Biological Science Technician - Wildlife (Kiowa County, CO)

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
 

OPEN DATE: March 20th, 2024
 

CLOSING DATE: March 26th, 2024
 

POSITION TITLE: Biological Science Technician – Wildlife
 

TYPE OF POSITION: Term Appointment with possibility for benefits, Excepted Service. Not to Exceed 13 months (may be extended up to 4 years).
 

WORK SCHEDULE: Intermittent, maxi-flex. Monday – Saturday with occasional weekends, early mornings, and evenings with occasional night work
 

ANNOUNCEMENT #: WSWRCO-240320-3
SERIES/GRADE: GS-0404-04/05/06 depending on qualifications
 

FULL PERFORMANCE
 

LEVEL: GS-0404-6
 

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

SALARY: $ 36,209 - $ 57,354 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:
• Effectively communicates and works with the public, rural residents, and other external agency personnel.
An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
• Experience using traps, foot snares, all-terrain vehicles (ATV), firearms, and related equipment utilized in wildlife damage management operations to assist in your position.
• 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.
• Meets with private landowners, lessees, citizen groups, or associations and negotiates local cooperative agreements.
• Serves as an expert instructor and conducts demonstrations and training for others, including other cooperators or interested groups, on damage control methods, procedures, and program objectives. This includes preliminary instructions and training of new personnel on WS equipment, devices, chemicals, firearms, etc., reporting procedures, field responsibilities and other technical aspects of the program.
• 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.
• May participate in aerial hunting of predators as a gunner or ground crew member in areas where it is authorized by State law.
• Must have a valid State motor vehicle operator license. Operation of a Government-owned or leased vehicle is required. Must be able to operate various types of small boats and canoes and be able to swim.
• Maintains inventories and compiles reports of government-provided equipment and supplies and compiles reports of government-provided equipment and supplies.
• Enters data into established WDM database/system of record. Usese data to prepare and submit routine reports regarding daily, weekly, or monthly activities, observations, and events.
• Performs other duties, as required.
• Obtains and maintains pesticide applicator license, permits, or other similar authorizations as necessary.
 

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 or general experience and 6 months of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-03 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
• Identification of North American wildlife species.
• Experience in the principles of wildlife ecology and management in support of a wildlife management program.
• Experience in preparing baits and setting traps in accordance with standard procedures.
• Experience keeping routine and basic records of daily activities and observations.
 

OR
Education Substitution at the GS-4 Grade Level: 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 much be in wildlife.
 

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.
 

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 demonstrate experience in:
• Perform integrated wildlife damage mitigation methods and techniques.
• Conduct lethal and non-lethal animal mitigation techniques.
• Conduct basic computer operations for record keeping, data analysis, report writing and correspondence.
 

OR
An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
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.
 

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-6 Grade Level:
Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-5 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, federal) sectors which demonstrates experience in:
• Carry out and enforce the requirements of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
• Conducting wildlife damage assessments, counts, and abundance surveys.
• Proficient in the use of firearms, traps, snares, pesticides, immobilizing drugs, pyrotechnics, electronic harassment devices, and other non-lethal control tools.
• Create and maintain public contacts to formulate assistance with strategies that incorporate technical assistance and operational mitiagation techniques.
 

OR
Successfully completed 1 year of graduate education (18 semester hours) 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.
 

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.
An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
 

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.