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Biological Science Technician - Wildlife (Pueblo County, CO)

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

OPEN DATE: May 3rd, 2024

CLOSING DATE: May 9th, 2024

POSITION TITLE: Biological Science Technician – Wildlife

TYPE OF POSITION: Full Time Temporary, Excepted Service, Possibility for Federal Employee Health Benefits, Sick and Annual Leave Benefits

WORK SCHEDULE: Full-time Seasonal
Maxi-Flex tour of duty schedule

ANNOUNCEMENT #: WSWRCO-240503-01

SERIES/GRADE: GS-0404-04/05 depending on qualifications

FULL PERFORMANCE LEVEL: Applicants will be selected for the highest grade level at which they are qualified, with no further promotion potential.

LOCATION: Pueblo County, Colorado
(Relocation expenses will not be paid)

SALARY: $36,254 – $52,728 per year
Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty to this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

*GS Locality Pay Tables can be accessed at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2024/general-schedule/

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 (include hours per week and days/months/years worked)
Transcripts (if qualifying on 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)
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 will 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) to the address listed here:

CONTACT OFFICE:
USDA-APHIS- Wildlife Services
Erin Smith, District Supervisor
13922 Denver West Pkwy Building 54 Suite 100-WS
Golden, CO 80401
Erin.D.Smith@usda.gov
720.759.9888

DUTIES:
This position is located in Southeast District of Colorado’s Wildlife Services (WS) Program. Housing will be provided for this position in the form of a camper trailer. The incumbent’s main tasks will be to assist with the Black-Footed Ferret Recovery Initiative by applying an insecticide known as Delta Dust to identified black-tailed prairie dog

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
towns for plague management. The incumbent will also perform various assignments related to wildlife damage management and assist on various projects within the District or State program. Furthermore, the incumbent will be responsible for:
• Effectively communicates and works with the public, rural residents, and other external agency personnel.
• Be able to identify current and forecast future damage problems and relate signs to the responsible depredating species.
• Determine and select the most effective means of damage control or prevention.
• Prepare and submit routine and special reports regarding daily, weekly or monthly activities, observations, and events.
• Conducts duties in a safe and orderly manner, so as not to endanger self, fellow workers, or property. Must be willing to travel away from duty station occasionally.
• Responsible for reporting accomplishments, problems encountered, work locations, etc. to supervisor. Is entrusted with Government-owned control equipment for which an inventory must be maintained and reported, including locations, acquisitions, returns, losses, and reason therefore.
• Must have a valid State motor vehicle operator license. Operation of a Government-owned or leased vehicle is required.
• Maintains inventories and compiles reports of government-provided equipment and supplies and compiles reports of government-provided equipment and supplies.
• Performs other duties, as required.

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-3 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, federal) sectors which demonstrate experience in:
• Identifying North American wildlife species.
• Experience in the principles of wildlife ecology and management in support of a wildlife management program.
• Experience providing technical assistance to customers to resolve wildlife conflicts.

OR
An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
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:
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 demonstrates experience in:
• Perform integrated wildlife damage mitigation methods and techniques.
• Conduct basic computer operations for record keeping, data analysis, report writing, and correspondence.
• Create and maintain public contacts to formulate assistance with strategies that incorporate technical assistance and operational mitiagation techniques.

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.

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: (if applicable to your position)
• Must obtain or have a valid state driver’s license. Operation of Government-owned or leased vehicles is required.
• As a condition of employment, appropriate security clearance is required for this position.
• 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).

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.

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.

Housing will be provided.