Biological Science Technician - Summer Work Experience (USDA APHIS Wildlife Services)

OPEN DATE: March 18, 2021

CLOSING DATE: March 31, 2021

POSITION TITLE: Biological Science Technician (Summer Work Experience) - Wildlife

AGENCY: United States Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services

TYPE OF POSITION: Temporary Appointment, Excepted Service. Beginning and ending dates may be negotiable. This is a temporary position that will last approximately 10 weeks during the summer of 2021.

WORK SCHEDULE: Full-time, Maxi-flex, Monday-Friday with occasional weekends, early mornings and evenings with occasional night work

LOCATION: 1 position, Honolulu, Oahu HI. 

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.

SALARY:

• AD-3 $13.87 - $18.03
• AD-4 $15.57 - $20.24

ANNOUNCEMENT #: WSWR-2021-HI01

SERIES/GRADE: GS-0404-3/4

FULL PERFORMANCE LEVEL: GS-0404-3 or GS-404-4 depending on experience

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: 

1. Resume (include days/months/years worked, work schedule, and grade level if federal)
2. Transcripts (if qualifying on education)
3. DD-214 (Member 4 copy) and/or VA letter required for applicable Veteran preference.
4. 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) to the address listed here:

CONTACT OFFICE:
Gabrielle Mendoza, Administrative Support Assistant
USDA Wildlife Services
3375 Koapaka St Suite H-420
Honolulu, HI 96819
Gabrielle.n.mendoza@.usda.gov
808-838-2846

DUTIES:

Serves as a member of the Wildlife Service (WS) workforce engaged in wildlife damage management operations.

Incumbent will be required to be familiar with and know how to use various devices, chemicals, tools, firearms and related equipment utilized in wildlife damage management operations.

Prepares baits and constructs or sets devices, lures, traps, etc., in accordance with standard operational procedures.

Responsible for the maintenance, repair and safekeeping of tools, supplies and equipment issued. May participate in activities using toxic materials and be expected to maintain records pursuant to the State Pesticide statutes and regulations and Environmental Protection Agency use restrictions. 

Must be able to identify predator or rodent species by sight, sound, tracks, type of depredation or damage present, examine other appropriate evidence and correctly identify such damage situations and relate them to the depredating species.

Coordinates wildlife damage management efforts with the cooperators and cooperator's contractors, particularly in relation to public use. 

Incumbent provides routine reports on wildlife damage management related problems. Records observations, sightings, activities, or other events daily and reports these to the supervisor. 

Must conduct all operations using approved safety procedures and in accordance with local, State and Federal laws and regulations, and USDA, APHIS, and WS policies.

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-03 Grade:
Applicant must have 6 months of general experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position.

OR

Successful completion of l year of study that included at least 6 semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics.
Transcripts required if qualifying based on this provision.

OR

Combination of Education and experience at the GS-3 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.
Transcripts required if qualifying based on this provision.

Qualification Requirements at the GS-4 Grade Level:
Applicants must have 6 months of general experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position. In addition, applicant must have 6 months of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-3 level) that demonstrates:

• Experience recognizing and accurately identifying damage caused by various wildlife species and selecting appropriate species-selective management actions.
• Experience in wildlife damage management techniques and methods including, but not limited to foot-hold, body-grip and live traps and cable restraint devices and related equipment utilized in damage management operations.
• Experience with various hand tools, 4X4 trucks, ATVs, small gasoline engine operation, hauling and backing trailers.

​OR

Education Substitution at the GS-4 Grade Level:

Successful completion of 2 years of study above high school 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 directly related to wildlife.
Transcripts required if qualifying based on this provision

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.
Transcripts required if qualifying based on this provision

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 U.S. 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.
• 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).

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-and-transparent/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.

**Drug testing and fingerprint cards have been suspended until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to continue employment, selectees will still be required to successfully pass drug tests and submit fingerprint cards once these items are reinstated.**