Biological Science Technician (Wildlife)

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 days/months/years worked, work schedule, and grade level if federal)

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,

 Hours worked per week,

 Dates of employment;

 Title, series, grade (if applicable)

4) All supervisors' phone numbers and if they may be contacted

5) Other qualifications, such as transcripts (if qualifying on education)

• Transcripts (if qualifying on education)

• DD-214 (Member 4 copy), if applicable for Veteran’s Preference

• 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. 

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 GENERALIZED EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-3 GRADE LEVEL:

Applicants must have 6 months of work experience that demonstrates the applicant's 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.

OR

EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION AT THE GS-3 GRADE LEVEL:

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.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-4 GRADE LEVEL:

Applicants must have 6 months of 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:

• Experience using damage control techniques, including, but not limited to, predator, rodent

and bird control toxicants, techniques, traps, snares and formulating scents and baits;

• Inspecting and surveying areas with the ability to recognize various wildlife species.

• Meeting and communicating with individuals or groups.

• Recognize habits, characteristics, and habitats occupied by a variety of avian and

mammalian wildlife species.

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 must be directly

related to the position to be filled.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-5 GRADE LEVEL:

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and

responsibility to the next lower level (GS-4) in the Federal service. This experience may have been

obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates experience

in:

• Using damage control techniques, including, but not limited to, predator, rodent and pest

bird control techniques utilizing harassment devices, traps, and other migratory bird

damage management techniques, including but not limited to, pyrotechnics, scare devices,

and other various techniques as required.

• Using specialty equipment such as firearms, ATV’s, watercraft, trucks, etc.

• Preparing reports regarding activities, observations, events, and other relevant data

collected. Input operations data into established and custom databases.

• Training on the control methods, procedures, technical aspects, and objectives used for

wildlife damage management.

• Meeting and communicating with individuals or groups in order to mitigate wildlife

conflicts. 

OR

EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION AT THE GS-5 LEVEL:

Successful completion full four-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree with major

study or at least 24 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 have been in wildlife biology, ecology, or management.

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-03/04/05 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.

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: (if applicable to your position)

• Must obtain or have a valid state driver’s license. Operation of Government-owned or leased

vehicles is required. (if this applies)

• 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 their financial institution.

• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more aboutEVerify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.

• Must demonstrate a respect for safety in all operations, including the operation of motor

vehicles, firearms, control devices, and equipment.

• 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-andtransparent/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 PolicyFederal 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.

More than one position may be selected from this announcement.