Deadline: Wed, 08/09/2023 - 12:00pm Employer: Department of Agriculture Forest Service Job Field: Forestry Job Type: Full Time Location: Regional/Multiple Location Detail: Flagstaff, AZ; Carlsbad, NM; Cloudcroft, NM; Reserve, NM Job Description: Duties Independently, or as part of a team, participates in procedural fisheries and/or wildlife related assignments where methods and techniques are well established. Makes browse surveys; takes and records measurements such as identifying species, etc.; identifies and measures species and conditions; delineates wildlife or fisheries habitat types on topographic maps; and, identifies habitat condition. Maintains records of investigations and trail data as requested by the team leader or supervisor. The supervisor or team leader makes sure assigned tasks are completed; and information is developed; and that the methods used in securing and verifying data are acceptable. The supervisor or team leader makes sure that the methods used in securing and verifying data are acceptable; and that use of guidelines are technically-accurate and in accordance with agency guidelines. Under supervision, prepares data summaries in proper format. Summarizes data obtained from field collections using prescribed statistical procedures. Assists in the attainment of field data by calculating and recording relevant biological information irregular to the specific assignment. Formulates and orders data as directed and prepares data for computer use. Assists in the collection, handling, and preservation of specimens. Makes fish counts. Traps fry and fingerlings using such methods as baited minnow traps; identifies and measures species, recording numbers, lengths, weights etc.; takes scale samples. Notes environmental factors prejudicial to fish habitat such as log jams and silting, and recommends corrective action; and independently determines count sites on assigned streams. Performs wildlife and/or fisheries habitat improvement projects such as maintenance of wildlife openings and trails; inventories of nesting structures; and construction and installation of woody structures for streams, rivers, and lakes. Performs wildlife and/or fisheries habitat improvement projects such as planting of areas for establishment of more desirable food or cover; installation and maintenance of nesting boxes; establishment of food plots, etc. Conducts surveys of game and non-game wildlife species and plant species; counts, sorts, identifies species, and performs measurements. Records data manually and electronically using a Global Positioning System unit and computer. Summarizes data obtained from field collections and, under supervision, prepares data summaries in proper format. Manages data and prepares reports. Conducts routine procedural tests using well-established work methods and techniques. Summarizes data obtained from field collections using prescribed statistical procedures. Under supervision, prepares data summaries in proper format. Assists higher-graded technicians with the operation of more sophisticated equipment or systems. Does not interpret the results, but is responsible for noticing obvious deviations so that tests may be repeated or other checks made. Assists in the acquisition of field data by measuring and recording pertinent biological information peculiar to the specific assignment. Assists in the collection, handling, and preservation of specimens. Uses topographic maps, aerial photos, compass, Global Positioning System devices, photographs, etc. for navigation. Operates a variety of hand tools and mechanical equipment such as chainsaw, and brush saw. May be required to operate a four-by-four drive vehicles, mower deck, all-terrain-vehicles (ATV's) or utility-terrain-vehicles (UTV's), Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV), or a small water craft. May occasionally serve as a crew leader on designated projects. Qualifications: Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a US Citizen or US National. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. Direct Deposit Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing. Must be 18 years of age. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-Verify. Qualifications In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. GS-04: Applicants must have six months of any type of work that demonstrated the ability to perform the work of the position, or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation AND six months of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-3 grade level; OR an associate's degree or two years of successfully completed education above high school (90 quarter or 60 semester hours) that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, agriculture, or mathematics and at least 6 hours must be directly related to the position; OR combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. Examples of General Experience includes: Performed farm/ranch labor, such as feeding/tending livestock or general maintenance of farm/ranch facilities and/or worked in a greenhouse, nursery or landscaping e.g., planting, moving, watering, and tending plants and/or animal caretaker in a laboratory, zoo or pet store. Examples of specialized experience include: Recording data during studies or sampling procedures related to fisheries or wildlife biology projects. Assisting technical or professional personnel by performing field techniques including taking measurements and collecting samples, using basic field equipment such as data recorders and using geographic positioning systems to gather plant and animal survey data. Worked in local (city/county) or state parks, reservoirs, or nature centers performing work that involved evaluation of biological resources or habitat conditions. 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. To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Miscellaneous: Additional information PLEASE NOTE: This vacancy is being used to fill positions for FY2024 Temporary Employment Hiring season. The expected start date for this position will be between December 31, 2023 and April 7, 2024. By selecting the "Location Negotiable" option during the application process, implies your willingness to be considered for any official duty location listed on this announcement and/or those duty locations not listed for this Regional announcement. Pay rates vary depending on location. The salary shown is for the Rest of the U.S. See OPM.gov for additional information on pay rates. This position is temporary, has a Not-to-Exceed date and will be filled for up to 6 months or as a not to exceed (NTE) 1 year, however an extension of the appointment may be possible without further competition. The appointment may also end early due to lack of work or lack of funds. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other groups within the Region who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in any of the geographic location(s) listed on the announcement. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS). Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates. The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligible must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered. If you are retired from the Federal Government and are selected for this vacancy, your retirement annuity may be offset from your pay. This position is not eligible for telework. Availability of government housing and federal day care facilities will vary by location. Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE. How You Will Be Evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. Eligible applicants will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Applicants with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be referred to the selecting official. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service. Salary: $16.57 - $16.57 per hour Benefits: A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. How to Apply: job posting: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/739482100
