Pacific West Region is recruiting for summer seasonals for Biological Science Technician (Aquatic Ecosystems) GS 0404-05/6. The typical seasonal period for Sierra Nevada Network positions is April-October but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Open to the first 125 applicants or until 12/13/2024 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

Duties

Sierra Nevada Network (SIEN) is seeking field technicians for SIENs long-term lake and wetland monitoring projects. Work will take place in Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks (California). The majority of work is collecting field data in remote, backcountry locations with overnight backpacking and travel required. A smaller component of the work will be in the office transferring data, organizing gear and samples, and debriefing with project leads. These positions are temporary with full-time work schedules. The emphasis of these positions is on field work in both team and individual settings. Primary duties include: Backpacking to lake basins in high elevation park wilderness, following monitoring protocol procedures, and adhering to Sierra Nevada Inventory & Monitoring Network communication and safety policies. Lake and wetland monitoring duties include collecting and filtering water samples, measuring water quality parameters, maintaining wetland groundwater monitoring wells and dataloggers, and surveying amphibian populations. This requires an understanding of Sierra Nevada aquatic ecosystems. Office duties include entering field data into databases, downloading dataloggers, organizing and cleaning gear, planning for sampling trips, and meeting with project leads. Topographic maps, compass, and global positioning systems will be used to aid in navigation and document sample site locations. Hiking and sampling work may occur in inclement weather. Positions may also support other aquatic and monitoring projects in the parks, as needed. Duties specific to the GS-06 crew lead position: Serves as the field crew lead to implement Sierra Nevada Inventory & Monitoring Network's long-term monitoring protocol for high-elevation lakes and wetlands. Carries out water and amphibian sampling at lakes throughout Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks per Sierra Nevada Inventory & Monitoring Network protocols. Has an understanding of aquatic resources and associated sampling methodology. Responsible for helping the crew understand and adhere to Sierra Nevada Inventory & Monitoring Network safety policies. Meets with the network physical scientist and provides feedback on the protocol's implementation. Physical Demands: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion walking, hiking, or climbing over wet, rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; bending; crouching, stooping, lifting or reaching to observe, collect, or record field data; and paddling packrafts on mountain lakes. Heavy items (e.g., equipment and packs up to 50 pounds) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis. Working Conditions: Work is performed in an office or outdoors. The work performed involves regular and recurring exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals. Air Quality: Poor air quality afflicts Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, especially during summer months. High ozone levels may be the most harmful pollutant here. In summer months, concentrations often exceed the federal ozone health standards. For more information: http://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/airqualityinfo.htm.

Requirements

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by 11:59 PM (EST) when the applicant limit is reached which may be sooner than the closing date of this announcement-12/13/2024-. 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. SELECTIVE FACTOR: This position requires regular and recurring work and camping in rugged mountainous backcountry above 7,000 ft elevation for extended periods of time. Selectee(s) must be able to hike by foot in the backcountry at high altitude for extended periods of time while carrying backpacks, tools and supplies of at least 50 lbs., and be able to camp for several days at a time. Such wilderness travel skills require extensive experience to develop. Given the short duration of the summer season and immediacy of need, such skills cannot be acquired on-the-job in a reasonable amount of time. Indicate your experience in performing this type of work. You will be required to provide detailed descriptions of this experience during the application process. - AND - To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: Successful completion of at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to conducting biological aquatic surveys on fish, amphibians, macroinvertebrates, and aquatic ecosystems; conducting resource monitoring programs for evaluating rare, threatened and endangered aquatic species; and assisting in measurements of physical attributes of lakes and streams including water chemistry and temperature. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as wildlife management, ecology, zoology, biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. This MUST include at least 6 semester hours, or 9 quarter hours of courses directly related to the position. You must include transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to l year of specialized experience. Determine the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the year of specialized experience required at the GS-5 level. Then determine the applicant's education as a percentage of the education that meets the requirements for GS-5. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Transcripts must be included, and the resume must include hours per week worked. To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: Successful completion of one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in Federal Service. This specialized experience must equip selectees with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the GS-06. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to, conducting surveillance to help detect invasion and colonization of non-native fish species, and the control of those species; operating a variety of field equipment commonly used in fish studies, including fish sampling gear, trawls, nets and electrofishing equipment; conducting biological aquatic surveys on fish, amphibians, macro invertebrates and aquatic ecosystems; conducting resource monitoring programs for evaluating rare, threatened and endangered aquatic species, and assisting in measurements of physical attributes of lakes and streams including water chemistry and temperature. You must include hours per week worked in your resume. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of one full year (18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours) of graduate level education leading towards a master's degree with a major study in any combination of scientific or technical courses directly related to this position such as biology, chemistry, wildlife management, ecology, herpetology, ichthyology, and/or fisheries courses. You must submit a copy of your transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of experience and directly related graduate education. Experience and education should be computed as a percentage of the overall requirements and must equal 100 percent when combined. You must submit a copy of your transcripts and hours per week worked in your resume. ICTAP/CTAP Statement: 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. 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.

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 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 47050 Generals Highway Three Rivers, CA 93271 US
• Name: Patricia Gerhardt
• Email: [email protected]