Temporary Recruitment Bulletin - Biologist GS 1401/09

Position Title: Biologist
Series/Grade: GS-0401/09
Hiring Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Who May Apply: U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. with or without Federal status, may apply and be considered.
Open Period: Open until filled
Duty Station: San Francisco, CA
Salary: $30.92/hr - $40.20/hr
Work Schedule: Full-time

For More Information: contact Erik Grijalva at [e-mail] or phone: [phone]

How to Apply:

To receive consideration, you must meet the minimum qualifications requirements for this position and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section via email to [e-mail].

Position Details, Duties and Requirements

Duration of Appointment: This is a temporary excepted service position not-to-exceed 1 year but may be extended up to 2 years.

Travel Required: No.

Relocation: No relocation expenses will be paid.

Major Duties:
The Tennessee Valley Vegetation Biologist reports directly to the Supervisory Vegetation Ecologist, performing the following major duties:

• Plan and prioritize vegetation stewardship needs.
• Plan, coordinate and lead volunteer programs.
• Manage invasive plant removal, planting and other restoration projects and contracts.
• Coordinate with contractors and manage project budgets.
• Serve as the natural resource lead on interdisciplinary planning teams and oversee project compliance.
• Conduct field work in all types of weather, on steep slopes and with potential exposure to poison oak, stinging nettle, ticks, and mosquitoes, as well as involving strenuous physical activity such as hiking, carrying heavy objects, operating a chainsaw.
• Perform data collection, data entry, report writing and mapping using global positioning system (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS).

Key Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males must meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement.
• You will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• You may be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and/or shift work.
• Current driver’s license.

Education:
See the Qualifications section below.

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Evaluations:
Applicants will not be rated or ranked. All applicants that meet the basic eligibility and minimum qualification requirements of the position will be referred to the selecting official in preference eligible order.

Qualifications:
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement (unless otherwise stated in this bulletin).

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 qualified specialized experience.

FACTOR: Ability to utilize the principles of ecology, vegetation management, and conservation biology to implement a robust vegetation management program.

A. Successful completion of a full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree with at least 24 semester/36 quarter hours in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position being filled (i.e. restoration ecology, plant ecology, conservation biology, botany, wildlife management, wildlife ecology, freshwater or wetland ecology, hydrology or geology).

Or

B. Combination of education and experience – courses equivalent to a major as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field. In addition to courses in the major and related fields, a typical college degree would have included courses that involved analysis, writing, critical thinking, research, etc. These courses would have provided an applicant with skills and abilities sufficient to perform progressively more responsible work in the occupation. Therefore, creditable experience must demonstrate similarly appropriate skills or abilities needed to perform the work of the occupation.

In addition to meeting the above:

A. 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree.

B. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 or pay band in the federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience for this position includes: vegetation management, invasive species management, vegetation monitoring, natural resource planning and NEPA work, working as a biologist, ecologist, or natural resource specialist in a National Park or other protected lands, and working in an interdivisional and/or inter-agency setting.

Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sectors. The OPM Qualification Standards Handbook is available for review at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

Additional Bulletin Information:

• PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Ability to conduct field work in challenging work environments and difficult terrain. Job will involve hiking, sitting or standing for long periods of time, and will require ability to lift moderately heavy equipment. Office work may entail extended sedentary periods working on a computer.
• This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Benefits:

A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Federal Employees Health Benefits
• Federal Long-Term Care Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Required Documents:

The following documents are required:

1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, dates specified in month and year format, 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. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
2. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as:

Veterans Preference Documentation:

• If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
• If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
• If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.

3. College transcripts must be submitted documenting satisfaction of educational requirements

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.
Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

How to Apply:

To receive consideration, you must meet the minimum qualifications requirements for this position and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section via email to [e-mail].

• 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.
• 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.