Biological Science Technician (soils)

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Job description

Summary

Explore a new career with the BLMwhere our people are our greatest natural resource.

We expect to fill three (3) vacancies at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.
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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates
  
  11/15/2021 to 11/29/2021
  
  This job will close when we have received 60 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
• Salary
  
  $15.10 - $16.90 per hour
• Pay scale & grade
  
  GS 4 - 5
• Help
  Locations
  
  3 vacancies in the following locations:
  
  • Billings, MT 1 vacancy
  • Miles City, MT 2 vacancies
• Telework eligible
  
  No
• Travel Required
  
  75% or less - Travel to the field will be required. The amount of overnight travel will be determined by the nature of the work.
• Relocation expenses reimbursed
  
  No
• Appointment type
  
  Temporary - This is a temporary appointment not to exceed 1039 hours (6 months). Summer appointments typically occur between April and October, but may vary.
• Work schedule
  
  Full-time
• Service
  
  Competitive
• Promotion potential
  
  None - These positions have no promotion potential. To be considered for a higher grade, you must apply for the higher grade.
• Job family (Series)
  
  0404 Biological Science Technician
• Supervisory status
  
  No
• Security clearance
  
  Not Required
• Drug test
  
  No
• Position sensitivity and risk
  
  Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
• Trust determination process
  
  Suitability/Fitness
• Announcement number
  
  MTSS-22--JN
• Control number
  
  

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This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
  
  Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
• The public
  
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizensno previous Federal Service is required. CTAP and ICTAP candidates in the local commuting area.

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Duties

• Completes soils portion of AIM (Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring).
• Compiles, enters, and retrieves biological data from automated databases.
• Collects ecological site information for plants as well as populations distributions, conditions, trends, associated species, land forms of occurrence, geology, and soil types.
• Identifies, photographs, collects, and mounts plant specimens.
• Assists in identifying alternatives to control erosion, improve forage and plant diversity, and to accomplish project objectives.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Be sure to read the "How to Apply" and "Required Documents" sections.
• You cannot hold an active real estate license, nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
• Direct Deposit required.
• Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
• Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must be adequately reflected in your resume.
• An applicant appointed to this position must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.
• You must be 18 years of age prior to entrance on duty in order to be authorized to operate a government vehicle as required for field work.
• NO GOVERNMENT HOUSING IS AVAILABLE. Securing housing will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements. Please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

For GS-04: You must possess six months of general experience and six months of specialized experience. General experience is any working in professional, technical, or other responsible field that provided a familiarity of soils or techniques of collecting scientific data. Specialized experience must be at or equivalent to the GS-03 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: following specific instructions to check data relating to the survey/study area; observing and recording specific biological information (i.e., vegetative cover, water quality samples, flora, or fauna); assisting in taking root samples, or soil samples by layer; making observations and recording data prescribed by soil studies.

-OR-

Education: Successful completion of two 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 six semester hours of courses must be directly related to the position to be filled.

- OR-

Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate undergraduate education.

For GS-05: You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-04 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: following instructions to check extensive data relating to the survey/study area; observing and recording specific biological information (i.e., vegetative cover, water quality samples, flora, or fauna); taking root samples, or soil samples by layer; making observations and recording data prescribed by soil studies.

-OR-

Education: Successful completion of a full four-year course of study leading to a Bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least six semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position to be filled.

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate undergraduate education.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Physical Demands/Work Environment: Work performed in an office environment is adequately lighted and ventilated. Much of the time is spent in the field requiring a considerable amount of walking, riding, stooping, bending and lifting with exposure to extremes of heat and cold, rough terrain, insects, wildlife, and other hazards are common. Adherence to all safety procedures is required.

Education

If using education to qualify, you must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. See Required Documents section for more information.

Additional information

Positions are located in the Eastern Montana/Dakotas District, Miles City Field Office, Division of Range Resources, located in Miles City, Montana; and the Eastern Montana/Dakotas District, Billings Field Office, Division of Resources, located in Billings, Montana. Information about Miles City, Billings, and their respective surrounding areas can be found at for Miles City, or for Billings.

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP

Selective Service: Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System at

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