Student Trainee (Biological Science Technician)

Missouri National Recreational River hires summer positions!  

USAJOBS.gov announcement for a Student Trainee (Biological Science Technician) position in Yankton, South Dakota Opens 11/29/2023, Closes 12/13/2023.  USAJOBS - The Federal Government's official employment site

Duties:  The selectee assists in conducting surveys and research on a variety of plants and animals, some of which are exotic or rare, threatened or endangered, and will make field observations of natural resource conditions. Monitor and identify species of the eastern great plains using field guides and dichotomous keys. Ensures adequate quality control of data collected. Records all data collected and provides findings to supervisor or a higher-graded specialist/technician. Provides logistical support and area orientation for contract or cooperating scientists. Capture geospatial data (points, lines, and polygons) using GNSS, complete spatial corrections, and import data into park geodatabases. Operate powered equipment such as lawn mowers, brush cutters, and string trimmers to accomplish exotic plant management goals. Maintain assigned tools and equipment in working order, may include cleaning, sharpening, replacing components, etc. Installs, operates, and maintains resource management equipment (e.g., tools, traps, sampling, monitoring, and photography equipment). Inventories equipment and calibrates equipment as necessary.

This internship involves the incumbent to assist with implementing established natural resource management projects and field research by following instructions and standardized procedures to collect and organize field data. The incumbent will work with technical and professional staff in a wide range of tasks from landscape restoration activities that include invasive species removal, re-introduction and care of native plant species, monitoring threatened and endangered species, and assisting with volunteer groups. Additionally, some office tasks will be required such as data entry, assisting with reports, and summary writing.

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.
• Pathways participant agreement is required.
• 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 will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• 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.
• Interns may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment.

Qualifications:  All qualifications must be met by the closing date of the announcement-12/13/2023-unless otherwise stated in the vacancy announcement.

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 qualified specialized experience.

To be eligible for this pathways position you must:

1. Be enrolled in a degree seeking program.
2. Be enrolled on one half (½) time basis.
3. Have a minimum 2.0 grade average.
4. Attending an accredited education institution.
5. Provide transcripts with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking.
6. Be enrolled for the next semester/quarter following the period of this vacancy.

To qualify for this position at the GS-4 grade level, you must possess at least one or all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
EXPERIENCE: At least six (6) months general experience and six (6) months of specialized experience for a total of one year of experience. In making this claim, I understand that General Experience is (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation; and that Specialized Experience is experience which demonstrates that you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position Examples of qualifying specialized experience include assisting in conducting biological field studies and surveys and assembling the information. Follow standardized procedures to collect data on condition of resources. Use statistical methods and procedures to perform routine testing of field data collected. Assist in vegetation and soils mapping. Develop improved methods of controlling weeds and plant diseases or other related work etc. (I understand that excess specialized experience can substitute for general experience; but excess general experience cannot be substituted for required specialized experience). You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least two years of education above high school in an accredited educational institution (60 semester hour or 90 quarter hours) which included at least 12 semester hours of scientific or technical courses, such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least six (6) semester hours are directly related to the position such as botany, forest ecology, silviculture, plant ecology, wildlife biology, zoology, ornithology etc. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, posses six (6) months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirements for this position and grade level) combined with one year of education as outlined above (50% of the education required to qualify), which included at least six (6) semester hours of scientific or technical courses, such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least three (3) semester hours of courses must be directly related to this position. Examples of directly related courses are biology, botany, ecology, environmental science, or natural resource management. You must include 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.

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.

You will NOT be considered under Pathways unless you provide supporting information from your school. Documentation may be provided in letter format from your academic advisor, school counselor, admission office, etc. to prove enrollment OR it may be provided in the form of several official documents from your school such as a copy of your official transcripts and a copy of your class schedule for next semester. Copies of documents from your school website are acceptable if they contain all relevant information as listed above. Letters from advisors or other school officials must be on school letterhead.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universitiesto 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:  If selected, you will be required to sign a Pathways Agreement which specifies the conditions of your employment as we've indicated in this job announcement. You must continue to meet the Pathways Program requirements throughout the duration of your appointment. To verify that you do, we will require proof of your continued enrollment and good standing each semester or grading period throughout your internship. Failure to do so will result in termination of your internship and employment.

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. Laboratory work may involve exposure to hazardous chemicals.

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.