Conducts surveillance and diagnostic testing for aquatic invasive species (AIS) and wildlife diseases to provide early detection, assess their distribution and prevalence, and contribute to timely management responses. Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments but do not provide work on a year-round basis. You will work from approximately January to mid-December and you will be in a non-pay status for the remainder of the year.

Duties

Maintain a modern diagnostic laboratory and conduct analyses for the early detection and monitoring of aquatic invasive species (AIS) and high-priority diseases in wildlife. Implement an AIS surveillance plan through rigorous sample collection, analyzing samples using specialized laboratory equipment, and maintaining a repository of biological samples. Conduct amphibian disease monitoring to determine the spatial distribution of pathogens and their impact on amphibian populations. Carry out monitoring efforts to describe the distribution of bats across the park and identify impacts to bat populations from the disease white-nose syndrome (WNS). Investigate reports of disease outbreaks, abnormalities, and animal mortalities by collecting samples, coordinating laboratory analyses, and maintaining a repository of samples for future investigations.

Requirements

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/13/2023-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-09 grade level, you must possess 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: performing quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods to detect specific diseases in wildlife and to detect aquatic invasive species (AIS) in park waterbodies. Experience also includes management of a laboratory to safely store, process and analyze potentially infectious biological samples according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards; recognize lab results that are unexpected, unusual or erroneous, and recommend action to overcome technical difficulties; follow existing procedures for testing biological samples or devise new or improved methods to better detect AIS in park waterbodies and diseases of concern in park wildlife. You must include hours per week worked. 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

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

Contacts

• Address Yellowstone National Park PO Box 168 Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190 US
• Name: Jeanie Vivian
• Phone: (361) 500-1132
• Email: [email protected]