Biological Science Technician (Wildlife)

Summary

If selected, you will be performing duties relating to wildlife management and use of techniques aimed at controlling damage caused by wildlife to help protect agriculture, natural resources, property, and threats to human health and safety. The work is primarily concerned with wildlife damage management (WDM) operations relating to the assessment, reduction, and/or elimination of problems associated with wild and/or feral animal species in urban, suburban, and rural environments.

Duties

• •The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• •Plans, organizes, and conducts direct control operations to reduce wildlife damage within a geographical area or technical/subject area.
• •Inspects and surveys areas and, as necessary, will revise existing WDM programs.
• •Determines strategies and logistics for providing services.
• •Uses WDM tools/devices which may include some or all of the following depending on need in assigned area: firearms; foothold, body-grip, cage traps; foot snares; neck snares; chemical control methods.
• •Utilizes knowledge of WDM methods and strategies to independently recommend appropriate WDM strategies.
• •Identifies current, and forecasts future, damage problems and relates them to the damage-causing species.
• •Modifies or adapts established damage control techniques as necessary to meet local conditions.
• •Assists in the negotiation of cooperative service agreements with landowners, lessees, or administrators.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. FOR THE GS-7 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-6 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Conducting wildlife damage assessments, counts and abundance surveys. Dealing with human-wildlife conflicts using appropriate tools such as traps, snares, pesticides, immobilizing drugs, or firearms (preferably as an aerial gunner). Application of regulations such as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Endangered Species Act, and National Environment Policy Act. Experience working with external cooperators to provide wildlife damage management. OR 1 full year of graduate level education with an emphasis on wildlife. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-7 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. 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 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

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.