Job opening: Biological Science Technician (Fish)
Salary: $39 576 - 59 971 per year
Published at: Dec 17 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
These positions are for a Biological Science Technician (Fish), GS- 0404-5/6 working in one of the following locations for the R3-Green Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office.
Michigan City, IN 1 vacancy
Charlevoix, MI 1 vacancy
Milwaukee, WI 1 vacancy
New Franken, WI 2 vacancies
Contribute to cooperative large-scale tagging and recovery studies of Pacific salmon and lake trout managed by Great Lakes states to inform stocking and other management decisions.
Duties
These are permanent, career-seasonal positions and are subject to release and recall procedures. A permanent, career-seasonal position includes all the benefits of permanent employment but do not provide employment on a full year-round basis. As such, selectee will be in a non-pay/non-duty status for at least 2 weeks and up to 6 months per year based on project requirements or weather conditions. Selectee(s) are guaranteed to work at least 6 months per year but not more than 50 weeks per year, with the work schedule to be determined upon appointment. Selectee(s) will be in a work/pay status for a specified period each year (generally March through November) and will be in a non-work/non-pay status for the remainder of the year.
As a Biological Science Technician (Fish) your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:
Collect and record biological data (e.g., length, weight, sex, maturity, and fin clip status) and biological specimens (e.g., snouts, scales, otoliths, stomachs, or other tissues) from sport caught fish at boat landings, streams, fish cleaning stations, weirs, fishing tournaments and other venues.
Interact with anglers and other stakeholders when engaged in data collection activities or at organized outreach events.
Process biological specimens, such as extracting coded-wire tags from fish snouts, reading and recording coded-wire tag numbers, preparing scales and otoliths for age estimation, and assisting with aging.
Assist with coded-wire tagging operations in federal and state hatcheries by loading fish into a tagging trailer, clipping adipose fins, inserting coded-wire tags into fish snouts, and other tasks as directed.
Assist with data entry and proofing, compile summary data for status reports and updates, and contribute to write-ups of field and lab activities for public outreach.
Physical demands:
Physical demands will range depending on the project and use of the position. Most locations will be in locations
around running water and requiring regular and recurring physical activity such as prolonged standing, walking over wet
and/or rocky surfaces, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing, and carrying heavy items may occur. Selectee(s) must be able to lift items weighing up to 50 pounds.
Work environment:
Most locations will be in locations in and around running water where the incumbent could be exposed to
extreme weather conditions, insects/wildlife, and/or other environments that would require the incumbent to use
protective clothing or gear such as hard hats, masks, gowns, ear plugs, coats, boots, goggles, gloves, or shields to
mitigate risks.
Requirements
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
- Driver's License: This position requires the incumbent to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of their official duties. Selectee must hold and maintain a valid state driver’s license throughout their employment in this position.
- 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 Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
Qualifications
Only experience and education obtained by 12/31/2024 will be considered.
In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification.
Minimum Qualification [GS-5]
One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-4 in the Federal service. Experience must include assisting with sampling and recording biological data for fish and assisting with fish biological surveys; handling fish and using measuring boards, scales, knives, and other tools to collect length and weight measurements and tissue, scale, or otolith samples from fish; using seines and nets to collect fish from large rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and ponds; and interfacing with anglers and other stakeholders from the general public. OR
Have 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, zoology, ecology, ichthyology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must be directly related to fish or aquatics. OR
A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement
Minimum Qualification [GS-6]
One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-5 in the Federal service. Experience must include performing sampling and recording biological data for fish and conducting fish biological surveys; handling fish and using measuring boards, scales, knives, and other tools to collect length and weight measurements and tissue, scale, or otolith samples from fish; using seines and nets to collect fish on large rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and ponds; leading field teams in carrying out essential duties; making determinations on fish species identity, sex, and maturity; using independent judgement in determining certain details of field activities, such as modifying a schedule in response to inclement weather; and interfacing with anglers and other stakeholders from the general public and at organized outreach events. OR
Possess one full year of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related to the position. 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)