Biological Science Technician

Summary

This position is a Career Seasonal Biological Science Technician, GS- 0404-5/6

• (14) positions with the Marquette Biological Station in Marquette, MI.
• (4) positions with the Ludington Biological Station in Lundington, MI.

Selectee(s) will be in a work/pay status for a specified time period each year (generally April-October) and will be in a non-work/non-pay status for the remainder of the year. The anticipated annual period of employment for these positions is 6 to 7 months.

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Duties

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

• Leading 1-3+ same and lower-graded employees and contractors at remote locations to complete established work plan objectives and tasks according to protocols. Coordinating, reviewing, and ensuring completion of daily fieldwork.
• Providing technical support and participating with other team members to conduct lampricide treatments, barrier control, and assessment operations including pesticide application, chemical analysis of water, quality assurance procedures, bioassay tests, measurement of stream flow characteristics, velocity and discharge, sea lamprey sterilization, collection of biological specimens, instream and offshore assessments, studies to determine distribution, growth, and abundance of sea lampreys in the larval, parasitic, and spawning life stages, operation and maintenance of barrier structures, and measuring the effect of lamprey control on non-target species.
• Recording observed conditions that would affect the interpretation of data derived from samples. Preparing draft reports involving the tabulation or collection of data with comments on surrounding environments and conditions that could affect program activities. Interpreting data collected and providing supervisor with information needed to adjust treatment, barrier, and assessment approaches.
• Operating, maintaining, repairing, fabricating, and occasionally designing highly specialized fishery equipment (e.g., equipment for mixing and delivering concentration of liquid and powder forms of lampricides, lamprey sterilization equipment, fish holding and hauling facilities, water filtration apparatus, water sampling devices, electrofishing gear, electrical/mechanical weirs, nets, trawls, and traps). Operating, maintaining, and repairing motorized watercraft up to 26', non-motorized watercraft, and ATVs. Operating and maintaining light-, medium- and heavy-weight trucks and trailers on public highways and off-road situations. Utilizing a variety of tools including maps, compasses, GPS, computer and other resources to navigate in populated and remote areas.
• Contacting landowners and other agencies to obtain access information and/or permission necessary to complete field work.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
• Medical Requirements: Selectees must pass a pre-employment medical examination and may be subject to post-employment medical examinations to determine if they are maintaining the fitness standards for this position.
• 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.
• Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform is required.
• A condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.
• Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
• Certifications: Selectee(s) must be able to obtain certification in ATV operation, motorboat operation and safety (MOCC), defensive driving, first aid and CPR.
• Certification: Selectee(s) may be required to be a certified pesticide applicator.
• Tour of Duty: Extensive field travel of 20 or more nights per month.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 05/07/2026 will be considered.

In order to qualify for this position, you must possess Minimum Qualifications.

Minimum Qualification [GS-05]

1. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 grade level or higher in the Federal service related to aquatics and/or Fisheries. Examples of qualifying experience includes (1) leading others as part of a technical team to accomplish aquatic or fisheries related objectives; (2) collecting and recording biological, physical, or environmental data in an aquatic or fisheries related field setting; (3) operation, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of sampling devices related to aquatic or fisheries related work; and (4) using computer software to manage and analyze data and draft scientific reports. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. OR
2. Successfully completed a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position to be filled (e.g. fisheries or aquatics). OR
3. A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement

Minimum Qualifications [GS-06]

1. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level or higher in the Federal service related to aquatics and/or Fisheries. Examples of qualifying experience includes (1) leading others as part of a technical team to accomplish aquatic or fisheries related objectives; (2) collecting, recording and entering biological, physical, or environmental data in an aquatic or fisheries related field setting; (3) operation, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of sampling devices related to aquatic or fisheries related work; (4) training field staff on standard operating procedures and equipment use; (5) conducting program outreach to user groups and general public; and (6) using computer software to manage and analyze data and draft scientific reports. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. OR
2. One full year of graduate-level education that is directly related to the position to be filled (e.g., major study in or directly related to fisheries or aquatics).
3. 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.

Physical Capability: Much of the work is performed in a field environment and involves arduous labor. Incumbent(s) are required to be in excellent physical condition and capable of rigorous outdoor activities, including safely hiking over wet, rough, steep, slippery or rocky terrain. Work requires frequent bending, stooping, walking, standing, working in cramped positions, climbing, and prolonged standing on concrete floors. Duties of the position occasionally require driving on unimproved roads, considerable walking on steep terrain (80% 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 lbs., crouching, stretching, reaching, and other similar activities. Field work takes place outdoors during all seasons of the year, often under adverse weather conditions, with temperatures ranging from 20 to 100 degrees (F), and in very dry to rainy and snowy conditions. Field work in performed during the daytime, night, weekends, and holidays. The nature of the work requires an adequate sense of sight and hearing to safely perform the duties. Work requires the incumbent to wear potentially uncomfortable safety equipment, including a negative pressure respirator sometimes in excess of 8 hours.

Notification to Applicants: Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.

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 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. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

Additional information

PCS INFORMATION:

-No PCS entitlements authorized

TELEWORK:

This position is suitable for telework only in an emergency or natural disaster.

Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. 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 for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements) for the position with a score of 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position., and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application.

For more information visit: [click to reveal website link]http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.

Probation/Trial Period Con't:

The probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

- your performance and conduct;

- the needs and interests of the agency;

- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and

- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your [probationary period -OR- trial period] your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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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.

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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.