Summary Positions are TEMPORARY, not to exceed 1039 hours in a service year. These positions are focused on Wildlife. This is an open continuous announcement. Applicants will be referred periodically throughout the announcement period. Final application disposition will be completed once all positions have been filled or the announcement reaches the end of the open period stated in the announcement. The first cut-off date is 11:59 pm (est), 12/22/2023. Responsibilities Biological Science Technician GS-5 As a field technician for wildlife management programs, the incumbent will work under permanent park staff to carry out field activities including the control and enhancement of wildlife populations, pest species management, threatened species management, population inventory and assessment, habitat restoration and threat mitigation. The primary focus of this position will be related to a breeding population of federally threatened shorebirds and other species of management concern, such as wild horses on Assateague Island. The technician will collect field observation data for resource monitoring programs evaluating terrestrial wildlife populations, habitat dynamics, ecological processes, public recreation issues, and human/wildlife interactions. They serve as an integral part of an interagency team of monitors and work independently to accomplish team goals. The program relies on skills including wildlife population sampling design, breeding bird behavior recognition, excellent sight, hearing and mobility in a coastal environment, the use of optical equipment, construction of public use closures and wildlife control structures, techniques to manage or control problem species, and the use of computers and GPS equipment. The technician will be required to wear a uniform, and operate an off-road vehicle. Biological Science Technician GS-6 As a field technician for wildlife management program, the incumbent will work assisting permanent park staff to coordinate and independently complete daily field activities including the control and enhancement of wildlife populations, pest species management, threatened species management, population inventory and assessment, habitat restoration and threat mitigation. The GS-6 position must be familiar with all primary tasks and take responsibility to provide training, safety, function, oversight, quality control, repair, and alternative actions to other staff when supervisors are not on site. The primary focus of this position will be related to a wild horse population on Assateague Island, and other species of management concern. The technician will collect field observation data for resource monitoring programs evaluating terrestrial wildlife populations, habitat dynamics, ecological processes, public recreation issues, and human/wildlife interactions. They serve as an integral part of an interagency team of monitors and work independently to accomplish team goals. The program relies on skills including wildlife population sampling design, breeding bird behavior recognition, excellent sight, hearing and mobility in a coastal environment, the use of optical equipment, construction of public use closures and wildlife control structures, techniques to manage or control problem species, and the use of computers and GPS equipment. The technician will conduct QA/QC and metadata requirements for all aspects of data collection and work output. The technician will be required to wear a uniform, and operate an off-road vehicle. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle. You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. Government housing may be available. Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program. Qualifications All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-05/03/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience. To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Experience must have been related to the work of the position for which application is made. The specialized experience required for some positions in this series is normally work performed in a controlled environment. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Record field observations of biological and ecological conditions as they relate to wildlife management; Collect, process, and assist in evaluating wildlife habitat (i.e., condition of forage, range or streams, etc.); Use standard laboratory procedures for analyzing samples of biological specimens; Identify animals to species level with the use of an identification key; Record all data collected and provide preliminary quality assessment; and Install, operate, and maintain wildlife management equipment (e.g., tools, sampling, monitoring, photographic, and laboratory equipment). You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, 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. You must include transcripts. -OR- COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. (Note: Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to 1 year of specialized experience.) For example, 6 months of the specialized experience described above (50% of the experience requirement), and 3 years of college study from an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education) which included at least 12 semester hours of related coursework as described above (50% of coursework required). The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts. To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in federal service (obtained in either public or private sectors). Experience must have been related to the work of the position for which application is made. The specialized experience required for some positions in this series is normally work performed in a controlled environment. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Recommend modifications to field activity procedures to accomplish project objectives; Adheres to established control/quality assurance protocols; Make preliminary determinations on cause of habitat problems such as drought, overpopulations, toxins, etc.; Assist conducting wildlife censuses and surveys; Assist assembling basic information of wildlife populations such as habitat use, sex, age, structure, seasonal movement, and harvest characteristics; Provide logistic support and technical information regarding ongoing field activities; and Uses standard statistical methods in preparation of reports as it relates to wildlife management. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one full year of graduate education in an accredited educational institution (18 semester hours) in coursework directly related to the work of this position (such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, natural resource management). You must include transcripts. -OR- COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, 6 months of specialized experience (50% of experience requirement), and 6 months of graduate education as described above (50% of education requirement). The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts. Volunteer Experience: 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. Education To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Additional Information A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS). If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility. The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM. Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations. Physical Demands: The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking, and bending often required. Heavy items (e.g., packs and equipment up to 50 pounds) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis. Working Conditions: The work is performed in an office, laboratory, and in the field. Field work includes exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, pesticides, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals. Laboratory work may involve exposure to hazardous chemicals. Requires physical exertion such as walking or climbing over wet, rough, uneven and rocky surfaces. Regular and recurring field work involves exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain.