PIERC - Biological Science Technician (Field Assistant) GG6

 

This is a temporary excepted service position for which all qualified applicants, with or without Federal status may apply and be considered.  Appointment to this position however will not convey permanent status in the Federal service.  Appointment will only be for the duration of the position, normally 6-9 months.  Temporary employees are covered by the Social Security Retirement system, may accrue annual and sick leave depending on work and are ineligible for life insurance coverage.

 

Temporary appointees expected to work at least 130 hours per month for at least 90 days will be eligible to enroll in a Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) plan.  Individuals eligible under this rule receive the full government contribution to their premiums regardless of work schedule and will also be eligible to participate in the Flexible Spending Accounts and Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program. Temporary appointees are not covered by the Federal Employee Retirement System and are ineligible for Federal life, dental, or vision insurance.  Temporary employees are covered by the Social Security Retirement system, annual and sick leave will be accrued if working a full time or part time work schedule.

 

Duties:  Incumbent performs technical work in a field environment in support of professional or technical employees engaged in data collection activities or analysis of biological data collection activities or analysis of biological samples.  Particular emphasis will be placed on supporting the Kipahulu Valley avian disease studies on the island of Maui.  Performs one or more of the following duties: 

 

-          Assists project leaders and National Park Service collaborators in data collection in Kipahulu Valley with an emphasis on bird banding and blood sampling.

-          Assist in the organization of week-long camp outs and establishment of survey sites.

-          Maintain mist nets, poles, and other banding gear in support of bird capture and banding efforts.

-          Assist in the preparation, decontamination, and organization of field equipment.

-          Assist in the collection, management and entry of data from the field to database.

-          Assist in the supervision of volunteer field assistants

-          Assist with mosquito and avian blood diagnostics

-          Assist in other aspects of the research study as needed.

-          Operate a government motor vehicle.

 

Note:  You will be required to operate a government-owned or leased vehicle in the performance of your official duties.  Applicants for this position must meet the following requirements:  (1) possess a valid state driver’s license, and (2) possess a safe driving record.  If selected, you will be required to provide proof of a valid state driver’s license and a current copy of your complete driving record. 

 

Other Information:  A background investigation will be required for this position.  Continued employment will be subject to the successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.  Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

 

Travel (if required):  Incumbent will be required to travel up to 10 days between the Island of Hawaii and the Island of Maui

 

Physical Demands:  Field work will involve bending, walking and hiking over rough and uneven terrain.  Field work involves exposure to conditions ranging from hot and dry to cold and wet.    Work often involves driving and conducting field research activities at night.  The incumbent may be required to lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.  

Taking and passing a pre-employment medical examination at Federal expense is required due to the physical demands of this job.

 

Qualifications:  1 year, 9 months of field experience or 4 years sub-professional experience or 4 years college study (equivalent 120 semester hours/180 quarter hours) plus 3 months of lab or field work experience.

 

For all appointments:  Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the qualification requirements.  You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States.  For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: How Foreign Education is Evaluated for Federal Jobs

 

Basis of Evaluation:  Applicants will receive a basic eligible or ineligible rating based upon the qualification requirements. First preference in referral will be given to eligible applicants with 10-point veteran’s preference who have compensable service connected disability of 10 percent or more.  All other qualified applicants entitled to veteran’s preference will be given preference over qualified applicants not entitled to veteran’s preference.

 

All applicants must be United States Citizens.  Under regulations contained in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, employment in this position is limited to those persons who are authorized to work in the United States.  Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of appointment.

 

As a condition of employment, all new employees reporting for duty with the Department of the Interior will be paid through direct deposits to a financial institution of their choice.

 

Applicants selected for federal employment will be required to complete a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.  Failure to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on the application may be grounds for not hiring the applicant or for firing after he/she begins work.  Also, he/she may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. code, Title 18, section 1001).

 

Prior to or at the time of the appointment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959 will have to certify that they have registered with the selective service system in order to be appointed to a position with the United States Geological Survey, unless legally qualified for an exception.

 

Employees of the U.S. Geological Survey are subject to the provisions of Title 43, U.S. code, Section 31 (a) and may not according to this legislation and related regulations: (A) have any personal or private interest, direct or indirect, in lands or mineral wealth of such lands or a region under survey and whose title is in the U.S.; (B) Execute surveys or examination for private parties or corporations; or (C) have personal or private interest, direct or indirect in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business in the U.S. except where specifically authorized by the director of the U.S. Geological Survey.

 

Other Information:  Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Federal Government.  Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

 

Telework:  The U.S. Geological Survey has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.  For additional information on our internal telework policy, please reference the Department of the Interior Telework Handbook at:  https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/telework.

 

How to Apply:  Carefully read all information and instructions. It is the responsibility of the applicant to insure the application is completed.  The personnel office will not be responsible for soliciting additional information from applicants or from official personnel records, but will consider individuals based on their application as submitted.

 

Applications must be received by Luzmila Zarate, ljzarate@usgs.gov, by the closing date on the announcement to be considered. 

 

Submit resume and college transcript or a list of college courses, specify title of course work, completion date, semester or quarter hours earned by course title, and grade earned.

 

If claiming 5 point veteran’s preference, a DD-214 showing character of discharge is required.

 

If claiming 10 point veteran’s preference, a SF-15 with proof of claim is required.

If you are claiming veterans' preference you must submit a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, by the closing date of this announcement.  If you are currently on active military duty, you must provide documentation (e.g., campaign document, award citation, etc.), that verifies entitlement to veterans preference and that your character of military service is honorable.  If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, in addition to the DD-214, you must submit documentation that supports your claim (e.g., an official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying the existence of a service-connected disability; or receipt of a Purple Heart).  If you fail to submit any of the required documentation, you will not be granted veterans preference.  Additional information on veterans' preference can be found in the VetGuide.

 

Where to Submit:

 

U.S. Geological Survey

Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Kilauea Field Station

Attn: Luzmila Zarate, Vacancy Number 19GGWSZB01006

Crater Rim Drive, Building 344

Hawaii National Park, HI  96718

 

Email: ljzarate@usgs.gov

 

Fax: (808)985-6420

 

Whichever form of application you choose, the following must be included:

 

Vacancy Number:  If applying by mail reference the vacancy number in the attention line.  If applying by email reference the vacancy number in the subject line.  If applying by fax reference the vacancy number on the fax coversheet.

 

Job Information:  Vacancy number, title, and grade of the job for which you are applying.

 

Personal Information:

-Full name, mailing address (with zip code) and day and evening phone numbers (include area code)

-Country of Citizenship

-Veterans Preference

-Highest Federal civilian grade held (also give job series and dates held)

 

Education:

-High school (name, address, including zip code if known)

-Colleges and universities (address including zip code if known)

-Subject Major

-Type and year of any degrees received (if no degree, show total credits earned and indicate whether semester or quarter hours)

-Send copy of your college transcripts or lists of college courses completed.  Specify title of course, semester or quarter hours earned for each course, date competed, grade earned.

 

Work Experience:

-Give the following information on your paid and non-paid work experience related to the job for which you are applying (do not send job descriptions):

-Job Title (include series and grade if Federal job)

-Duties and accomplishments

-Employer’s name and phone number

-Supervisor’s name and phone number

-Starting and ending dates (month and year)

-Hours worked per week

-Salary

 

Other Qualifications:

-Job related training courses title, length, date taken

-Job related skills (i.e., other languages, computer software/hardware, tools, machinery, and typing speed)

-Job related certificates and licenses (current only)

-Job related honors, awards and special accomplishments (i.e., publications, memberships in professional or honor societies, leadership activities, public speaking and performance awards).

Give details but do not send documents unless requested.

 

Applications must be received by the closing date of the announcement to be considered.

USGS employees are subject to Title 43, USC Section 31(a) and may not: (a) have any personal, private, direct or indirect interest in lands or mineral wealth of lands under survey; (b) have any substantial personal, private, direct or indirect interests in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business with the United States; or (c) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations.

 

The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.

 

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.  To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.  

 

The USGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Selection for this position will be based solely on merit, fitness, and qualifications without regard to race, sex, color, religion, age, marital status, national origin, non-disqualifying handicap conditions, sexual orientation, or any other non-merit factors.