Job Description

Full job description

Duties

Technicians will work in crews ranging from 2 to 8 individuals. Crews may be assigned to work on aquatic restoration projects (including removing nonnative fish and bullfrogs from alpine and sub-alpine lakes), amphibian and reptile projects (including surveys for Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs or other imperiled amphibians), and Northwestern Pond Turtle projects (including surveys, radio telemetry, and trapping of Western Pond turtles). Projects may take place in the front country remote field settings (day field work, accessed by hiking and/or in remote wilderness settings (accessed via multi-night backpacking) and will involve night and weekend work. Projects require a high level of physical fitness, multi-night backpacking (up to 4 nights) in the wilderness, and the ability to work various work schedules (including weekends, split-shift, night shift, and regular day time work schedules).



Duties may include:

• Use of gill nets, backpack electro fisher, and/or turtle traps.
• Eradicating Bullfrogs using pole spears, gigs, hand grab, and traps (this is night work).
• Use of radio telemetry to track freshwater turtles, toads, and/or other wildlife.
• Identifying and surveying for Sierra Nevada amphibian and reptile including species listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act.
• Mark-recapturing of reptiles or amphibians, including scute notches, Passive Integrated Transponder ("PIT") tags, and/or disease sampling in amphibians (BD/chytrid swabbing).
• Trapping, handling, and marking freshwater turtles, toads, and/or other wildlife.
• Deploying iButtons, HOBO, or other temperature data loggers.
• Performing visual encounter surveys (VES) and/or snorkel surveys.
• Collecting environmental DNA samples from water bodies (aquatic "eDNA").
• Repairing equipment in the field/office.
• Communicating with the public regarding controversial topics in ecological conservation and technical scientific topics.
• Working with and providing mentorship to volunteers and interns.
• Office work involving data entry, compilation, and writing.
• Using software to coordinate field work and summarize data collected including ArcGIS, the program R, and Microsoft Excel/Access databases.
• Overnight backpacking or camping in remote field settings
• Night work and/or work on weekends

In addition, GS-05 duties include:

• Overseeing aquatic wildlife or fisheries science in a leadership role and/or highly independent work assignments.
• Communicating with supervisors and colleagues regarding logistics and work assignments.
• Instructing others in the setting and cleaning of fish from gill nets or site selection and trap placement.
• Organizing, planning, and scheduling field crews for remote backcountry work.
• Mentoring interns and volunteers performing aquatic ecological field studies.
• Facilitating safety dialogues and discussions to ensure safe work practices in remote locations.

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.


Yosemite National Park, California, known worldwide for its spectacular natural beauty is the backdrop for this position. Sitting astride the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the park covers 1,182 square miles of varied wilderness ecosystems, from river valleys to alpine meadows to lofty 13,000-foot-high peaks. Yosemite Valley is located 208 miles from San Francisco, 81 miles from Merced, and 94 miles from Fresno. Shopping, medical, postal and laundry services are available in the park. Elevation at the Valley floor is approximately 4,000 feet and 2,200 feet in El Portal. The park is open year-round with the majority of activities occurring during the busy season March through October.

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 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 evenings, weekends, overtime.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 16 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
• Travel, transportation & relocation expenses will not be paid. Relocation expenses will be the employee's responsibility.
• 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-12/16/2024-.


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 (Candidates who do not meet ALL requirements by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for these positions):

• This position performs work identifying aquatic species, and accurately identifying reptile, amphibian, and/or fish species using keys or field guides in order to survey for or eradicate them is required. Experience must be reflected in resume or application materials, or you will no longer be considered for this position.
• This position performs work with the ability to backpack and camp and possessing the physical ability to engage in extended backpacking/camping for at least 4 consecutive days carrying up to 40 pounds of gear in mountainous terrain and traveling up to 10 miles per day is required. Experience must be reflected in resume or application materials, or you will no longer be considered for this position.
• This position performs work with the ability to swim, and strong swimming ability and comfort wading and swimming in lakes and swift moving rivers is required. Experience must be reflected in resume or application materials, or you will no longer be considered for this position.

-AND-



To qualify for this position at the GS-04 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:



EXPERIENCE: At least six months of general experience and six months of specialized experience. General experience is any type of work that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of the position, or experience that provides a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Specialized experience demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of a Biological Science Technician. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to assisting in aquatic wildlife censuses and surveys to document and assess information on aquatic wildlife populations (such as habitat use, animal presence, abundance, reproduction, and population dynamics); aquatic surveys to obtain basic information for management of fish, amphibians, turtles, macroinvertebrates, and aquatic ecosystems; and recording wildlife data into databases. You must include hours per week worked.


-OR-



EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least two years of study above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of courses in scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must be directly related to the position. You must include transcripts.


-OR-


Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, three months of general experience and 3 months specialized experience (50% of the experience), and one year of education above high school which includes 6 hours of scientific or technical courses and 3 semester hours of directly related coursework (50% of the education) would qualify an applicant for this position. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts and hours per week worked on your resume.



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 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. Specialized experience for this position includes: conducting aquatic wildlife field surveys to document and assess animal presence, abundance, reproduction, and population dynamics; conducting biological aquatic surveys to obtain basic information for management of fish, amphibians, turtles, macroinvertebrates, and aquatic ecosystems; assisting researchers in aquatic wildlife surveys and monitoring activities; mapping aquatic wildlife locations using a Global Positioning Systems (GPS) unit; working with field crews to implement aquatic wildlife projects; and to assist in long-term monitoring projects by following established protocols to compile, store, analyze and report on wildlife data using a variety of computer programs. Your resume must include hours per week worked.


-OR-



EDUCATION: Successful completion of four years of education above high school (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or 24 semester hours of course work in a related field of scientific or technical study, such as in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must be directly related to the position. You must include transcripts.


-OR-


Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, six months of specialized experience (50% of the specialized experience) and three years of education above high school (50% of the education) would qualify an applicant for this position. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study beyond the second year is equivalent to six months of specialized experience. You must submit transcripts and resume with hours per week worked.



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 additional information regarding this position, please contact:
Ninette Daniele, Wildlife Biologist
ninette_daniele@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.



Government housing may be available.



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.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

• Benefits

  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 windowLearn more about federal benefits.

  Review our 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:

• Fishery Biology
• Interpersonal Skills
• Oral Communication
• Technical Competence
• Stamina (GS-05 Only)

• Benefits

  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 windowLearn more about federal benefits.

  Review our 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.

• Required Documents

  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 12/16/2024:

  • 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.
  • Complete All Required Assessments.
  • Documentation that you meet Selective Factors
  • College transcripts, if qualifying based on education.
  • 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.
  • 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.

• 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 12/16/2024. 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.

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  • After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site."
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    • Upload any missing required documents or optional documents.
  • Review and Submit Application.
  • While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position.
  • You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement.
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  Agency contact information

  Patricia Gerhardt

  Email

  patty_gerhardt@nps.gov

  Address

  Yosemite National Park
  5037 Stroming Road
  Mariposa, CA 95338
  US

  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.
  

• Fair and Transparent

  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

  • Criminal history inquiries
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Financial suitability
  • New employee probationary period
  • Privacy Act
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Selective Service
  • Signature and false statements
  • Social security number request

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 12/16/2024:

• 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.

• Complete All Required Assessments.

• Documentation that you meet Selective Factors

• College transcripts, if qualifying based on education.

• 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.

• 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

This job is open to

• The public

  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

Clarification from the agency

The Pacific West Region is recruiting for TEMPORARY seasonal positions not to exceed 1039 hours work in a service year. Dates of employment will vary depending on funding, weather conditions, and visitation. Within regulatory limitations, the length of initial appointment may be shortened or extended depending on work availability and funding. Under this announcement, we are accepting applications from: 1. All United States Citizens (U.S. Citizens) 2. CTAP/ICTAP Eligibles.

Job Tags

Remote job, Permanent employment, Full time, Temporary work, Part time, Local area, Worldwide, Relocation, Relocation package, Shift work, Weekend work,

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