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Biological Science Technician (Wildlife)

Deadline:
Employer:
United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Wildlife Services
Oregon State Office
Job Field:
Wildlife
Job Type:
Full Time
Location:
Oregon
Location Detail:
1 Position in Wallowa County
1 Position in Northeast Oregon TBD
(Relocation expenses will not be paid)
Job Description:

DUTIES:

  • Responsible for organizing and conducting direct control operations to reduce wildlife damage within a geographical area or technical/subject area of program involvement
  • Responsible for coordination of Non-lethal wolf management in NE Oregon. This position coordinates work on a large scale and works with a very diverse group of contacts.
  • Inspects and surveys areas and, as necessary, will revise existing Wildlife Damage Management (WMD) activities in close consultation with higher-level management.
  • Utilizes a variety of non-lethal predator damage management tools in a safe and proficient manner in conducting wildlife damage management activities. 
  • Participates in required training; e.g. computers, non-lethal predator damage management techniques, all-terrain vehicles (ATV), and related equipment utilized in wildlife damage management operations.
  • Incumbent is entrusted with, and is responsible for, Government-owned control equipment for which an inventory must be maintained and reported, including locations, acquisitions, returns and losses.
  • Independently determines and selects the most effective means of addressing conflicts for individual situations
  • Modifies or adapts established WMD techniques as necessary to meet local conditions and address specific environmental, economic, or political considerations
  • Assists in the negotiation of cooperative service agreements with landowners, lessees, or administrators to accomplish the goals outlined for the WS program.
  • Enters data into established WDM database/system of record. Uses data to prepare and submit routine reports regarding daily, weekly or monthly activities, observations, and events.
  • Complies with restrictions and mitigation measures established through consultation with relevant Federal and State agencies.
  • Carries out duties in accordance with program decisions made in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), and departmental and agency directives, laws, and regulations under guidance and oversight by a supervisor.
  • Performs other duties as required
Qualifications:

MINIMUM ELIGIBLITY REQUIREMENTS:

To qualify, applicants MUST meet all minimum qualification requirements, except Medical

Requirements, by the closing date of the announcement.



QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

For the GS-4 Grade Level:

Applicants must have 6 months of general experience and 6 months of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-03 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

  • Ability to identifying North American wildlife species.
  • Experience with firearms.
  • Ability to meet and communicate with individuals and groups.
  • Experience with computers, word processing, spreadsheets, and data bases.

 

OR

Education Substitution at the GS-4 Grade Level: Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 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 be in wildlife.



OR

Combination of Education and Experience at the GS-4 Grade Level:

Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level.

For the GS-5 Grade Level:

Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-4 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, federal) sectors which demonstrate experience in:

  • Experience in wildlife damage mitigation methods and techniques
  • Experience using lethal and non-lethal animal control techniques
  • Experience recognizing and accurately identifying damage caused by various wildlife species and selecting appropriate species-selective management actions.

 

OR

Successful completion of 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 scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics, with at least 6 semester hours in wildlife.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience at the GS-5 Grade Level:

Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level.

For the GS-6 Grade Level:

Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-5 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, federal) sectors which demonstrates experience in:

  • Dealing with human-wildlife conflicts and principles of wildlife damage management.
  • Creating/maintaining public contacts to formulate assistance strategies that incorporate technical assistance and operational control techniques.
  • Experience using lethal and non-lethal wildlife damage control techniques and tools.

 

OR

Successfully completed 1 year of graduate education (18 semester hours) in wildlife.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience at the GS-6 Grade Level:

Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED

Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications may be referred to the hiring manager for selection. Qualified candidates eligible for veterans’ preference will receive referral and selection priority over non-veterans.



OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

  • Must obtain or have a valid state driver’s license. Operation of Government-owned or leased vehicles is required. (if this applies)
  • Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Occasional travel may be required.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more aboutEVerify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
  • As a condition of employment, appropriate security clearance is required for this position.
  • Position is subject to random and applicant drug testing.
  • Must demonstrate a respect for safety in all operations, including the operation of motor vehicles, firearms, control devices, and equipment.
  • In order to perform the essential duties of this position, you must have the legal and physical ability to possess and discharge firearms. You must be able to pass a government background check and meet any additional requirements to carry and use firearms. A background check will include answering questions about where you’ve lived, worked, went to school, and any military history or police records. Selection and retention in this position is contingent on a successfully adjudicated FBI National Criminal History Check (fingerprint check).
Miscellaneous:

Emergency Response – APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. It is difficult to predict the frequency with which such emergency situations may occur – and could range from several emergencies in a year to none over the course of many years. In the event that you are called upon to support an emergency program, this may require irregular working hours, including overtime, and may include duties other than those specified in your official position description. While some emergency program support assignments may be able to be performed at the employee’s current duty station, in other cases employees may be asked to go on-site to a temporary duty state location. In addition, it may be necessary for employees to participate in multiple rotations to an emergency program assignment. Attempts will be made to keep disruption to the employee to a minimum.

See this link: https://www.usajobs.gov//Help/working-in-government/fair-andtransparent/signature-false-statements/

NOTE: APPLICANTS FOR THIS POSITION WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT TO URINALYSIS TO SCREEN FOR ILLEGAL DRUG USE PRIOR TO APPOINTMENT. APPOINTMENT TO THE POSITION WILL BE CONTINGENT UPON A NEGATIVE DRUG TEST RESULT. INCUMBENTS OF THIS POSITION WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT TO URINALYSIS TO SCREEN FOR ILLEGAL DRUG USE ON AN ONGOING BASIS AFTER APPOINTMENT, AS DIRECTED.

Carrying a firearm is a condition of employment – In the passing of the Lautenberg Amendment, Congress passed legislation which prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from possessing a firearm or ammunition. If selected you will be required to sign the form, “Inquiry for Positions Requiring Possession of Firearms,” certifying that you meet this criteria.

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a Case-by-Case basis.

A reasonable accommodation is any change in the workplace or the way things are customarily done that provides an equal employment opportunity to an individual with a disability. Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) must provide reasonable accommodations:

  • An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
  • An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
  • An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.

Relocation costs will not be paid for this position. More than one position may be selected from this announcement.

Salary:
$34,584 - $54,625 per year
How to Apply:

WHO MAY APPLY:

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Must be 18 years old
  • If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 and are at least 18 years of age, civil service employment law (5 U.S.C. 3328) requires that you must be registered with the Selective Service System, unless you meet certain exemptions (proof of registration and/or exemption required). Website: http://www.sss.gov.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Resume that includes:

  1. Personal information such as name, address, contact information
  2. Education
  3. Detailed work experience related to this position as described in the announcement including
    • Work schedule including hours per week
    • Dates of employment; 
    • Title, series, grade (if applicable)
    • (Jobs should include hours worked and from and to dates worked, in this format DD/MO/YR) ex. Papa Johns 35 hours a week from 03/12/79-10-1282)
  4. All supervisors' phone numbers and if they may be contacted
  5. Other qualifications

 

  • Transcripts (if qualifying on education, education must have been obtained from an accredited institution. Education completed in a foreign institution must include an evaluation by an organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs that it was deemed equivalent to an accredited U.S. education program, see: Foreign Education Evaluation. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.)
  • DD-214 (Member 4 copy)
  • VA letter required if claiming disabled Veteran’s Preference
  • Current active duty members must submit a certification that they are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted.

HOW TO APPLY: Additional materials not listed above (i.e. position descriptions, training certificates, etc.) may not be considered. Applicants who do not submit the required items listed above may not be considered. Applications with all supporting documents must be submitted to the contact office and must be RECEIVED by the CLOSING DATE of this announcement.

Interested individuals should send a resume, transcripts, veteran documentation (if applicable), or other supporting documents to the address listed here:

CONTACT OFFICE:

Shane T. Koyle

District Supervisor

USDA Wildlife Services

60015 Smith Loop

La Grande, OR 97850

Shane.T.Koyle@usda.gov

Cell: 541-805-0128

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