Plant Protection Technician

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. FOR THE GS-04 LEVEL: Applicants must have six months general work experience and six months 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: Analyzes soil samples for the presence of nematodes. Performs inspections and sanitation of farm equipment, vehicles, and other regulated articles. Assists in performing routine surveillance, inspections, and surveys for nematodes and other pests of concern in agricultural areas. OR Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 8 semester hours in courses such as biology, plant pathology, entomology, zoology, botany, forestry, chemistry, agriculture, or physics. 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 COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-04 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. 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
In this position you will assist higher graded employees in day-to-day operations and will perform a variety of technical duties in support of the Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) Eradication program objectives in cooperation with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. The PCN program is tasked with developing effective strategies to minimize the spread of PCN and eradicate the pest in Idaho and the rest of the U.S.