore. The technician will survey for and treat invasive plant infestations manually and/or with herbicides. The technician will assist permanent park staff with conducting vegetation surveys and implement various resource management inventory and monitoring activities. The technician prepares and applies herbicide chemicals and maintains application equipment; maintains detailed records of field activities; uses global positioning systems (GPS) equipment to record spatial and attribute data; processes data; and produces summary maps and reports.

Grade 05 Pay Scale: $18.06 per hour
Grade 06 Pay Scale: $20.14 per hour

Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP (Fredericksburg, VA): Fredericksburg, Virginia is approximately 45 miles south of Washington, D.C. and 60 miles north of Richmond, Virginia. The colonial and Civil War history of the area, as well as many recreational opportunities on local waterways and natural areas make the Fredericksburg area a popular tourist destination. The park's battlefields and historic structures span four counties in the Fredericksburg area, with the highest population density being in the City of Fredericksburg, Stafford County and Spotsylvania County areas. Many options for schools, shopping, dining, cultural opportunities, and medical care and childcare are easily accessed. Within a short drive from these growing populations centers, you will find yourself in the more rural and scenic Virginia countryside. The local climate is temperate, with hot and humid summers and relatively mild winters.

Assignments consist of performing a variety of standardized technical support and technical issues associated with the work. Contacts include technical and professional employees within the park unit, the Regional Office and other parks. Collecting data for use by others in wildlife, fisheries, or plants program/project operations. Assists in the preparation of reports, plan, use standard statistical methods and procedures in performing routine and recurring testing of the field data. Participates in the capture of wildlife, applies visual and radio tags and gathers physiological and spatial data on wildlife. This position requires physical exertion such as walking or climbing over wet, rough, uneven and rocky surfaces. Regular and recurring field work involves exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain.

Grade 05 Pay Scale: $20.54 per hour

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