Job opening: Biological Science Technician (Wildlife)
Salary: $18 per hour
Published at: Oct 26 2023
Employment Type: Full-time
This position is located within a National Forest. The primary purpose of this position is to perform variety of complex and recurring fisheries and/or wildlife technical duties individually or as a crew member, in support of unit resource management.
Duties
The work performed is passive, remote-sensing/monitoring with little or no animal handling. Records data manually and electronically using a Global Positioning System unit and computer.
Work involves hiking through the woods and deploying and retrieving cameras and audio recorders, with very limited opportunity to directly observe or handle animals.
The incumbent performs any of the assignments listed below related to all types of wildlife, including small mammals, birds, carnivores, megafauna, fish, reptiles, amphibians, etc.
Independently, or as part of a team, conducts surveys of game and non-game wildlife species and plant species; counts, sorts, identifies species, and performs measurements.
Summarizes and analyzes data obtained from field collections; prepares reports of findings with appropriate recommendations; assembles information for the development of plans and coordination of resource information for analytical reports.
Operates a variety of hand tools and mechanical equipment such as chainsaw, brush saw, four-by-four drive vehicles, mower deck, all-terrain-vehicles (ATV’s) or utility-terrain-vehicles (UTV’s), and motor boat.
Uses topographic maps, aerial photos, compass, Global Positioning System devices, photographs, etc. for navigation. Individually or as a crewmember conducts fisheries projects requiring adaptation of procedural guides.
Measures amount and quantity of spawning areas on designated streams; samples and makes qualitative analysis of aquatic insects; determines pool/riffle rations through observation; and measures and records discharge volumes through interpolation.
Uses a variety of tools, takes bottom gravel samples and analyzes for silt, size fractions, etc. Keeps records of all data and develops these into statistical reports. Drafts maps or survey areas.
On an individual basis, or as part of a team, performs wildlife and fisheries habitat improvement projects such as maintenance of wildlife openings and trails, inventories of nesting structures, wildlife openings, and trails.
Construction and installation of woody structure to streams, rivers, and lakes, planting of areas for establishing more desirable food or cover, installation and maintenance of nesting boxes, establishment of food plots, etc.
Performs analysis of sediment and water quality samples. Schedules, services, calibrate repairs, and installs sampling instrumentation. Collects data from field recording instruments and makes on-site measurements of study area conditions.
Is fully responsible for compliance with safety rules and regulations.
Requirements
- You must be a US Citizen or US National.
- Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
- Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
- Direct Deposit Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.
- Must be 18 years of age.
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-Verify.
- Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods necessary to obtain, use, and interpret data from remote sensing sources, including aircrafts and satellites.
Qualifications
In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.
Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.
GS-05: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-4 grade level; OR a bachelor's degree or 4 years of successfully completed education above high school (120 semester/180 quarter hours) 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 and at least 6 semester hours of courses must be directly related to the position to be filled.; OR combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (in excess of the first 60 semester/90 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college, or university.
Selective Placement Factor
Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods necessary to obtain, use, and interpret data from remote sensing sources, including aircrafts and satellites.
Examples of specialized experience include: Performing work that involved evaluation of biological resources or habitat conditions. Recording and analyzing data regarding studies or sampling procedures related to fisheries or wildlife biology projects. Performing field techniques including taking measurements and collecting samples, using basic field equipment such as data recorders and using geographic positioning systems to gather plant and animal survey data. Using hand tools and mechanical equipment to perform habitat improvement projects for local (city/county) or state parks, reservoirs, or nature centers.
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.
To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Contacts
- Address USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center
DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT
Albuquerque, NM 87109
US
- Name: HRM Contact Center
- Phone: 1-877-372-7248 X2
- Email: [email protected]