This position is a Biological Science Technician, GS-0404-5/6, duty station in Sasabe, Arizona, for the R2-Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. This position is also open to the public under announcement R2-25-12621392-ALM-DE. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Duties

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the GS-07 full performance level. As a Biological Science Technician your duties will include, but are not limited, to the following: Independently planning and carrying out complex quail breeding facility studies, and data collection on masked bobwhite quail population health and propagation methods. Coordinating with higher-level biologist to resolve complex issues related to masked bobwhite quail propagation, or long-range projects that span over multiple spawning seasons. Working with quail breeding facility crew in providing daily care to masked bobwhite quail in an indoor facility and/or outdoor pens. Collecting biological samples ensuring correct documentation, reporting, storage, transport and delivery of samples taken and preparing recurring activity and progress reports. Planning multifaceted masked bobwhite quail breeding studies, determining research methods, establishing practical procedures for accomplishing and reporting the work, and determining other facility activities and needs.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
• Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation.
• Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform is required.
• Probationary Period: Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 12/10/2024 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualifications. Minimum Qualifications GS-05: A. One (1) year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-04 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience may include: 1) Captive animal care and husbandry practices; 2) Assisting with the preparation, maintenance, and use of equipment; 3) Accomplishing field assessments, recording information in legible form; 4) Assisting with pairing specific animals for breeding, providing food and water to captive animals, observing captive animals for signs of illness or distress and reporting observations to supervisor, and participating in captive rearing activities; and 5) Assisting with preparing plans and presentations. OR B. Successfully completed a full four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a 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 must have been directly related to the work of the position, such as avian ecology, ornithology, wildlife management (birds). OR C. A combination of experience and education as described in A and B above which, when combined, is equivalent to 100% of the qualification requirement. Minimum Qualifications GS-06: A. One (1) year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-05 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience may include: 1) Caring and feeding through all life stages of captive birds; 2) Recording and monitoring captive bird health, maintain and update location of specific individuals in a captive setting, maintain and improve captive care infrastructure, equipment, and grounds; 3) Rearing, distribution, and maintenance of eggs, chicks, yearlings, and adults; 4) Collecting, processing, and inventorying eggs; and 5) Following established care procedures, assisting in performing routine health assessments including: providing medication as scheduled and directed by supervisor and/or veterinarian and collecting biological samples. OR B. Successfully completed one (1) year of progressively higher-level graduate education (18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours) in biological sciences, with course work directly related to the work of the position, such as avian ecology, ornithology, wildlife management (birds). OR C. A combination of experience and education as described in A and B above which, when combined, is equivalent to 100% of the qualification requirement. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful course work completion, as listed above, with a major in the appropriate field. NOTE: You must submit copies of all transcripts that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university and your resume must contain sufficient detail, (e.g., begin/end dates, hours worked per week, duties performed, etc.) for each timeframe for consideration. 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. Time In Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically, i. Area of Consideration. ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502. iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions or for Federal Wage System (FWS), wage grade positions, applicants are evaluated using the OPM Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations and the job element examining method. Your SF-50 will be used to confirm you meet all requirements. Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process. Promotion Potential: Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds. 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.

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 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. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Contacts

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