Pacific West Region is recruiting summer seasonals at Yosemite National Park, California for Biological Science Technician - Aquatic Wildlife, 0404-6/7. The typical seasonal period for Yosemite National Park is April-October but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Open to the first 250 applicants or until 12/16/2024 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

Duties

Technicians will work in crews ranging from 2 to 8 individuals. Crews may be assigned to work on aquatic restoration projects (including removing nonnative fish and bullfrogs from alpine and sub-alpine lakes), amphibian and reptile projects (including surveys for Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs or other imperiled amphibians), and Northwestern Pond turtle projects (including surveys, radio telemetry, and trapping of turtles). Projects may take place in the front country remote field settings (day field work, accessed by hiking and/or riding) or in remote wilderness settings (accessed via multi-night backpacking) and will involve night and weekend work. Projects require a high level of physical fitness, multi-night backpacking (up to 10 nights) in the wilderness, and the ability to work various work schedules (including weekends, split-shift, night shift, and regular day time work schedules). Duties may include: Using gill nets, backpack electro fisher, and turtle traps. Eradicating Bullfrogs using pole spears, gigs, hand grab, and traps (this is night work). Eradicating invasive fish using gill nets and electro fisher (multi-day backpacking/camping required) Using radio telemetry to track freshwater turtles, toads, or other wildlife, toads, or other wildlife. Identifying and surveying for Sierra Nevada amphibian and reptile including species listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Marking-recapturing reptiles or amphibians, including scute notches, Passive Integrated Transponder ("PIT") tags, and/or disease sampling in amphibians (BD/chytrid swabbing). Trapping, handling, and marking freshwater turtles. Deploying iButtons, HOBO, or other temperature data loggers. Performing visual encounter surveys (VES) and/or snorkel surveys. Collecting environmental DNA samples from water bodies (aquatic "eDNA"). Repairing equipment in the field/office. Communicating with the public regarding controversial topics in ecological conservation and technical scientific topics. Working with and providing mentorship to volunteers and interns. Office work involving data entry, compilation, and writing. Using software to coordinate field work and summarize data collected including ArcGIS, the program R, and Microsoft Excel/Access databases. Overseeing aquatic wildlife or fisheries science in a leadership/crew lead role. Communicating with supervisors and colleagues regarding logistics and work assignments. Instructing others in the setting and cleaning of fish from gill nets or site selection and trap placement. Night work and weekend work are required. In addition to the above duties, GS 07 duties include: Organizing, planning and scheduling field crews for remote backcountry work. Supervising a staff comprised of employees, interns, and volunteers performing aquatic ecological field studies. Facilitating safety dialogues and discussions to ensure safe work practices in remote locations. Physical Demands: The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking, and bending often required. Heavy items (e.g., packs and equipment up to 50 pounds) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis. Working Conditions: The work is performed in an office, laboratory, and in the field. Field work includes exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, pesticides, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals. Yosemite National Park, California, known worldwide for its spectacular natural beauty is the backdrop for this position. Sitting astride the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the park covers 1,182 square miles of varied wilderness ecosystems, from river valleys to alpine meadows to lofty 13,000-foot-high peaks. Yosemite Valley is located 208 miles from San Francisco, 81 miles from Merced, and 94 miles from Fresno. Shopping, medical, postal and laundry services are available in the park. Elevation at the Valley floor is approximately 4,000 feet and 2,200 feet in El Portal. The park is open year-round with the majority of activities occurring during the busy season March through October.

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-12/16/2024-. 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 FACTORS (Candidates who do not meet ALL requirements by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for these positions): This position performs work identifying aquatic species, and accurately identifying reptile, amphibian, and/or fish species using keys or field guides in order to survey for or eradicate them is required. Experience must be reflected in resume or application materials, or you will no longer be considered for this position. This position performs work with the ability to backpack and camp and possessing the physical ability to engage in extended backpacking/camping for at least 4 consecutive days carrying up to 40 pounds of gear in mountainous terrain and traveling up to 10 miles per day is required. Experience must be reflected in resume or application materials, or you will no longer be considered for this position. This position performs work with the ability to swim, and strong swimming ability and comfort wading and swimming in lakes and swift moving rivers is required. Experience must be reflected in resume or application materials, or you will no longer be considered for this position. -AND- 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: One (1) full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service. This experience includes activities such as: prior specific work experience in aquatic wildlife or fisheries science, presenting scientific information to peers and public; eradicating nonnative aquatic species or monitoring turtle species; setting and cleaning fish from gill nets or setting and checking turtle traps using a float tube or boat; electrofishing; conducting field work in remote wilderness doing wildlife restoration, research, or management; conducting amphibian, reptile, and/or fish surveys; using GPS technology to navigate and collect aquatic species data; following instructions and standardized procedures when gathering aquatic species data; and assisting in photo documentation of aquatic species sites. Must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one (1) 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 wildlife management, ecology, herpetology, ichthyology, and/or fisheries courses. Must submit transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. Must include transcripts and hours worked per week. To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in Federal Service. Specialized experience includes prior specific work experience in aquatic wildlife or fisheries science in a leadership/crew lead role, presenting scientific information to peers and public; overseeing nonnative aquatic species (e.g., fish and bullfrogs) eradication crews; instructing others in the setting and cleaning fish from gill nets or site selection and trap placement of turtle traps for monitoring. Instructing others in the proper use of float tubes/boats; and training others in proper electrofishing techniques; oversee and conduct field work in remote wilderness locations doing aquatic wildlife restoration, research, or management; independently conduct or direct amphibian, reptile, and/or fish surveys; set up and train others in the use of GPS and tablet data collection technology to navigate and collect aquatic species data; develop, disseminate maps, wilderness travel plans, instructions, protocols, and standardized procedures to field crew when gathering aquatic species data; and assisting in quality assurance and quality checking of aquatic species data collected and uploaded to electronic databases. Hours per week worked must be included in your resume. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one (1) 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 wildlife management, ecology, herpetology, ichthyology, and/or fisheries courses. Must submit transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above. Must include transcripts and hours worked per week. 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 Yosemite National Park 5037 Stroming Road Mariposa, CA 95338 US
• Name: Patricia Gerhardt
• Email: [email protected]