Job description

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

OPEN DATE: January 9, 2023

CLOSING DATE: January 20, 2023

United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and

Plant Health Inspection

Service

Wildlife

Services

An Equal Opportunity

Employer

POSITION TITLE: Biological Science Technician (Wildlife)

TYPE OF POSITION: Term Appointment with possibility for Benefits, Excepted Service. Not to Exceed 13 months (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 #: USDA-WS-23-07

SERIES/GRADE: AD-0404-4/5/6

FULL PERFORMANCE AD-0404-6

LEVEL:

NUMBER OF 1

POSITIONS:

LOCATIONS: Sacramento/Yolo Counties

SALARY: $42,053.00 – $60,157.00 per year

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 supporting specialized (include days/months/years worked, work schedule, and grade level if federal)

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 with hours worked per week,
• Dates of employment;
• Title, series, grade (if applicable)

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

5) Other qualifications, such as transcripts (if qualifying on education)

• 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), if applicable for Veteran’s Preference
• 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:

CONTACT OFFICE:

USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services

3419 A Arden Way

Sacramento, CA 95825

916-979-2675

Wendy Silva

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you should need the forms identified in above paragraph, feel free to contact (916) 979-2675 for a copy.

DUTIES:

• Serves as a member of the WS workforce engaged in wildlife damage management operations within the California Wildlife Services program.
• Performs duties relating to wildlife management and the use of control techniques and procedures (both lethal and nonlethal) for the purpose of controlling native and invasive wildlife damage to property, human-health and safety, natural resources and agriculture.
• Communicate with the public, rural residents, and other agency personnel.
• Collects biological samples from mammals, birds, and/or the environment.
• The incumbent will be required to have training in and be familiar with and know how to use computers, pesticides, traps, all-terrain vehicles (ATV), firearms and related equipment utilized in wildlife damage management operations.
• Identify current and forecast future damage problems and relate them to the responsible depredating species and determine/select the most effective means of damage control or prevention. Prepares and submits routine and special reports regarding daily, weekly or monthly activities, observations, and events.
• Conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner, so as not to endanger self, fellow workers, or property.
• Must be willing to work weekends, night/early morning shifts, and/or travel away from duty station occasionally.

MINIMUM ELIGIBLITY REQUIREMENTS:

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

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

AD-4: Qualification Requirements:

Applicants must have 6 months of general experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the position or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. In addition to this, applicants need 6 months of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level in the Federal service. This experience (as supported by the resume) is typically related to the work of the position being filled. Examples of qualifying experience include, but are not limited to:

• Experience using lethal and non-lethal animal control techniques
• Ability to identify various species of animals
• Experience working within local, state and national rules and regulations as they apply to wildlife policies and procedures
• Experience with firearms
• Experience preparing reports regarding activities, observations, events, and other relevant data collected

OR

Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, and mathematics with at least 6 of those 12 semester hours in wildlife.

AD-5: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

Applicants must have 1-year specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level in the Federal Service. This experience may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors. Examples of qualifying experience include, but are not limited to:

• Use of wildlife damage control techniques, including but not limited to predator, rodent and bird control toxicants, techniques, firearms, traps, and snares.
• Prepare reports regarding activities, observations, events, and other relevant data collected.
• Inspect and survey areas with the ability to recognize various wildlife.
• Meeting and communicating with individuals or groups
• Recognize habits, characteristics, and habitats occupied by a variety of wildlife species

OR

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.

AD-6: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level in the Federal service. This experience may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors. Examples of qualifying experience include, but are not limited to:

• Experience listed in AD-5 level plus:
• Experience with using and can provide training on control methods, procedures, technical aspects, and objectives used for wildlife damage control.
• Contacting and developing working relationships with various parties, including but not limited to farmers, businesses, landowners, airports, natural resources, pest management, civil engineering, and other federal agencies.

OR

One year of directly related graduate education (18 semester hours in Wildlife, unless defined differently by the school).

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE AT THE AD-4/5/6 GRADE LEVELS:

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. To learn more about combining education and experience for this series.

Visit:https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=AD-TECH

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: (if applicable to your position)

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or 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.
• 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/.
• Successful completion of one-year trial period.
• Testing Designated Position: Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
• Must obtain or have a valid state driver’s license at time of application.
• 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).

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.

Failure to follow application instructions regarding filing appropriate forms and answering questions may result in loss of employment considerations for this position. All applications must be signed, dated, and received by the closing date of this announcement.

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 the necessary 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 work-place 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 costs will not be paid for this position.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $42,053.00 - $60,157.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Evening shift
• Monday to Friday
• Night shift
• Overtime
• Weekend availability

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Sacramento, CA: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: One location

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