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Biological Science Technician (Wildlife) San Antonio, TX

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

OPEN DATE: January 29, 2024

CLOSING DATE: February 9, 2024

POSITION TITLE: Biological Science Technician (Wildlife)

TYPE OF POSITION: 13-month Term Appointment with possibility for Benefits, Excepted Service. (may be extended up to 4 years).

WORK SCHEDULE: Full-time, Maxi-flex. Monday-Friday with occasional

Weekends, early mornings, and evenings with occasional night work

ANNOUNCEMENT #: WS-TX-02

SERIES/GRADE: GS-0404-5/6

FULL PERFORMANCE LEVEL: GS-0404-6

NUMBER OF POSITIONS: 1

LOCATIONS: San Antonio, TX (Bexar County)

SALARY: $40,142-$58,174 per year (San Antonio-New

Braunfels-Pearsall pay table)

WHO MAY APPLY:

Must be a U.S. Citizen
Must be 18 years old
If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 and are at least 18 years of age, civil service employment law (5 U.S.C. 3328) requires that you must be registered with the Selective Service System, unless you meet certain exemptions (proof of registration and/or exemption required). Website: http://www.sss.gov.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Resume that includes:

1) Personal information such as name, address, contact information

2) Education

3) Detailed work experience related to this position as described in the announcement including

Work schedule including hours per week
Dates of employment;
Title, series, grade (if applicable)

4) All supervisors' phone numbers and if they may be contacted

5) Other qualifications

Transcripts (if qualifying on education, education must have been obtained from an accredited institution. Education completed in a foreign institution must include an evaluation by an organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs that it was deemed equivalent to an accredited U.S. education program, see: Foreign Education Evaluation. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.)
DD-214 (Member 4 copy)
VA letter required if claiming disabled Veteran’s Preference
Current active duty members must submit a certification that they are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted.

HOW TO APPLY: Additional materials not listed above (i.e. position descriptions, training certificates, etc.) may not be considered. Applicants who do not submit the required items listed above may not be considered. Applications with all supporting documents must be submitted to the contact office and must be RECEIVED by the CLOSING DATE of this announcement.

Interested individuals should send a resume, transcripts, veteran documentation (if applicable) to the address listed here: EMAILED APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTABLE

CONTACT OFFICE:

USDA-APHIS- Wildlife Services

Bruce R. Leland

5730 Northwest Parkway Suite 700

San Antonio, TX 78249

Bruce.r.Leland@usda.gov

210-561-3800

DUTIES

This position is located in the Wildlife Services (WS) Program, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The primary duties of this assignment will be managing the wildlife hazards at Joint Base San Antonio but may also include wildlife damage management of a wide range of other species at other locations. The incumbent will perform some or all of the following in support of the USDA WS program.

Responsible for organizing and conducting direct control operations to reduce wildlife damage within a geographical area or technical/subject area of program involvement.

Inspects and surveys areas and, as necessary, will revise existing wildlife damage management (WDM) programs in close consultation with higher-level management.

Occasionally provides input into the preparation of routine reports to assist program managers in meeting NEPA or other requirements.

Enters data into established WDM database/system of record. Uses data to prepare and submit routine reports regarding daily, weekly or monthly activities, observations, and events.

Assists in the negotiation of cooperative service agreements with landowners, lessees, or administrators to accomplish the goals outlined for the WS program. May independently negotiate small cooperative service field agreements.

Assists in conducting demonstrations and training for others, including other cooperators or other interested groups, on WDM methods, procedures, and program objectives. This includes preliminary instruction and training of new personnel on WS equipment, devices, chemicals, firearms, etc., reporting procedures, field responsibilities and other technical aspects of the program.

Responsible for reporting accomplishments, problems encountered, work locations, etc. to supervisor.

Maintains inventories and compiles reports of government-provided equipment and supplies including locations, acquisitions, returns, losses, and reason therefore.

Must demonstrate a respect for the need for safety in all operations including the operation of motor vehicles, firearms, control devices, and equipment.

May participate in aerial hunting of predators as a gunner or ground crew member in areas where it is authorized by State law.

Must have a valid State motor vehicle operator license. Operation of a Government-owned or leased vehicle is required. Must be able to operate various types of small boats.

Performs other duties, as required.

MINIMUM ELIGIBLITY REQUIREMENTS:

To qualify, applicants MUST meet all minimum qualification requirements, except Medical Requirements, by the closing date of the announcement.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including the following specialized experience and/or education, as identified by grade level.

FOR THE GS-5 GRADE LEVEL:

Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-4 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, federal) sectors which demonstrate experience in:

Identifying North American wildlife species
Experience in wildlife damage mitigation methods and techniques, including using lethal and non-lethal control techniques.
Conducting basic computer operations for record keeping, data analysis, report writing and correspondence.

Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree with major study, or at least 24 semester hours, in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics, with at least 6 semester hours in wildlife.

Combination of Education and Experience at the GS-5 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.

For the GS-6 Grade Level:

Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-5 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, federal) sectors which demonstrates experience in:

Managing human-wildlife conflicts and principles of wildlife damage management.
Carry out and enforce the requirements of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Endangered Species Act, and National Environment Policy Act.
Conducting wildlife damage assessments, counts and abundance surveys.
Proficient in the use of firearms, traps, snares, pesticides, immobilizing drugs, pyrotechnics, electronic harassment devices, and other non-lethal control tools.
Create and maintain public contacts to formulate assistance strategies that incorporate technical assistance and operational control techniques.

Successfully completed 1 year of graduate education (18 semester hours) in wildlife.

Combination of Education and Experience at the GS-6 Grade level:

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED

Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications may be referred to the hiring manager for selection. Qualified candidates eligible for veterans’ preference will receive referral and selection priority over non-veterans.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: (if applicable to your position)

Must obtain or have a valid state driver’s license.
As a condition of employment, appropriate security clearance is required for this position.
Position is subject to random and applicant drug testing.
Must demonstrate a respect for safety in all operations, including the operation of motor vehicles, firearms, control devices, and equipment.
In order to perform the essential duties of this position, you must have the legal and physical ability to possess and discharge firearms. You must be able to pass a government background check and meet any additional requirements to carry and use firearms. A background check will include answering questions about where you’ve lived, worked, went to school, and any military history or police records. Selection and retention in this position is contingent on a successfully adjudicated FBI National Criminal History Check (fingerprint check).
Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
Occasional travel may be required.
Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E- Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Emergency Response – APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. It is difficult to predict the frequency with which such emergency situations may occur – and could range from several emergencies in a year to none over the course of many years. In the event that you are called upon to support an emergency program, this may require irregular working hours, including overtime, and may include duties other than those specified in your official position description. While some emergency program support assignments may be able to be performed at the employee’s current duty station, in other cases employees may be asked to go on-site to a temporary duty state location. In addition, it may be necessary for employees to participate in multiple rotations to an emergency program assignment. Attempts will be made to keep disruption to the employee to a minimum.

See this link: https://www.usajobs.gov//Help/working-in-government/fair-and-transparent/signature-false-statements/

NOTE: APPLICANTS FOR THIS POSITION WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT TO URINALYSIS TO SCREEN FOR ILLEGAL DRUG USE PRIOR TO APPOINTMENT. APPOINTMENT TO THE POSITION WILL BE CONTINGENT UPON A NEGATIVE DRUG TEST RESULT. INCUMBENTS OF THIS POSITION WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT TO URINALYSIS TO SCREEN FOR ILLEGAL DRUG USE ON AN ONGOING BASIS AFTER APPOINTMENT, AS DIRECTED.

Carrying a firearm is a condition of employment – In the passing of the Lautenberg Amendment, Congress passed legislation which prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from possessing a firearm or ammunition. If selected you will be required to sign the form, “Inquiry for Positions Requiring Possession of Firearms,” certifying that you meet this criteria.

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy-

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a Case-by-Case basis.

A reasonable accommodation is any change in the workplace or the way things are customarily done that provides an equal employment opportunity to an individual with a disability. Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) must provide reasonable accommodations:

An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.

Relocation expenses will not be paid for this position.

More than one position may be selected from this announcement.