Biological Science Technician

at  US Fish and Wildlife Service

QUALIFICATIONS

Only experience and education obtained by 03/29/2024 will be considered.
In order to qualify for this position you must satisfy the Minimum Qualification.

Minimum Qualification [GS-6]

• One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service. Qualifying experience may include: collecting biological samples from fish; taking measurements and assessing readings of fish; executing tests on fish; documenting observations of fish and relating the significance of the results to a project/program; collecting, storing, organizing, and transferring raw data sheets related to fish and/or wildlife to digital files; inputting data into computer databases; performing Quality Assurance/Quality Control on entered data. OR
• One full year of graduate-level education with major study/coursework in or directly related to the work of the position (e.g., fish biology, ichthyology, aquaculture, limnology, etc.). OR
• A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement.

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.

EDUCATION

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution’s registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.
PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school’s definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• How to Apply

Review the appointment eligibility criteria in the application preview linked below. The eligibility section of the application allows you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement. You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select “yes” to and submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section or the application text.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents section.

Click ‘Apply’ to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.

• Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents. To preview the assessment questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12346159.
• Please ensure you check the acknowledgement checkbox then click the Submit Application button to submit your application.
• Applications must be received by 03/29/2024 ,11:59pm ET to receive consideration.
• Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, in Applications tab, click the position title you applied to for the status. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact the Human Resources Office via email at fwshiring@fws.gov.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Help

As a Biological Science Technician, GS-0404-6, your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Assist in planning and conducting biological surveys of waters in the Mid-west for the conservation and rehabilitation of fisheries resources.
• Assist in the surveillance and detection (locating, capturing, marking, and tagging) of both native and invasive aquatic species using standard fish sampling gear (such as trawls, gillnets, fyke nets, and/or electrofishing equipment).
• Utilize databases to enter, organize, and perform preliminary analysis of collected field data, using standard statistical methods in preparation of fisheries reports.
• Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot a variety of field equipment commonly used in fishery studies, including small watercraft, fish sampling gear.
• Enter and retrieve data from geographic information systems and assist in the preparation and processing of various laboratory samples.

Biological Science Technician, GS-0404-6, with Carterville Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (FWCO):

• (1) position will be located in Carbondale, IL
• (3) positions will be located in Wilmington, IL
• Salary Range (Carbondale): $44,117 to $57,354 annually
• Salary Range (Wilmington): $49,249 to $64,026 annually

Biological Science Technician, GS-0404-6, with Columbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (FWCO):

• (1) position will be located in Columbia, MO
• Salary Range: $44,117 to $57,354 annually