Biological Science Technician

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to Career Transition eligibles and the public.

Duties

The major duties of the Biological Science Technician include, but are not limited to, the following:

Coordinates field operations with park staff and field crews to ensure logistics (housing, campsites, working areas, keys, check in/out procedures) and scheduling needs are met, and that all activities are clearly communicated to park and field staff. Oversees and trains field crew members in appropriate data collection and verification (quality control). Assists with protocol revisions, prepares reports and publications, and communicates results to various audiences. Collects and organizes natural resource field data (e.g., plant, water, geomorphology, stream biology) using network monitoring protocols, standardized data collection procedures, and equipment. Makes field observations of natural resource conditions. Installs, operates, and maintains equipment. Enters data and follows quality assurance procedures to ensure accurate data entry and transcription in established databases. Utilizes a variety of computer programs to compile, reduce, store, retrieve, analyze, and report data and other resource management information. Conducts fieldwork in remote backcountry settings and under difficult conditions in a safe and efficient manner. Uses 4WD and off-trail hiking to access monitoring sites. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Requirements

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 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 on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period. 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. You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority. 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 the closing date of this announcement-09/18/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

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.
For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

Minimum Qualifications GS-7

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: 1) planning logistics and leading implementation of field-based complex natural resource monitoring protocols across one or more parks; 2) assisting with leading and organizing large diverse field crews made up of park and network staff, interns and citizen scientists; 3) performing expert, accurate identification of native wildlife species of the Sonoran Desert from images, tracks, and other sign, and managing these and other park resource data in existing program databases; and 4) leading or co-leading public education and citizen science programs related to wildlife biology and other related park resource themes. You must include hours per week worked.

-OR-

EDUCATION: Successful completion of one full year of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined. You must include transcripts.

Minimum Qualifications GS-8

To qualify for this position at the GS-08 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-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: 1) planning logistics and leading implementation of field-based complex natural resource monitoring protocols across multiple parks; 2) leading, and training others to lead, large diverse field crews made up of park and network staff, interns and citizen scientists; 3) performing expert, accurate identification of native wildlife species of the Sonoran Desert from images, tracks, and other sign, and managing these and other park resource data in existing program databases, as well as providing training and oversight for the work of lower graded technicians; and 4) setting an annual program schedule and working with cooperators to develop public education and citizen science programs related to wildlife biology and other related park resource themes. You must include hours per week worked.

Minimum Qualifications GS-9

To qualify for this position at the GS-09 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-08 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as:1) independently setting annual work priorities, field schedules and staffing levels for field implementation of complex natural resource monitoring protocols across multiple parks; 2) leading, and training others to lead, large diverse field crews made up of park and network staff, interns and citizen scientists; 3) performing expert, accurate identification of native wildlife species of the Sonoran Desert from images, tracks, and other sign, while providing training and oversight for the work of lower graded technicians; 4) managing data from collection to data publication, and interpreting and documenting research findings to be included in annual reports, presentations, or journals; 5) increasing capacity and breadth of public education and citizen science programs by increasing partnerships with cooperators and parks, and collaboratively increasing volunteer program utilization across multiple science programs and park resource data themes. You must include hours per week worked.

-OR-

EDUCATION: Successful completion of two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related. Related degrees may include biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined. You must include 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.

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an 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 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.

There is no substitution of education for experience at the grade level(s) of this announcement.

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