VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Transcription

1 VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT OPEN DATE: September 1, 2017 CLOSING DATE: Postmarked by September 15, 2017 United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services WA/AK State Office 720 O Leary St NW Olympia, WA Ph: An Equal Opportunity Employer POSITION TITLE: TYPE OF POSITION: WORK SCHEDULE: SERIES/GRADE: PROMOTION POTENTIAL: DUTY STATION: SALARY: Biological Science Technician (Wildlife), GS /6 Term Appointment with Benefits, Excepted Service Not to Exceed 13 months (may be extended up to 4 years) Starting dates are negotiable but prefer to start as soon as possible. Maxiflex work schedule to be tailored to flight schedules and seasonal wildlife activity. GS /6 GS Naval Air Station Whidbey, Whidbey Island, WA (Relocation expenses will not be paid) GS Locality Pay Tables can be accessed at: 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: REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Resume Transcripts (if qualifying on education) 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. OF-306. The OF-306 form may be obtained from Contact Office or downloaded from HOW TO APPLY: Applications with all supporting documents must be submitted to the contact office and must be postmarked by the closing date of this announcement. Additional materials not listed above (i.e. position descriptions,

2 training certificates, etc.) may not be considered. Applicants who do not submit the required items listed above may not be considered. Interested individuals should send a resume, OF-306 form, transcripts, veteran documentation (if applicable), and supplemental experience to the address listed here: CONTACT OFFICE: USDA APHIS Wildlife Services Central Valley Rd NW Poulsbo, WA Attn: Brook Zscheile, District Supervisor Brook.Zscheile@aphis.usda.gov DUTIES: This position is 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 hazards to air operations at civil and military airports. The incumbent also assists with other wildlife management projects as required within the district or state program. Furthermore, the incumbent will: Provide operational and technical assistance while conducting wildlife damage management and assessment for the purpose of reducing conflicts between wildlife (primarily birds) and aircraft. Be required to be familiar with and know how to use various devices, chemicals, tools, firearms and related equipment utilized in mammal and bird damage control operations, including the use of snares, traps, or shooting. Modify and adapt established wildlife damage management methods as necessary. Gather, compile, and evaluate data on damage caused by birds and mammals, primarily to aircraft operations. Keep accurate written records of their activities for the cooperator and Wildlife Services program using prescribed formats and procedures. Prepare and submit routine and special reports regarding daily, weekly or monthly activities, observations, events and other relevant data collected. 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 with on-site WS personnel.

3 QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: To qualify, applicants MUST meet all minimum qualification requirements, except Medical Requirements, by the closing date of the announcement. 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. OR 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. Experience in the principles of wildlife ecology and management to support the goals of Wildlife Services. Successful completion of 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 biology, ecology, or management. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-6 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level (GS-5) in the Federal service. This experience may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors. Experience utilizing skills and knowledge of human-wildlife conflicts and principles of wildlife damage management to reduce damages and threats to agricultures, natural resources and human health and safety hazards. Experience in the requirements of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and Federal Air Regulations in support of the USDA Wildlife Services mission statement. OR Experience selecting the appropriate wildlife damage management strategies, techniques, and tools and applying them to specific situations.

4 Successful completion of 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 biology, ecology, or management. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. 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 state-issued 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: o Working with the public and other cooperating agencies o Communication skills o 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. 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 postmarked 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

5 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. All candidates will be considered without regarding to race, creed, color, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor. SUPPLEMENTAL EXPERIENCE The following questions are to be answered on a separate sheet of paper. Keep responses to no more than 1-page per question. Failure to answer the questions will exclude you from consideration. 1. A general background in a biological or agricultural field which demonstrates the ability to learn basic wildlife damage management methods techniques, including the use of firearms, euthanasia drugs, toxicants, traps, etc.; tracking of wildlife, bird identification, identifying wildlife concerns associated with depredation. a. Describe any experience and/or education in a biological or agricultural field which demonstrated the ability to learn basic wildlife damage management methods techniques. b. List the extent of experience you have with the following methods-techniques: - firearms - toxicants - traps - tracking of wildlife - bird identification - Identifying wildlife concerns associated with depredation or damage. c. List any experience you have had working with threatened and/or endangered species. 2. ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY WORK WITH CO-WORKERS AND THOSE OUTSIDE OF THE ORGANIZATION: In this position you will work closely with a biologists and other specialists. Please describe an experience where you had to work closely in a team environment, your role in that team, and the results of your teamwork. 3. REPORTING AND RECORD KEEPING: Data collection and reporting are important aspects of this position. This record keeping can be very tedious and time consuming. Please describe your experience in data collection and reporting.