The purpose of the position is to perform routine and uncomplicated biological science tasks common to natural resource management. Technician work is typically associated with and supportive of a professional field; work may involve substantial elements of the work of the professional field, but requires less than full knowledge of the field involved. This position is intended to report to a specialist or resources manager in the same or a related field.
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-05/19/2025-unless otherwise stated in this 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 of qualified specialized experience. 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: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: conducting plant censuses and surveys and assembling the information. Following standardized procedures to collect data on the condition of range, grazing or forage. Use statistical methods and procedures to perform testing of field data collected. Install, operate, and maintain resource management equipment (tools, sampling and monitoring, photographic, and laboratory equipment) prepare graphs, charts, and illustrations for reports and technical publications relating to plant management activities. Research activity or control program work, nursery work that required the growing and maintenance of plants in a controlled environment. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least a full four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least twenty-four (24) semester hours in any combination 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, etc. IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: If you are using education to qualify you must document your course work and/or degree completed in your resume or other application materials you submit. You must submit a copy of your transcripts that identifies for each course the college or university, semester or quarter hours earned, grade received, and date completed. If you are qualifying based on education and you do not submit specific course work information as described previously, your application will be rated not qualified for consideration. You must include transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of specialized experience as described above and education as described above which total 100 percent. Only education beyond the sixty (60) semester hours above high school is considered qualifying when combined with specialized experience. Thirty (30) semester hours beyond the first sixty (60) is equivalent to six (6) months of specialized experience. For example, six (6) month of specialized experience (50% of the specialized experience requirement) and 90 semester hours with at least twelve (12) semester hours related to the position and three (3) hours directly related to the position (50% of the education requirement) would be considered qualifying. NOTE: If you are qualifying based in part, upon education, you must include hours per week worked and 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.
The Biological Science Technician will work primarily with plants within the park's Resource Management Division (headquartered near Berlin, MD). Surveys and treats invasive plant infestations using manual methods and herbicides, assisting park staff with vegetation surveys and resource management activities. Works independently and as part of a field team to complete daily field activities efficiently. Prepares and applies herbicide chemicals while maintaining application equipment and keeping detailed records of field activities. Utilizes GPS equipment to record spatial and attribute data, processes collected data and produces summary maps and reports. Trained in QA/QC and metadata requirements for data collection and work output. Cut-off Dates: This is an open continuous announcement, in which applications are collected over several months, and have multiple cut-off dates. Applications will be considered throughout the open period of the announcement. **INITIAL CUT OFF IS Thursday, December 19, 2024** Additional referral certificates will be issued when a hiring official exhausts current certificate and/or additional vacancies need to be filled. Positions are TEMPORARY, not to exceed 1039 hours in a service year. Government Housing may be available. Please contact the hiring manager(s) for availability.