The incumbent supports rearing and maintenance of host colonies and parasitoid colonies. This includes working independently and in concert with other staff members to sustain an efficient and cohesive workforce, ensure collaboration and knowledge transfer and support work-life balance.

Duties

The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity. The duties may include, but are not limited to: Develop methods to exclude, control, detect, and/or rear invasive pests. Utilize databases for tracking interceptions and maintaining interception logs. Collect and care for insect colonies and their complex of biological control agents. Manage assigned collections to ensure preservation; develop and maintain an electronic catalogue of the collections. Operate and ensures maintenance of laboratory and field equipment such as balances, microscopes, and GPS. Compile and summarize data; provide data to professional personnel; assist with the development of reports ; assist with the maintenance of records, files, etc. as needed. Schedule, organize, and execute projects for identifying pest problems. Distribute and balance workload among employees. Provide input on the development and maintenance of Standard Operating procedures.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
• Work is performed in a laboratory setting; work is mostly sedentary and requires use of a microscope, computers and laboratory equipment.
• May be exposed to mildly irritating chemicals, such as potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, ethyl alcohol, euparal and Hoyer’s Solution.
• Occasional field work and/or travel may be required.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. FOR THE GS-06 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Performing identified aspects of insect-rearing duties in a parasitic hymenopteran (wasps for biological control) mass-production setting as directed. Performing identified aspects of care for greenhouse-grown plant material (ash trees), setting up and maintaining wood boring beetle (emerald ash borer) and parasitic hymenopteran (wasps for biological control) rearing enclosures, maintaining a safe and sanitary laboratory environment, performing quality control on insect and plant material in the laboratory, etc. as directed. Performing and completing all identified on the job training leading to performing independent tasks as assigned. OR One full year of directly related graduate education in a field of study such as biology, entomology, or related fields. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-06 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. 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 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

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service USDA APHIS MRPBS 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55401 US
• Name: MRP Human Resources
• Phone: 612-336-3227
• Email: [email protected]