Biological Science Technician (New Jersey)

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT 

OPEN DATE: 6/4/2024 

CLOSING DATE: 6/18/2024 

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: Fulltime – 40 hours per week 

ANNOUNCEMENT #: WSER-052324-NJ-Pittstown 

SERIES/GRADE: GS-0404-4/5/6 

FULL PERFORMANCE LEVEL: GS-0404-06 

NUMBER OF POSITIONS: 1 LOCATIONS: Pittstown, NJ Egg Harbor, NJ (Relocation expenses will not be paid) 

SALARY: $38,925 – $67,379 per year 

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/payleave/salaries-wages/2024/general-schedule

 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 (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,  Hours worked per week,  Dates of employment, 2  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) 

• 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 contact office in each state where the position is located: 

CONTACT OFFICE 

Aaron Guikema – State Director 

USDA APHIS WS 

140-C Locust Grove Rd 

Pittstown, NJ 08867 

aaron.t.guikema@usda.gov 

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 position will be answering wildlife calls from the public and responding to wildlife emergencies. The applicant will provide technical assistance to the public as well as respond to emergency calls concerning trapped wildlife, aggressive wildlife and injured wildlife. This employee will need to have strong communication skills. As well as: 

Duties: 

May be required to use chemical immobilization and euthanasia drugs to capture and handle wildlife. 

Uses WDM tools/devices which may include some or all of the following depending on need in assigned area: firearms; cage traps; foot snares; neck snares; chemical control methods; pyrotechnics; noise cannons/exploders; drop nets; rocket/cannon nets; various other scaring devices. 

Utilizes working knowledge of WDM methods and strategies to independently recommend appropriate WDM strategies which alleviate wildlife damage for cooperators and the general public through technical assistance. 

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 conducting demonstrations and training for others, including other cooperators or other interested groups, on WDM methods, procedures, and program objectives. 

Independently determines and selects the most effective means of control for individual situations. 

Recommends and facilitates the request and/or issuance of State-specific depredation permits for the general public. 

Provides extensive and appropriate technical assistance recommendations on a variety of wildlife and WDM issues. 

Appropriate recommendations require an expansive knowledge of Federal, State and local wildlife and WDM specific regulations and policies. 

Carries out duties in accordance with program decisions made in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA) under guidance and oversight by supervisor. 

Maintains records of chemical control use to comply with State and Federal regulatory requirements. Demonstrates a respect for safety in all operations, including the operation of motor vehicles, firearms, control devices and materials, and equipment. 

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: For the GS-4 Grade Level: Applicants must have 6 months of general experience and 6 months of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-03 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: 

• Identifying North American wildlife species. 

• Experience in the principles of wildlife ecology and management in support of a wildlife management program. 

• Experience keeping routine and basic records of daily activities and observations. 

OR 

Education Substitution at the GS-4 Grade Level: 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, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must be in wildlife. 

OR 

Combination of Education and Experience at the GS-4 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. 

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AT 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. 

• The principles of wildlife ecology and management in support of a wildlife management program. 

• Conducting basic computer operations for record keeping, data analysis, report writing and correspondence. 

• Experience using lethal and non-lethal animal control techniques. 

• Experience in wildlife damage mitigation methods and techniques. 

EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION AT THE GS-5 GRADE LEVEL: 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 management. 

OR 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. 

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-6 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the GS-5 level in the Federal service. This experience may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrate experience in: 

• Conducting and documenting wildlife damage assessments, counts and abundance surveys. 

• Experience and proficiency with wildlife damage management techniques to carry out a full range of common technical duties such as: exclusion, trapping, snaring, non-lethal harassment, lethal control, pesticide application, and firearms. 

• Preparing reports regarding activities, observations, events, and other relevant data collected. 

EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION AT THE GS-6 GRADE LEVEL: GS-6: One year of graduate–level education (18 semester hours) with an emphasis in wildlife. OR 5 

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-6 GRADE LEVEL: Equivalent combinations of successful completed education and experience may be used to meet the total qualification requirements. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: 

• Must obtain or have a valid state driver’s license. Operation of Government-owned or leased vehicles is required. (if this applies) 

• 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 EVerify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. 

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

• 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). 

• Occasional travel may be required.

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-andtransparent/signature-false-statements/ 

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 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. 

Under the Fair Chance Act, agencies are not allowed to request information about an applicant’s criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made, except as allowed for access to classified information; assignment to national security duties or positions; acceptance or retention in the armed forces; or recruitment of a Federal law enforcement officer. An applicant may submit a complaint or any other information related to an organization’s alleged noncompliance with the Fair Chance Act. The complaint must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged noncompliance. To make a Fair Chance Act inquiry or complaint, send an email with the appropriate information to MRP.Fairchance@usda.gov subject line: Fair Chance Act. 

Relocation costs will not be paid for this position. 

More than one position may be selected from this announcement