Honolulu
Agency: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Hawaii Wildlife Services
SALARY: GS-7 level $19.98 - $25.97/hour
GS-9 level $24.44 - $31.77/hour
PROMOTION POTENTIAL: GS-9
TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: Competitive Full-time, 13 month term, case exam
DUTY STATION: Honolulu, Hawaii. No relocation expenses will be paid.
WHEN TO APPLY: 11/08/2017 to 11/14/2017
NOTE: Applicant for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Incumbents of the position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use on an ongoing basis after appointment, as directed.
WORK SCHEDULE: Monday - Friday with occasional weekends, early mornings, and evenings with occasional night work.
TRAVEL: Position requires occasional overnight travel averaging up to 1-2 times per month.
DUTIES:
This position is located in the Wildlife Services (WS) Program, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, State of Hawaii. The incumbent will assist with developing and negotiating, to the reasonable satisfaction of federal, state, and local agencies, Biological Assessments for informal and formal consultations under Section 7 of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and if necessary, negotiate and develop Habitat Conservation Plans for the implementation of the airports' Wildlife Hazard Management Plan. Incumbent must read, understand, and summarize complex scientific literature, primarily within the field of wildlife biology, but also frequently covering a variety of scientific disciplines in order to present analysis in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. When needed, incumbent obtains assistance with analysis from persons with specialized expertise. This requires a high degree of coordination with the State, Regional, National, and other Federal agency biologists, planners and land managers to obtain information from other agency, State and local officials. The incumbent gathers, compiles and evaluates data on endangered wildlife populations on and around airports. Establishes and maintains cooperative relationships with other agencies, organizations, institutions, industry groups, and individuals in meeting program needs and goals. The incumbent represents the WS Program at meetings, conferences, or workshops with these groups. With supervisory guidance the incumbent may negotiate or participate in the negotiation of cooperative agreements/funds with program cooperators. The incumbent may recommend, through supervisors, areas for potential research or developmental study. Further, the individual may assist WS research efforts by participating in field tests of proposed damage control materials, devices or methods. The incumbent monitors and ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and assists with compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Endangered Species Act, and other federal regulations. The incumbent assists with draft documents required by NEPA, including categorical exclusions and environmental assessments in relation to the Wildlife Management Program.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: organizing, conducting, and implementing wildlife hazard management activities through the use of various devices, chemicals, tools, firearms and related equipment (i.e. propane canons and pyrotechnics) used for wildlife control projects and enter control activity data into a computer database. Prepares baits and constructs or sets devices, lures, traps, etc., in accordance with standard operational procedures; responsible for supplies and equipment issued; ability to identify predator or rodent species by sight, sound, tracks, type of hazard, depredation or damage present, examine other appropriate evidence and correctly identify such hazard or damage situations and relate them to the responsible species; provides routine reports on wildlife hazard or damage control related activities; prepares and assists others in preparing and submitting routine and special reports regarding daily, weekly, or monthly activities, observations, and events; demonstrates respect for the need for safety in all operations including the operation of motor vehicles, firearms, control devices, and equipment, and maintains all documents required by National Environmental Policy Act.
HOW TO APPLY:
Submit:
o Resume or OF-612 (available at http://www.opm.gov/forms/html/of.asp),
o Your answers to the four Factors in the Supplemental Experience Statement,
o Provide documentation to address Specialized Experience requirements,
o Copy of college transcripts (see Basic Requirements)
o DD-214 (Member 4 copy) and/or VA letter required for applicable Veteran preference
MAIL OR FAX TO:
USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services
Attention: Human Resources
3375 Koapaka Street, Suite H-420
Honolulu, HI 96819
Fax: (808) 838-2860
(Faxed applications must be received by close of business Hawaii
time by the closing date of the announcement.)
*Do not use government postage paid envelopes
Deadline to receive application materials is 4:30 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time on November 14th, 2017. If you have any questions, please call (808) 838-2846.
POINT OF CONTACT:
Ms. Gabrielle Mendoza, USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services Program Support Assistant at gabrielle.n.mendoza@aphis.usda.gov for additional details of this position.
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
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.
SUPPLEMENTAL EXPERIENCE STATEMENT
THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ARE TO BE ANSWERED ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER AND SUBMITTED WITH THE APPLICATION:
For each of the Factors listed below, please indicate the extent of your experience by stating your experience as: month/year - month/year and the number of hours/week.
FACTOR 1: A general background in biology and agriculture which demonstrates the ability to learn basic wildlife damage management methods and techniques as it relates to protection of agriculture, including the use of firearms, traps, pesticides, computers, and reading wildlife sign.
a. Describe any experience and/or education in biology and agriculture which demonstrate the ability to implement, or to learn how to implement, basic wildlife damage management methods and techniques.
b. Describe in detail the kinds and extent of experience you have with the following methods- techniques:
- firearms
- traps
- pesticides
- reading wildlife sign (i.e. identification of tracks, scat, rubs, etc.)
- use of computers
FACTOR 2: ABILITY TO PLAN, ORGANIZE AND WORK INDEPENDENTLY: Describe any
experience that would demonstrate your ability to plan, organize and work independently. Also describe specific experience related to data collection using various computer software programs and writing non- technical reports.
FACTOR 3: ABILITY TO DEAL EFFECTIVELY WITH OTHERS: What experience do you have in dealing with others? Have you had experience working on a team? Describe.
FACTOR 4: KNOWLEDGE OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO WILDLIFE
DAMAGE MANAGEMENT: Describe your knowledge of Federal, State, and local laws and regulations pertaining to wildlife damage management.
Note: The questions for Factors 1-4 of the Supplemental Experience Statement, must be answered, signed, and dated.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS
1. Degree: biological science that included:
o At least 9 semester hours in such wildlife subjects as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, wildlife management, or research courses in the field of wildlife biology; and
o At least 12 semester hours in zoology in such subjects as general zoology, invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, genetics, ecology, cellular biology, parasitology, entomology, or research courses in such subjects (Excess courses in wildlife biology may be used to meet the zoology requirements where appropriate.); and
o At least 9 semester hours in botany or the related plant sciences.
OR
2. Combination of education and experience: equivalent to a major in biological science (i.e., at least 30 semester hours), with at least 9 semester hours in wildlife subjects, 12 semester hours in zoology, and 9 semester hours in botany or related plant science, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-7 and 9 LEVELS:
FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-5 level) that demonstrates:
- Experience collecting, analyzing data and writing technical wildlife conservation or management reports.
- Experience in use of firearms, traps, snares, pesticides for control of wildlife.
- Experience working with various lethal and non-lethal wildlife management methods to reduce damage.
- Experience training others on the control methods, procedures, technical aspects, and objectives used for wildlife damage management.
- Experience in the use of computers for word processing, spreadsheets, and database applications.
- Experience presenting data and making recommendations to small groups and answering questions.
OR
One year or 18 semester hours of graduate level education in wildlife biology, wildlife management, or wildlife ecology. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.
OR
Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND must meet certain GPA requirements. For more details click: Superior Academic Achievement (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/portal/aphis/ourfocus/business- services?1dmy&urile=wcm%3apath%3a/aphis_content_library/sa_our_focus/sa_business_services/sa_car eer_opportuni-
ties/sa_applying_for_job/sa_usajobs_faq/ct_supporting_documentation#superior)
FOR THE GS-9 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-7 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
- Experience collecting, analyzing data and writing technical wildlife conservation or management reports.
- Experience in use of firearms, traps, snares, pesticides for control of wildlife.
- Experience working with various lethal and non-lethal wildlife management methods to reduce damage.
- Experience training others on the control methods, procedures, technical aspects, and objectives used for wildlife damage management.
- Experience in the use of computers for word processing, spreadsheets, and database applications.
- Experience presenting data and making recommendations to small groups and answering questions.
- Experience working independently and unsupervised to conduct field work and write technical documents.
- Experience in public speaking and communicating with cooperators and stakeholders.
OR
Two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a masters or equivalent graduate degree in wildlife biology, wildlife management, or wildlife ecology. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.
TRANSCRIPTS are required:
This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. You are qualifying for the position based on education.
You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.
You are qualifying for this position based on Superior Academic Achievement This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. For more information on submitting transcripts, click: Transcripts (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/portal/aphis/ourfocus/business- services?1dmy&urile=wcm%3apath%3a/aphis_content_library/sa_our_focus/sa_business_services/sa_car eer_opportuni-ties/sa_applying_for_job/sa_usajobs_faq/ct_supporting_documentation#education)
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-7/9 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. To learn more about combining education and experience for this series, click the following: Combining Education and Experience for Professional and Scientific Positions (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mrpbs/hr/job_opportunities/downloads/combining_ed_prof_scientific.pdf)
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.
Special Conditions:
- As a condition of employment, satisfactory completion and favorable adjudication of a background investigation and/or fingerprint check may be required for this position.
- A one-year probationary period may be required.
- The work requires moderately strenuous physical exertion. Physical exertion includes lifting moderate weights, walking over wet, rough, uneven, muddy, or rocky surfaces, bending, crouching, stooping, stretching or similar activities. This work does require average agility and dexterity. The job also requires a flexible schedule, working odd hours, possible weekend work, and must be conducted at the affected site.
- Work is performed primarily in an office environment but does require minimal work in field locations. There is sporadic and irregular exposure to moderate risks and discomfort, such as adverse weather conditions, noisy environments and extensive vehicle travel. The incumbent is expected to conduct all duties in a safe and orderly manner to prevent injury to self, fellow workers, cooperators or property. The incumbent may be exposed to hazardous situations; including aircraft ground movements, the application of toxicants and will require the use of personal protective equipment. Operation of Government-owned or leased vehicles is required.
- The legal and physical ability to possess and discharge firearms is required.
- The incumbent will be required to successfully obtain and maintain the appropriate pesticide applicator license(s), through completion of the necessary Certified Applicators courses and/or examinations within set deadlines after appointment to the position.
- The incumbent will be required to obtain certification as an Airport Wildlife Biologist.
- The incumbent will be required to successfully obtain and maintain all secure access credentials, vehicle operation certifications, and other certifications or trainings required by the agency and host entity for operations on an airfield.
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 career 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 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 station 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 employees to a minimum.
Candidates will be considered without discrimination for any non-merit reasons such as race, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, politics, disability, age, or membership or non-membership in an employee organization.
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