This position is located in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, in the Planning, Science and Resource Management Division. This is a term position with an initial appointment to last 13 months but may be extended up to a total of 10 years. Term positions do not convey permanent status in the Federal service. Open to the first 50 applicants or until 04/10/2024 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

Duties

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) is the largest urban national park in the country, encompassing more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A unit of the National Park Service, it comprises a seamless network of local, state and federal parks interwoven with private lands and communities. As one of only five Mediterranean ecosystems in the world, SMMNRA preserves the rich biological diversity of more than 450 animal species and 26 distinct plant communities. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/samo. Major duties for the position include: Organizes, schedules, and executes a wide variety of established natural resource management projects. Plans field projects, independently choosing from among several possible courses of action at different stages of each project (e.g., selects site locations, sampling techniques, appropriate equipment, logistics, etc.). Collects and organizes field data using standardized data collection procedures and equipment; uses judgement to apply precedents and established techniques to new situations. Ensures adequate quality control of data is collected. Performs field and laboratory analysis of collected samples. Records all data collected and provides preliminary analysis and classification of the information. Makes filed observations of natural resource conditions. Evaluates observed conditions and problems, and interprets variables, trends, correlations, and interrelationships among data and conditions. Recommends management actions based on prescribed guidelines in existing park plans. Prepares draft project reports which include literature research, descriptions of methods, preliminary data analysis, graphs and charts, results, and recommendations for planning, protection, and mitigation activities. Provides written comments on environmental assessments, resources management plan reviews, and park planning documents. Provides logistical support and area orientation for contract or cooperating scientist; provides technical information, ensures quality control, and solves logistical or operational problems within the scope of the incumbent's authority. 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 assistance, and volunteers involved in the 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 log-term monitoring projects. Maintains and organizes computer databases. Provides information to the other employees and vistors about the natural resource management program. May develop and present related inerpretive programs to the public.

Requirements

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by 11:59 EST when the applicant cut-off is reached (which may be sooner than 04/10/2024). 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. EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is considered to be experience working for a monitoring program collecting field data on wild, free-ranging reptiles or amphibians, which included hand, net, or trap capture, handling of individuals, and taking measurements. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one year of directly related graduate education leading to a master's degree in biology or wildlife management. You must include transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of directly related graduate education and specialized experience as described above. You must include hours per week and 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. CTAP/ICTAP: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution 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 education completed in foreign colleges or universities 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.

Contacts

• Address Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area 401 West Hillcrest Drive Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 US
• Name: Brittney Arrington
• Email: [email protected]