Biological Science Technician

Clarification from the agency

WHO MAY APPLY: All U.S. Citizens, Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP).

Duties

MAJOR DUTIES MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:

Implements projects to inventory, monitor, restore, and protect the park's plant communities, aquatic ecosystems, wildlife, and other natural resources. Aids in implementing an integrated pest management program to control non-native invasive plants and forest pests. Organizes and maintains project equipment, supplies, schedules, checklists, maps, data, and other records. Performs data entry, including in spreadsheets, databases, and geodatabases, and carries out quality control checks on data collection and entry performed by others. Provides logistical support and area orientation for contract or cooperating scientists; provides technical information, ensures quality control, and solves logistical or operational problems. Installs, operates, and maintains resource management equipment (e.g., tools, traps, and sampling, monitoring, photographic, and laboratory equipment); Inventories equipment, evaluates quality assurance compliance, and calibrates equipment as necessary. Orders replacement parts, new equipment, and supplies. Provides advice, assistance, and training to students, student conservation assistants, and volunteers involved in resource management projects and field research. Utilizes a variety of computer programs to compile, reduce, store, retrieve, analyze, and report data and other resource management information, including research and long-term monitoring projects. Maintains and organizes computer databases. Provides information to other employees and visitors about the natural resource management program. May develop and present related interpretive programs to the public.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. DIRECT DEPOSIT: Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. DRIVER'S LICENSE: 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 complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle. UNIFORM: You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. WORK SCHEDULE: You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime. Occupancy of government quarters may be required. PROBATIONARY PERIOD: If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period. MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT: 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-05/03/2024-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.

TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-06 GRADE LEVEL, YOU MUST POSSESS AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS BY THE CLOSE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT:

SPECIALIZED 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). Examples of qualifying specialized experience include work involving biological science support such as: collecting, analyzing and processing samples, performing laboratory work, assisting in the management of field projects, collecting, processing and managing field data, and performing habitat restoration through management of exotics and/or native planting. Use statistical methods and procedures to perform testing of field data collected. Installs, operates, and maintains resource management equipment (tools, sampling and monitoring, photographic, and laboratory equipment) prepares graphs, charts, and illustrations for reports and technical publications relating to plant management activities. Assist in the development of improved methods of controlling weeds and plant diseases or other related work etc. (YOU MUST INCLUDE HOURS PER WEEK WORKED.)

-OR-

EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one full year of graduate education in an accredited educational institution (18 semester hours) in coursework directly related to the work of this position (such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, natural resource management). You must include transcripts. (YOU MUST INCLUDE TRANSCRIPTS).

-OR-

COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, 6 months of specialized experience (50% of experience requirement), and 6 months of graduate education as described above (50% of education requirement). The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (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.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking, and bending often required. Heavy items (e.g., packs and equipment) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis.

WORKING CONDITIONS: The work is performed in an office, laboratory, and in the field. Field work includes exposure to extreme weather and terrain conditions, pesticides, poisonous plants, biting insects, snakes, and wild animals. Laboratory work may involve exposure to hazardous chemicals.

TELEWORK: The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are not suitable for telework.

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.

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