UNITED STATES ~ DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ~ GEOLOGICAL SURVEY TEMPORARY RECRUITMENT BULLETIN VACANCY NO: ELG 13-02
POSITION: Biological Science Technician, GG-0404-03 DATE OPENED: 12/03/2012 DATE CLOSED: 12/07/2012 12/14/2012 12/21/2012 12/28/2012 SALARY: $11.95 TYPE OF APPT: Temporary, Not-to-exceed 180 working days TOUR OF DUTY: Full-Time, with possible periods of part-time and intermittent work AREA OF CONSIDERATION: All U.S. Citizens LOCATION: USGS Canyonlands Research Station, Moab, Utah The Canyonlands Research Station in Moab, Utah is recruiting for a seasonal biological science aid (GG-0404-03). This is a seasonal, 9-month, full-time position with the US Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center. Duty station is Moab, Utah but incumbent will spend a majority of time in remote northwestern Arizona. Description of Duties: The incumbent will be responsible for assisting in a large field survey of vegetation and soils in the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument (PARA) in northern Arizona USA. The goal of this research project is to assess rangeland ecosystem conditions and to identify resource-management needs pertinent to livestock grazing, ecological restoration, and long-term ecological monitoring. PARA is one of the largest units in the National Park Service where livestock grazing is a permitted land-use activity. Major duties consist of collecting detailed vegetation and soils data in vegetation types ranging from Mojave Desert to Ponderosa Pine forest. Tasks include identifying plants to species, collecting canopy and basal gap measurements, and performing species frequency and soil stability assessments. The work is approximately 90% field work and 10% office, and field sites are in very remote, rarely visited areas of the Arizona Strip. The incumbent will spend the majority of the 9-month field season in PARA, which is approximately 450 miles from Moab. The field season runs from March to early November, and consists of dispersed camping in PARA for 9 days at a time with no facilities. The incumbent must be able to withstand both extreme heat and cold; walk over rough, rocky, steep and uneven terrain; lift and carry equipment and supplies (up to 50 lbs.); work long hours; and drive a 4WD truck and all-terrain vehicles on unimproved roads. There are up to 2 positions to be hired from this announcement. Open dates are 12/03/2012 through 12/28/2012. This announcement will be open until all positions are filled, or closed on 12/28/2012. On each of the above dates the announcement will be closed and applications received as of that date will be evaluated. If the positions are filled prior to 12/28/2012, the announcement will be closed as of the closure date listed. All applications must be received by 5:00 PM on the dates listed. THESE ARE TEMPORARY EXCEPTED SERVICES POSITIONS for which all qualified applicants, with or without Federal status, may apply and be considered. Appointment to these positions, however, will not convey permanent status in the Federal service. Appointment will only be for the duration of the position, normally 3-6 months. Temporary employees are covered by the Social Security Retirement System and annual and sick leave will be accrued except in intermittent status. Employees are ineligible for health and life insurance coverage. KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION: Knowledge of processes, methods & procedures of biological science; knowledge of routine field data collection procedures; skill in operation, maintenance, and servicing of biological recording and measuring instruments; knowledge of procedures utilized in a biological lab. Work is physically demanding and may involve moderate or sometimes extreme exposure to discomforts of rain, cold/hot weather, etc. QUALIFICATIONS: To qualify for a GG-3 you need three (3) months of field party experience OR one (1) year of sub-professional experience OR six (6) months of college with courses related to the field of employment. Six months of college is equivalent to 15 semester hours. Sub-professional experience consists of working as a technician or aid in a laboratory or similar environment. BASIS OF EVALUATION: All applicants will be evaluated on the basis of education and experience (including unpaid or volunteer experience). Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. First preference in referral will be given to eligible applicants entitled to 10 point veterans preference who have a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more. All other qualified applicants entitled to veterans preference will be given preference over qualified applicants not entitled to veterans preference. ALL APPLICANTS MUST BE UNITED STATES CITIZENS: Under regulations in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, employment in this position is limited to those persons who are authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of appointment. As a condition of employment, all new employees reporting for duty with the Department of the Interior will be paid through direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice. Applicants selected for Federal employment will be required to complete a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failure to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on the application may be grounds for not hiring the applicant, or for firing the applicant after he/she begins work. Also, he/she may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001). Prior to or at the time of appointment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959, will have to certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System in order to be appointed to a position with the United States Geological Survey, unless legally qualified for an exception. Employees of the U.S. Geological Survey are subject to the provisions of Title 43, U.S. Code, Section 31 (a) and may not according to this legislation and related regulation: (a) have any personal or private interest, direct or indirect, in lands or mineral wealth of such lands or a region under survey and whose title is in the U.S.; (b) execute surveys or examination for private parties or corporations; or (c) have personal or private interest, direct or indirect, in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business in the U.S. except where specifically authorized by the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey. How to Apply: Read carefully and follow the instructions below. Please submit a cover letter, resume or CV, supporting documentation, and contact information for three references. Each document file name should be labeled with your last name and what it is (e.g., Jones resume, Jones cover letter). Cover letter should include: - Announcement number, title, and grade(s) of the job for which you are applying - A brief (< 1 page) statement about your interest in the employment Resume or CV must include: PERSONAL INFORMATION: - Full name, mailing address (with zip code) and day and evening phone numbers (with area code) - Country of Citizenship - Veterans Preference - Highest Federal civilian grade held (also give job series and dates held) EDUCATION: - High school - Colleges and Universities - Majors - Type and year of any degrees received (if no degree, show total credits earned and indicate whether semester or quarter hours) WORK EXPERIENCE: - Give the following information on your paid and nonpaid work experience related to the job for which you are applying (do not send job descriptions) - Job title (include series and grade if Federal job) - Duties and accomplishments - Starting and ending dates (month and year) - Hours per week - Salary OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:- Job-related training courses (title, length, and date taken) - Job-related skills (i.e., other language, computer software; hardware, tools, machinery, typing speed, etc.) - Job-related certificates and licenses (current only) - Job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments (i.e., publications, memberships in professional or honor societies, leadership activities, public speaking, and performance awards). Supporting documentation may include: College transcript or list of college courses, specifying title of course work, completion date, semester or quarter hours earned by course title, and grade earned. To claim 5 point Veterans Preference, a DD-214 showing character of discharge is required. If claiming 10 point Veterans Preference, a SF-15 with proof of claim is required. References: Supply the name and contact information for three professional or academic references (personal references will not be accepted). Apply to: crs_j...@usgs.gov Canyonlands Research Station U.S. Geological Survey Moab, UT 84532 Tele: 435.719.2347 Fax: 435.719.2350 APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE CANYONLANDS RESEARCH STATION OFFICE BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO BE CONSIDERED. THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER THIS AGENCY PROVIDES REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS TO APPLICANTS W