You will serve as a Biological Science Technician within the USDA, APHIS, WS and performs duties relating to wildlife management and use of techniques aimed at controlling damage caused by wildlife to help protect agriculture, natural resources, property, and threats to human health and safety.
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. FOR THE GS-5 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 demonstrates: Experience in wildlife damage mitigation methods and techniques Using lethal and non-lethal animal control techniques Conducting basic computer operations for record keeping, data analysis, report writing and correspondence; 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 courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must have been in Wildlife. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. FOR THE GS-6 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: Dealing with human-wildlife conflicts and principles of wildlife damage management Carry out and enforce the requirmeents of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) Create and maintain public contacts to formulate assistance strategies that incorporate technical assistance and operational control techniques Proficient in the use of firemarms, traps, snares, pesticides, pyrotechnics, electronic harrassment devices, dogs, and other non-lethal control tools Experience in using specialty equipment such as: ATVs, dogs, and thermal imagers or night vision equipment; OR One full year of graduate level education with an emphasis on wildlife management. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the one year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-5/6 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. 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 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 duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
The duties may include, but are not limited to:
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 WDM programs in close consultation with higher-level management.
Uses WDM tools/devices which may include some or all of the following depending on need in assigned area: firearms; foothold, body-grip, cage traps; foot snares; and chemical control methods.
Utilizes working knowledge of WDM methods and strategies to independently recommend appropriate WDM strategies which alleviate wildlife damage.
May be required to use chemical immobilization and euthanasia drugs to capture and handle wildlife.
Assists Wildlife Biologists by correctly identifying current, and forecasting future damage, problems and relating them to the damage-causing species.
Modifies or adapts established damage control techniques as necessary to meet local conditions and address specific environmental, economic or political considerations.
Provides extensive and appropriate technical assistance recommendations on a variety of wildlife and WDM issues.
Maintains inventories and compiles reports of government-provided equipment and supplies including locations, acquisitions, returns, losses, and reason therefore.