These positions are Biological Science Technician (Fish), GS- 0404-7, located at the Grand Junction Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office in Grand Junction, Colorado and White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery in White Sulphur Springs, WV Pay Range: $23.49 - $30.54 Grand Junction CO White Sulphur Springs WV

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. As a Biological Science Technician (Fish) your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following: Assists in planning and carrying out multifaceted fish and/or wildlife studies, field investigations and surveys by contributing ideas, determining research methods, establishing practical procedures for accomplishing and reporting the work, and determining other needs, such as costs, equipment and personnel. Independently monitors, plans, and implements activities related to conservation, management, and/or control of fish/wildlife. Assists in planning multifaceted habitat studies, assessments and monitoring by contributing ideas, determining research methods, establishing practical procedures for accomplishing and reporting the work, and determining other needs, such as costs, equipment and personnel. Assists in planning and carrying out hatchery data collection on hatchery populations to study health and propagation methods. Projects planned at this grade level have considerable complexity and often require multiple timelines, coordination with biologists to resolve complex issues related to fish propagation, or long-range projects that span over multiple spawning seasons. Fish hatchery operations and studies on efficiency may cover breeding, rearing, and/or growing fish in tanks or raceways, caring for fertilized eggs in trays, observing fish behavior in response to feeding, cleaning, and husbandry operations, determining feed regiments, treating fish disease, collecting and recording data (hard copy and digital), operating specialized aquaculture equipment such as gates, pumps, valves, filters, alarms, and other support systems to maintain fish health. Reviews data and prepares reports for biologists to analyze and formulate solutions for complex fish health issues in a hatchery environment. Lead a small group of lower-graded technicians in gathering field data and providing training in techniques and procedures. Conduct abundance estimates of resident fish species. Document fish movement using radio telemetry. Sample water quality. Perform fish habitat inventory.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
• See Additional Information section for link to additional conditions of employment applicable to each position advertised
• Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
• Driver’s License Required: Selectees WILL be required to possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during their tenure.
• Uniform Required: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform WILL be required.
• Grand Junction, Colorado positions: Must be able to lift 50lbs repetitively throughout the workday and must be willing to camp in remote locations for extended periods of time.

Qualifications

A selectee receiving a temporary appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected and are not entitled to within grade increases. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. Only experience and education obtained by 12/09/2024 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification. Minimum Qualification [GS-07] One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-06 in the Federal service. Specialized experience may include: care and feeding of all life stages of fish. Record and monitor fish health, maintain and update fish culture and water quality records, maintain and improve hatchery infrastructure, equipment and grounds. Rearing, distribution and maintenance of eggs, fry, parr, smolts, yearlings, and broodstock. Collect, process and inventory eggs. Follow established spawning procedures, perform routine health assessments including: necropsies of morbid fish, collecting ovarian fluid samples, external examination of fish for parasites and collecting blood samples. OR Successfully completed one year of graduate level education (18 semester/27 quarter hours or the school's equivalent) in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree that included courses directly related to the occupation, such as fishery biology, ichthyology, limnology, aquaculture, etc. OR A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement 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 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]