Duties
This position is with the Fisheries and Aquatic Conservation program in the Northeast Region, where 25 fishery management offices and national fish hatcheries work with states and other partners to restore, recover, and maintain healthy populations of coastal and migratory fish, endangered aquatic species, and the habitats they depend upon. The Fisheries Program provides leadership in the development and application of state-of-the-art science and technology for fish conservation and management, including fish passage solutions. We carefully monitor and assess the status of wild populations and use hatchery cultured fish to supplement or re-establish populations where needed. The Fisheries Program also plays an active role on numerous inter-agency management councils that help govern the resources of the northeast and abroad.
As a Physical Science Technician your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Working in collaboration with fishery biologists and biological technicians in planning, preparing, and participating in sea lamprey control efforts in the Lake Champlain Basin.
- Maintaining the specialized equipment, instruments, and gear used to conduct lampricide treatments
- Preparing for lampricide treatments through management of chemical inventory, safety assurance, and pre-treatment water chemistry analyses
- Applying lampricides in multiple formulations as a certified pesticide applicator in the states of New York and Vermont
- Monitoring chemical treatments through physical water chemistry analyses (pH, DO, conductivity, alkalinity), bioassay tests, physical analyses including spectrophotometry, chromatography, measurement of stream discharge, and collection of biological specimens as indicators.
The incumbent will be given training and become certified in aquatic pesticide application and in motor boat operation enabling unsupervised performance of each skill.
Requirements:Much of the work is performed in a field environment, and most of the work involves arduous labor. Incumbent is required to be in excellent physical condition and capable of rigorous outdoor activities, including safely hiking over wet, rough, steep, or rocky terrain. Duties of the position occasionally require driving on unimproved roads, considerable walking on steep terrain (80 percent or more), working in water with boots or waders, walking through or working in heavily timbered areas (sometimes walking 5 or more miles), at times carrying heavy packs, lifting and moving objects over 50 pounds, bending crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, climbing, or other similar activities. The field work takes place during all seasons of the year, with temperatures ranging from 20 to 100 degrees (F), and in very dry to rainy and snowy conditions. Fieldwork is performed primarily during the daytime, occasionally at night, and on weekends. The nature of the work requires an adequate sense of sight and hearing to safely perform the duties. Work requires incumbent to wear potentially uncomfortable safety equipment including negative pressure respirator sometimes in excess of 8 hours.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation.
- Driver’s License: This position requires the incumbent to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of their official duties. Selectee must hold and maintain a valid state driver’s license throughout their employment in this position.
- Incumbent is subject to medical surveillance testing before and after field seasons based on exposure to hazardous chemical agents.
- Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform WILL be required.
- Trial Period: Selectees may be required to successfully complete a trial period.
- Must already possess or obtain within 6 months: Certified Pesticide Applicator Licenses.
- Must possess or obtain within 6 months, Federal Motorboat Operators Course Certification (MOCC) to enable the application of pesticide by boat.
- Incumbent is subject to medical surveillance testing before and after field seasons based on exposure to hazardous chemical agents.
- Incumbent must be able to lift and move objects weighing 60 pounds.
- Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. To verify registration, visit SSS.gov.
Qualifications
Only experience and education obtained by the closing date 12/26/2024 will be considered.
In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualifications.
Minimum Qualification [GS-08]:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 in the federal service. Experience may include: performing technical support in a team setting and leading others in dynamic field efforts to control aquatic invasive species (i.e. sea lampreys) through the use of aquatic pesticides (i.e. lampricides); (1) performing collection of primary field data for pesticide applications; (2) identifying and setting up complex equipment used at application sites; (3) measuring and documenting chemical and physical parameters of a stream throughout the duration of pesticide applications; (4) calculate, monitor, and adjust proper concentrations of applied pesticides.
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
There is no substitute of education for experience for this position.
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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications which resulted in you being listed in the highest quality category, you may lose consideration, or be assigned to a lower quality category for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
- Knowledge of and ability to lead others in the field to ensure safe working practices, regulatory and environmental compliance and hazardous materials regulations are followed.
- Ability to operate computers using a variety of software packages to manage, record, and summarize, and extract technical data.
- Ability to identify lampreys, fishes, and other aquatic organisms in the field and laboratory.
- Skill in monitoring lampricide concentrations and adjusting treatment application rates within pre-established targets.
- Knowledge of aquatic pesticide application principles and techniques.
All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. The category ratings for this position are: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified
The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of Veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).
Required Documents
You must submit a complete application package. We will not make assumptions about your experience and/or education.
Required Documents:
1. Resume: Your resume must describe your job-related qualifications (paid and non-paid work experience) that includes job title, beginning and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and description of job duties. You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included. If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form, you must ensure this information is provided. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. Note: Current and former Federal employees should include pay plan, series, and grade level for relevant federal experience.
- Do not include the following types of information in your resume:
- Classified or government sensitive information
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Photos of yourself
- Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
- Encrypted and digitally signed documents
Additional Documentation, if applicable:
1. Cover Letter
2. Veterans' Preference Documentation: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach a copy of your
DD-214 Member Copy 2 or 4 showing you were honorably discharged. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. (i.e. VA letter).
You may not be awarded preference if you do not attach the correct Veteran Documentation as specified above.
3. CTAP/ICTAP Documentation: If you are applying under CTAP or ICTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility under 5 CFR 330.602(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible.
4. Current and former federal employees - It is recommended that you submit a copy of your SF-50(s) (Notification of Personnel Action) to support your experience. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include appointments/separations, promotions, within-grade increases.
Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
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. You may qualify for more than one eligibility, so please choose carefully. If you respond that you do not meet any of the eligibility criteria, you will not be considered for this position under this announcement.
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. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To preview the assessment questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12638257.
- Please ensure you check the acknowledgement checkbox then click the Submit Application button to submit your application.
- Applications must be received by 12/26/2024 ,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.
Next steps
Once you submit all the required documents and the online application in USAJOBS, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the evaluation process is complete, you will be notified of your status and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted by the hiring official.
You will be notified if this job is filled or canceled. Timelines for this process vary widely.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login) as we will not be responding to inquiries about the status of applications as long as the system has been updated.