These positions are Biological Science Technician (Sea Lamprey), GS- 0404-5 working for either the Marquette Biological Station, Marquette, Michigan or the Ludington Biological Station, Ludington, Michigan, you will provide technical support to control sea lampreys in the Great Lakes and its tributaries. Housing is NOT provided.

Duties

This is a temporary appointment intended for seasonal work that is less than 6 months or 1040 hours from the date of appointment/service year. It is expected this position will be terminated upon completion of the seasons work. The agency may non-competitively rehire an eligible temporary seasonal worker in subsequent years who works less than 6 months or 1040 hours in their service year. At management's discretion, this appointment may be extended up to one-year with the possibility of extending an additional one-year. As a Biological Science Technician (Sea Lamprey) your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following: Leads same and lower grade employees and contractors at remote locations to complete established work plan objectives and tasks according to established program protocols. Coordinates, reviews work, and ensures completion of the daily fieldwork of same and lower grade employees and contractors at remote locations without direct daily contact with supervisor. Provides technical support and participates with other team members to conduct lampricide treatments, alternative controls, and assessment operations including pesticide application, chemical analysis of water, quality assurance procedures, bioassay tests, measurement of stream flow characteristics, velocity and discharge, sea lamprey sterilization, collection of biological specimens, instream and offshore assessments, studies to determine the distribution, growth and abundance of sea lampreys in the larval, parasitic and spawning life stages, and to measure the effect of lamprey control to non-target species. Records observed conditions that would affect the interpretation of data derived from samples. Prepares draft reports involving the tabulation or collection of data with comments on surrounding environments and conditions that could affect program activities. Interprets data collected and provides supervisor with information needed to adjust treatment, alternative control, and assessment approaches. Operates, maintains, repairs, fabricates and occasionally designs highly specialized fishery equipment (equipment for mixing and delivering concentration of liquid and powder forms of lampricides, lamprey sterilization equipment, fish holding and hauling facilities, water filtration apparatus, water sampling devices, electrofishing gear, electrical/mechanical weirs, nets, trawls and traps). Uses a variety of tools including maps, compass, GPS, computer and other resources to navigate in both populated and remote areas. Operates, maintains, and repairs motorized watercraft up to 26', non-motorized watercraft, and ATVs. Operates and maintains light, medium and heavy-weight trucks and trailers on public highways and off-road situations. Independently contacts landowners and other agencies to obtain access information and/or permission necessary to complete field work. FORMAL TRAINING FOR THESE POSITIONS WILL BEGIN: MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2024, FOR THE LUDINGTON LOCATION AND MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2024, FOR THE MARQUETTE LOCATION; HOWEVER, EMPLOYMENT MUST BEGIN NO LATER THAN MAY 06, 2024. Physical Capability: Much of the work is performed in a field environment and involves arduous labor. The incumbent is required to be in excellent physical condition and capable of rigorous outdoor activities, including safely hiking over wet, rough, steep, slippery or rocky terrain. Work requires frequent bending, stooping, walking, standing, working in cramped positions, climbing, and prolonged standing on concrete floors. Duties of the position occasionally require driving on unimproved roads, considerable walking on steep terrain (80 percent or more), working in water with boots or waders, walking through or working in heavily timbered areas (sometimes walking 5 or more miles), at times carrying heavy packs, lifting and moving objects over 50 pounds, bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, climbing, or other similar activities. The field work takes place outdoors during all seasons of the year, often under adverse weather conditions, with temperatures ranging from 20 to 100 degrees (F), and in very dry to rainy and snowy conditions. Field work is performed during the daytime, night, weekends, and holidays. The nature of the work requires an adequate sense of sight and hearing to safely perform the duties. Work requires the incumbent to wear potentially uncomfortable safety equipment, including a negative pressure respirator sometimes in excess of 8 hours.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Resume (See "Required Documents"). Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is provided on resume.
• Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
• Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. To verify registration, visit SSS.gov.
• Selectees MUST pass a pre-employment medical examination and the selectee will require continued medical clearance through periodic medical examination.
• Driver's License: Selectees WILL be required to possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during their tenure.
• Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform WILL be required.
• Extensive field travel of 20 or more nights per month during the April - September field season.
• Selectees MUST be able to obtain certification in ATV operation, motorboat operation and safety, defensive driving, electrofishing, first aid and CPR.
• Selectees MAY be required to be a certified pesticide applicator.
• Incumbent is subject to medical surveillance testing before and after field seasons based on exposure to hazardous chemical agents.
• Government Travel Card: Selectees are REQUIRED to apply for a government travel charge card within 30 days of their appointment. Inability to clear the credit check required to obtain a government travel charge card may result in removal.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 12/22/2023 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Minimum Qualification. Minimum Qualification [GS-05] Possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 grade level or higher in the Federal service related to aquatics and/or Fisheries. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include leading others as part of a technical team to accomplish aquatic or fisheries related objectives, collecting and recording biological, physical, or environmental data in an aquatic or fisheries related field setting; the operation, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of sampling devices related to aquatic or fisheries related work; and ability to use computer software to manage and analyze data and draft scientific reports. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. -OR- Successfully completion of a full four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with at least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6-semester hours of coursework directly related to the position being filled, such as fishery biology, ichthyology, limnology, aquaculture, etc. (Submit a copy of transcript with your application). -OR- A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement. Education must include 24 semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture or mathematics, at least 6-semester hours of coursework directly related to the position being filled, such as fishery biology, ichthyology, limnology, aquaculture, etc. (You are required to submit a copy of transcript(s) with your application). 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

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/

Contacts

• Address Division of Human Resources 5275 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA 22041 US
• Name: Human Resources Staffing Division
• Email: [email protected]