Biological Science Technician (Wildlife) – Avian

All qualifications must be met by 11:59 EST when the ‘applicant cut-off’ is reached (which may be sooner than 11/22/2024). 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. SELECTIVE FACTORS: Applicants must be proficient in ornithology and have experience conducting surveys for passerines native to the Sierra Nevada ecosystem (specifically point counts and area searches). Applicants must be able to accurately identify at least 50 of these passerine species by sight and sound. Applicants MUST demonstrate in their resume that they possess these skills. -AND- This position requires long, arduous days hiking up to 16 miles over rough terrain carrying a backpack weighing up to one third a person’s body weight. Applicants MUST demonstrate in their resume that they possess these skills. Candidates who do not meet these requirements by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position. – AND – 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: 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). This experience includes activities such as: assisting biologists with passerine research, conducting surveys for passerines using standardized methods, data collection on passerine age, gender, reproductive status, behavior, and habitat use, recording field notes in a well-organized fashion, recording observations, entering data, and using a GPS unit, assisting with writing reports using data collected, navigating using a topographic map and compass. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 4 full years of study above high school leading to a bachelor’s degree or equivalent undergraduate degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as wildlife management, biology, ornithology, zoology, or ecology. At least 6 semester hours must be directly related to the position to be filled. You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, only education beyond the first 60 semester hours may be considered as qualifying for substitution of specialized experience. Convert the amount of qualifying education into a percentage of the total requirement. Then take the number of months of full-time specialized experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You MUST submit a copy of your 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: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: assisting biologists with management and conservation of passerine populations, conducting surveys for passerines using standardized methods, collecting data on passerine age, gender, reproductive status, behavior, and habitat use, conducting field surveys for passerine species, entering, analyzing, and managing passerine data, preparing scientific reports on data collected, preparing field schedules, and organizing/maintaining gear. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours study leading to a master’s degree with major study in a directly related field such as wildlife management, biology, ornithology, zoology, or ecology. You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, convert the amount of qualifying graduate education into a percentage of the total requirement. Then take the number of months of full-time specialized experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You MUST submit a copy of your transcript. To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: leading crews of 1 to 4 wildlife biology technicians assigned to complete avian survey projects; surveying for passerine birds using point count, area search, and nest searching protocols; entering, managing, and analyzing passerine data, updating and maintaining Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and Access databases or other similar electronic databases, producing maps using GIS, preparing scientific reports using data collected, preparing field schedules, and organizing/maintaining gear. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours study leading to a master’s degree with major study in a directly related field such as wildlife management, biology, ornithology, zoology, or ecology. You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, convert the amount of qualifying graduate education into a percentage of the total requirement. Then take the number of months of full-time specialized experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You MUST submit a copy of your 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. ICTAP/CTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special prior­ity selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.
These positions are located in Yosemite National Park, in the Resource Management and Science Division. The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for Yosemite National Park is April-October, but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: April 2025. Open to the first 250 applicants or until 11/22/2024 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.