Biological Science Technician (Field Assistant)

TEMPORARY RECRUITMENT BULLETIN
Position: Biological Science Technician (Field Assistant)
Location: Honolulu, HI or Hawaii National Park, Hawaii
Work Schedule: Full-time, with the possibility of part-time or intermittent work
Type of Appointment: Temporary, not-to-exceed 180 days within one year from appointment date. Expected duration of this appointment is 90 days, but it may be extended up to 180 days without further competition.
Date Open: February 17, 2021
Date Close: February 19, 2021
Salary: $17.42 (Step 01) to $22.65 (Step 10) per hour with
applicable COLA adjustments
Note: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.
Series & Grade: GG-0404-05
Promotional Potential: GG-05
Supervisory Status: No
Who May Apply: United States Citizens
Vacancy Number: 21GGWNZB01002
There is one vacancy; however, this announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies if they become available.
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 employees engaged in data collection activities or analysis of biological samples. Particular emphasis will be placed on supporting the Avian Malaria Genomics Research Project on the islands of Oahu, Molokai and Hawaii Island. Performs one or more of the following duties:
- Assists project leaders and collaborators in data collection with an emphasis on bird banding and blood sampling.
- Assist during 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 coordination of volunteers
- 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): Travel around the island of Oahu, Molokai, and Hawaii Island
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.
Note: Taking and passing a pre-employment medical examination at Federal expense is required due to the physical demands of this job.
Qualifications: 9 months of field experience or 3 years sub-professional experience or 3 years college study (equivalent 90 semester hours/135 quarter hours) plus 3 months of lab or field work experience.
Definitions of Experience:
Field Survey Party – Experience with a field survey party includes activity associated with making and recording geologic, hydrologic, biologic, or topographic field observations; collecting geologic, biological, or water samples for laboratory analysis; applying accepted data collection techniques and methods in the performance of field work in support of scientific investigations; and using a variety of surveying instruments and electronic or mechanical instrumentation in the making and recording of field measurements and observations designed to collect data for physical/ biological science investigations. Only time actually spent in the field can be credited when qualifying individuals under the field party experience option.
Sub-professional Experience – Sub-professional experience is defined as technical work performed in support of field or laboratory investigations relating to the biological sciences, physical sciences, or closely related disciplines which provided basic knowledge or skills in gathering, recording, and assembling scientific or engineering data; using scientific instruments to measure angles, degrees, weights, strengths, intensities, etc.; setting up and operating test apparatus, and manipulating quantitative data. Experience may include assisting professional employees with such duties as calibrating and operating measuring instruments mixing solutions, making chemical analyses, setting up and operating test apparatus, and compiling and processing scientific data. Experience as a laboratory mechanic or in a trade or craft may be credited as experience when the work was performed in close association with physical or biological scientists or other technical personnel and provided a good working knowledge of appropriate scientific principles, methods, and techniques.
Professional Experience – Professional work experience in the physical and biological sciences may be credited in lieu of or in conjunction with sub-professional experience as defined above.
Please note that if qualifying based on education; unofficial transcripts MUST be submitted as part of the application in order to receive consideration.
You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.
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: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-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: http://www.usgs.gov/humancapital/pb/telework.html.
How to Apply: Carefully read all information and instructions. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure 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 Steven Ancheta, sancheta@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 veteran’s 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: Steven Ancheta, Vacancy Number 21GGWNZB01002
Crater Rim Drive, Building 344
Hawaii National Park, HI 96718
Email: sancheta@usgs.gov
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