Job Description

Summary

Pacific West Region is recruiting for summer seasonals for Biological Science Technician (Aquatic Ecosystems) GS 0404-05/6.


The typical seasonal period for Sierra Nevada Network positions is April-October but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding.

Open to the first 125 applicants or until 12/13/2024 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

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Duties

Sierra Nevada Network (SIEN) is seeking field technicians for SIENs long-term lake and wetland monitoring projects. Work will take place in Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks (California). The majority of work is collecting field data in remote, backcountry locations with overnight backpacking and travel required. A smaller component of the work will be in the office transferring data, organizing gear and samples, and debriefing with project leads. These positions are temporary with full-time work schedules. The emphasis of these positions is on field work in both team and individual settings.



Primary duties include:

• Backpacking to lake basins in high elevation park wilderness, following monitoring protocol procedures, and adhering to Sierra Nevada Inventory & Monitoring Network communication and safety policies.
• Lake and wetland monitoring duties include collecting and filtering water samples, measuring water quality parameters, maintaining wetland groundwater monitoring wells and dataloggers, and surveying amphibian populations. This requires an understanding of Sierra Nevada aquatic ecosystems.
• Office duties include entering field data into databases, downloading dataloggers, organizing and cleaning gear, planning for sampling trips, and meeting with project leads.
• Topographic maps, compass, and global positioning systems will be used to aid in navigation and document sample site locations.
• Hiking and sampling work may occur in inclement weather.
• Positions may also support other aquatic and monitoring projects in the parks, as needed.

Duties specific to the GS-06 crew lead position:

• Serves as the field crew lead to implement Sierra Nevada Inventory & Monitoring Network's long-term monitoring protocol for high-elevation lakes and wetlands.
• Carries out water and amphibian sampling at lakes throughout Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks per Sierra Nevada Inventory & Monitoring Network protocols.
• Has an understanding of aquatic resources and associated sampling methodology.
• Responsible for helping the crew understand and adhere to Sierra Nevada Inventory & Monitoring Network safety policies.
• Meets with the network physical scientist and provides feedback on the protocol's implementation.

Physical Demands: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion walking, hiking, or climbing over wet, rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; bending; crouching, stooping, lifting or reaching to observe, collect, or record field data; and paddling packrafts on mountain lakes. Heavy items (e.g., equipment and packs up to 50 pounds) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis.



Working Conditions: Work is performed in an office or outdoors. The work performed involves regular and recurring exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals.



Air Quality: Poor air quality afflicts Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, especially during summer months. High ozone levels may be the most harmful pollutant here. In summer months, concentrations often exceed the federal ozone health standards. For more information:

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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 may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, you may be required to 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 discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license.
• You may be required to work overtime.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 18 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
• 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 11:59 PM (EST) when the applicant limit is reached which may be sooner than the closing date of this announcement-12/13/2024-.


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 FACTOR: This position requires regular and recurring work and camping in rugged mountainous backcountry above 7,000 ft elevation for extended periods of time. Selectee(s) must be able to hike by foot in the backcountry at high altitude for extended periods of time while carrying backpacks, tools and supplies of at least 50 lbs., and be able to camp for several days at a time. Such wilderness travel skills require extensive experience to develop. Given the short duration of the summer season and immediacy of need, such skills cannot be acquired on-the-job in a reasonable amount of time. Indicate your experience in performing this type of work. You will be required to provide detailed descriptions of this experience during the application process.



- 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: Successful completion of at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to conducting biological aquatic surveys on fish, amphibians, macroinvertebrates, and aquatic ecosystems; conducting resource monitoring programs for evaluating rare, threatened and endangered aquatic species; and assisting in measurements of physical attributes of lakes and streams including water chemistry and temperature. You must include hours per week worked.



-OR-



EDUCATION: Successful completion of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as wildlife management, ecology, zoology, biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. This MUST include at least 6 semester hours, or 9 quarter hours of courses directly related to the position. You must include transcripts.



-OR-


Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to l year of specialized experience. Determine the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the year of specialized experience required at the GS-5 level. Then determine the applicant's education as a percentage of the education that meets the requirements for GS-5. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Transcripts must be included, and the resume must include hours per week worked.


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: Successful completion of one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in Federal Service. This specialized experience must equip selectees with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the GS-06. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to, conducting surveillance to help detect invasion and colonization of non-native fish species, and the control of those species; operating a variety of field equipment commonly used in fish studies, including fish sampling gear, trawls, nets and electrofishing equipment; conducting biological aquatic surveys on fish, amphibians, macro invertebrates and aquatic ecosystems; conducting resource monitoring programs for evaluating rare, threatened and endangered aquatic species, and assisting in measurements of physical attributes of lakes and streams including water chemistry and temperature. You must include hours per week worked in your resume.


-OR-


EDUCATION: Successful completion of one full year (18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours) of graduate level education leading towards a master's degree with a major study in any combination of scientific or technical courses directly related to this position such as biology, chemistry, wildlife management, ecology, herpetology, ichthyology, and/or fisheries courses. You must submit a copy of your transcripts.



-OR-


Successful completion of a combination of experience and directly related graduate education. Experience and education should be computed as a percentage of the overall requirements and must equal 100 percent when combined. You must submit a copy of your transcripts and hours per week worked in your resume.



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.



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

For more information on this position, please contact:
Andi Heard, Sierra Nevada Inventory & Monitoring Network Program Manager
andi_heard@nps.gov


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.



A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.

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.

Government Housing maybe available.


The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. Read more

• Benefits

  Help

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.


Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of two categories:

• Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.

You will be evaluated on the following competencies:

• Attention to Detail
• Biology
• Teamwork
• Technical Competence (GS-06 Only)

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) when the applicant limit is reached which may be sooner than on 12/13/2024:

1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, dates specified in month and year format, 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. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
2. Complete All Required Assessments.
3. Documentation that you meet the Selective Factor.
4. College transcripts, if qualifying based on education.
5. Other Supporting Documents , if applicable, such as:
   • Veterans Preference Documentation
     • If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran , you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15 . If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives .
     • If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge , you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
     • If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran , you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15 , and if applicable, a completed SF15 . You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.
6. Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above 90 on the rating criteria for this position.

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.



Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

To apply for this position: You must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) when the applicant limit is reached which may be sooner than on 12/13/2024. You must provide documentation to support your claim for each eligibility selected. Please review the required documentation listed in the eligibilities language to ensure you submit the appropriate information. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation.



WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES.

1. Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to login or create an account .
2. Prompted to Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application."
   • To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link:
3. Select or add the resume you want to use for this application. Click here on how to build a resume in USAJOBS .
4. Select documents you want included in this application.
5. Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed.
6. Select if you want to include your demographic information.
7. After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site."
8. Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application.
9. Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown.
   • Upload any missing required documents or optional documents.
10. Review and Submit Application.
11. While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position.
12. You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement.
    • To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job.
    • Note: When you click Update Application , you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. So, it is important that you select all documents you want to use in the re-application.

Agency contact information

Patricia Gerhardt

Email patty_gerhardt@nps.gov

Address Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271
US

Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once the Occupational Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.

Help

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) when the applicant limit is reached which may be sooner than on 12/13/2024:

1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, dates specified in month and year format, 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. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
2. Complete All Required Assessments.
3. Documentation that you meet the Selective Factor.
4. College transcripts, if qualifying based on education.
5. Other Supporting Documents , if applicable, such as:
   • Veterans Preference Documentation
     • If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran , you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15 . If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives .
     • If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge , you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
     • If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran , you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15 , and if applicable, a completed SF15 . You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.
6. Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above 90 on the rating criteria for this position.

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.



Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Help

How to Apply

To apply for this position: You must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) when the applicant limit is reached which may be sooner than on 12/13/2024. You must provide documentation to support your claim for each eligibility selected. Please review the required documentation listed in the eligibilities language to ensure you submit the appropriate information. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation.



WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES.

1. Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to login or create an account .
2. Prompted to Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application."
   • To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link:
3. Select or add the resume you want to use for this application. Click here on how to build a resume in USAJOBS .
4. Select documents you want included in this application.
5. Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed.
6. Select if you want to include your demographic information.
7. After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site."
8. Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application.
9. Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown.
   • Upload any missing required documents or optional documents.
10. Review and Submit Application.
11. While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position.
12. You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement.
    • To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job.
    • Note: When you click Update Application , you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. So, it is important that you select all documents you want to use in the re-application.

Read more

Agency contact information

Patricia Gerhardt

Email patty_gerhardt@nps.gov

Address Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271
US

Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once the Occupational Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.

Read more

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Temporary work, Part time, Summer work, Local area, Outdoor, Gangs, Night shift,

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