This position is a Biological Science Technician, GS- 0404-5/6 working in Arcata, CA for the R8-Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office. This position is also open to status candidates under announcement R8-24-12390739-LAS-MP. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Duties

The Pathways Recent Graduate Program is for recently graduated or graduating individuals who are looking for developmental experiences in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service. Recent Graduates will serve on this appointment for one year. During the first year the selectee will perform developmental activities designed to help them acquire the competencies of the target position in which they may be placed upon completion of the program. Participants who successfully complete the Recent College Graduates Program may be eligible for conversion to the target position on a permanent or term (more than one to four years in duration) basis without further competition. For more information on the Pathways Recent Graduate Program, please visit https://www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads. As a Biological Science Technician your duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: Conducts fish and aquatic habitat studies and aquatic species surveys using active sampling such as beach seining and operating rotary screw traps, and passive sampling such as snorkel surveys and raft-based redd surveys. Utilizes and maintains technical equipment such as GPS units, microscopes, tag detection equipment, data loggers and electronic data collectors, water quality sampling and survey equipment to conduct field surveys to investigate distribution of fish and assess quality of aquatic habitats. Collects, stores, organizes, and transfers raw data sheets to digital files and inputs data into computer databases. Prepares charts, graphs, and/or reports on data collected.

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.
• Eligibility and Supporting documents - You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to AND submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section.
• Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
• Drug testing position
• Must meet the eligibility requirements for the Recent Graduate Program. Recent Graduates will enter a formal training program with a mentor and execute an Individual Development Plan outlining training requirements and program expectations.
• Recent Graduates must receive at least 40 hours of formal training directly linked to their employment field.
• Recent Graduates serve a trial period for the duration of their excepted service appointment.
• Recent Graduates will be required to sign a Pathways Recent Graduate Participant Agreement.
• Applicants must provide documentation of completion within the previous 2 years of a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 05/20/2024 will be considered. OPM's Qualification standard: Applicants meet the following eligibility requirement, and provide documentation such as a copy of your official transcript and/or veteran's documentation by the closing date of the announcement to be considered: In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification. Minimum Qualification [GS-06] Possess one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes 1) Experience using water quality sampling and survey equipment to conduct field surveys to investigate distributions of fish and their habitats; 2) collecting, recording and summarizing data collected during fish and aquatic surveys and entering it into a computer based data entry system; 3) identifying fish; and 4) Utilizing technical equipment such as GPS Units, microscopes, tag detection equipment, data loggers, and electronic data collectors. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. OR Successfully completed (1) full year of graduate level education (18 semester/27 quarter hours or the school's equivalent) in an accredited college or university of that included courses directly related to the occupation, such as fishery biology, ichthyology, limnology, aquaculture. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts to verify your education OR Possess a combination of experience and graduate level education as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts to verify your education and include proof of your experience in the text of your resume. Minimum Qualification [GS-05] Possess one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-4 in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes 1) conducting surveys of fish/aquatic species and their habitat; 2) assisting in the collection, recording and summarizing of data collected during fish and aquatic surveys; and 3) using a variety of databases and reporting systems to store, compile, and analyze data from fish and aquatic studies. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. OR Successfully completed a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree 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. At least 6 semester hours of courses have been directly related to fish or aquatics. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts to verify your education. OR Possess a combination of specialized experience (as described in A above) and education (as described in B above, INCLUDING THE UNIT REQUIREMENTS) that, when prorated, combine to meet the qualification requirements for this position. Experience and education are each computed as percentages of their respective requirements and must equal 100 percent when combined. (Only education beyond the second year is creditable to meet this standard.) NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts to verify your education and include proof of your experience in the text of your resume. 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. Promotion Potential: This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-07. At lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-07. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. The selectee may be promoted without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. (NOTE: You must attach a copy of your transcripts. Failure to submit transcripts will result in an ineligible rating.)

Education

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, degree conferred date, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. Failure to submit transcripts will result in an ineligible rating. 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

Contacts

• Address
• Name: Human Resources Staffing Division
• Email: [email protected]