Job Details

OPEN DATE: May 19, 2022

CLOSING DATE: June 3, 2022

POSITION TITLE: Biological Science Technician

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: This is a full-time maxi-flex position, 80-hour pay period, occasional overtime. NTE 13 months with possibility of renewal at end of term. Person selected for this position will not begin until after July 18, 2022.

ANNOUNCEMENT #: WSWR-2022-HI42

SERIES/GRADE: GS-0404-4/5/6

FULL PERFORMANCE LEVEL: GS-0404-6

LOCATION: 1 position, Kapolei, 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:

GS-4 $33,450.00 - $43,484.00

GS-5 $37,424.00 - $48,650.00

GS-6 $41,717.00 - $54,233.00

In addition to salary, selectee will be eligible for Cost-of-Living Allowance based on location will be based on previous work/experience and education.

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 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 major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) other qualifications; and 5) supervisor’s name and phone number for each work period listed and whether or not they may be contacted for reference checks. Resume should support your specialized experience as required in the announcement and should be in (month/year) format and include the number of hours worked per week and the pay grade or equivalent work level.
• 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) and/or VA letter required for applicable Veteran 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 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.
• Reference the job announcement number noted above in the resume or the email.
• Interested individuals should send a resume, transcripts, veteran documentation (if applicable) to the address listed here:

CONTACT OFFICE:

Shari Tada, Administrative Support Assistant

USDA Wildlife Services

3375 Koapaka St Suite H-420

Honolulu, HI 96819

Shari.Tada@usda.gov

808-838-2843

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you should need the forms identified in above paragraph, feel free to contact 808-838-2843 for a copy.

DUTIES:

The incumbent will provide technical assistance and conduct wildlife damage management activities in an integrated wildlife damage management (WDM) approach to prevent or reduce economic loss to property and agriculture or to protect human health and safety.

Incumbent will be required to be familiar with and to use various devices, tools, firearms, toxicants, pyrotechnics and related equipment used in wildlife damage management.

Incumbent will be expected to be able to identify damage from wildlife species as it pertains to airports, and the incumbent will be expected to assist in the implementation of appropriate corrective action, if warranted.

The incumbent complies with federal, state, and local regulations and assists airports with compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Endangered Species Act, Federal Air Regulations, NEPA, and Department of Defense Regulations.

Incumbent participates in required training sessions, on-the-job developmental activities and temporary details.

Incumbent presents program information and conducts training for various groups, including airport organizations, educational institutions, industry groups, and state extension programs.

Incumbent may be required to pass Certified Applicator examination, as required of persons who use restricted-use pesticides.

Incumbent must demonstrate a respect for safety in all operations, including the operation of motor vehicles, firearms, control devices, and equipment.

MINIMUM ELIGIBLITY REQUIREMENTS:

To qualify, applicants MUST meet all minimum qualification requirements, except Medical Requirements, by the closing date of the announcement.

Specialized Experience Requirements GS-0404-04/05/06 Biological Science Technician:

Applicants can qualify by meeting the experience or education requirements specified below:

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Specialized experience at the GS-0404-4 Grade Level:

Applicant must have 6 months of general experience and 6 months of specialized experience to perform the work of the position. This experience may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors. Must demonstrate experience in:

• Using wildlife damage control techniques (including, but not limited to) predator, rodent and bird control toxicants, techniques, traps, snares and formulating scents and baits;
• Prepare reports regarding activities, observations, events, and other relevant data collected;
• Inspect and survey areas with the ability to recognize various wildlife;
• Meeting and communicating with individuals or groups; and
• Recognize habits, characteristics, and habitats occupied by a variety of avian and mammalian wildlife species.

OR

Education at the GS-4

For GS-4: 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-0404-5 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. Must demonstrate experience in:

• Identifying North American wildlife species.
• The principles of wildlife ecology and management.
• Conducting basic computer operations for record keeping, data analysis, report writing and correspondence
• Selecting appropriate wildlife damage management strategies, techniques, and tools and apply them to specific situations

OR

Education substitution at the GS-5 Level:

For GS-5: A 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 related.

GS-404-06 Level-- all requirements of the GS-0404-5 level and Specialized Experience in:

Applicants must have one year of specialized experience in level of difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level GS-5) in the Federal service that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sector. Must demonstrate experience in:

• Dealing with human-wildlife conflicts and principles of wildlife damage management
• The requirements of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and Federal Air Regulations
• Conducting wildlife counts and abundance surveys
• The use of firearms, traps, snares, pesticides, immobilizing drugs, pyrotechnics, electronic harassment devices, and other non-lethal control tools
• Airport Wildlife Hazard Management
• Using computers for word processing, spreadsheets, GIS and database applications

OR

Education substitution at the GS-6 Level:

For GS-6: Completion of at least 18 semester hours of graduate level education with an emphasis on wildlife.

TRANSCRIPTS are required if:

You are qualifying for the position based on education.

You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.

This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university.

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 have a knowledge of and be capable of using:
  • Working with the public and other cooperating agencies
  • Communication skills
  • Electronic equipment (GPS, Trimble, computer)
• 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).
• As required by the President’s Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee’s duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before appointment or onboarding with the agency. Additional information will be provided regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of the agency a legally required exception from this requirement.

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.

Failure to follow application instructions regarding filing appropriate forms and answering questions may result in loss of employment considerations for this position. All applications must be signed, dated, and received by the closing date of this announcement.

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.