Deadline: Wed, 01/11/2023 - 12:00pm Employer: USDA Job Field: Wildlife Job Type: Seasonal, Temporary, Internship Location: Alaska Location Detail: Anchorage & Fairbanks, Alaska Job Description: These positions are located in the Wildlife Services (WS) Program, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The WS Program provides federal leadership in addressing wildlife damage problems to protect agriculture, property, natural resources and human health and safety. Both operational management and information sharing activities are conducted. The incumbent performs a wide range of assignments related to wildlife damage management with special emphasis on activities to assess, reduce or prevent wildlife damage in highly urbanized areas. The incumbent also assists with other wildlife management projects as required within the District or State program. Furthermore, the incumbent will: • Use techniques aimed at controlling native and invasive wildlife damage to property, human safety, natural resources and agriculture. • Be required to be familiar with and know how to use various devices, tools, and related equipment utilized in mammal and bird damage control operations, including the use of snares, traps, or specialized firearms. • Responsible for organizing, conducting, and implementing direct control operations within a small geographical area as assigned by supervisor to control damage caused by avian or mammalian species. • Prepare and assists others in preparing and submitting routine and special reports regarding daily, weekly or monthly activities, observations, events and other relevant data. • The incumbent must demonstrate a respect for safety in all operations, including the operation of motor vehicles, firearms, control devices, and equipment. • Assist with outreach and educational opportunities through workshops and training sessions. • Conduct much of his/her time working independently and/or cooperatively with fellow WS personnel when necessary. Qualifications: QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: FOR THE GS-03 GRADE: Applicants must have 6 months of general experience. OR Education 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. FOR THE GS-04 GRADE: 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 in the principles of wildlife ecology and management to support the goals of Wildlife Services. • Experience identifying North American wildlife species using field identification guides, expertise, and related methods in support of wildlife damage management efforts. • Experience safely and effectively using firearms, traps, snares, pesticides, immobilizing drugs, pyrotechnics, electronic harassment devices, and other non-lethal control tools to provide wildlife damage management to cooperators. • Conducting basic computer operations for record keeping, data analysis, report writing and correspondence OR 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. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. FOR THE GS-05 GRADE: 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: • Experience in wildlife damage mitigation methods and techniques. • Experience using lethal and non-lethal animal control techniques. • Conducting basic computer operations for record keeping, data analysis, report writing and correspondence. OR 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 at the GS-5 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. Miscellaneous: 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. • 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 about E- Verify, 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. • 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. More than one position may be selected from this announcement. Salary: $32,000-$52,000 Benefits: N/A How to Apply: Email Marc.w.Pratt@usda.gov
