Biological Science Technician

Summary

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Competitive Service Positions to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

About the Position: This position is located at McNary Dam, Umatilla, OR, a multi-purpose hydropower project, with missions that include operation/maintenance of the facility for flood control, hydroelectric power generation. Employees working at McNary and living in WA are exempt from OR state tax.

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Duties

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• Responsible for operation of juvenile fish bypass facilities.
• Collect and maintain data associated with the juvenile fish bypass program.
• Provide detailed reports to Supervisor on facility operations on a regular basis.
• Responsible for collecting fish data and monitoring overall fish behavior and condition.
• Responsible for ensuring fish facilities are operated within fish passage criteria.
• Coordinate with and/or assist researchers working on fish facilities.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Pre-employment physical is required.
• Valid state driver's license required.
• This position requires shift work to provide coverage on evenings, weekends, holidays, or special situations.
• This position has a heavy lifting requirement of 30lbs.
• This is a seasonal position.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

GS-5 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes experience in collecting and maintaining scientific data, operation of fish or other animal transportation equipment such as fish counters and other animal enumeration technology and electronic valves; and performing fish or other animal sampling operations using standard biological techniques. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-04).

OR

Education: Four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of education beyond two years (total semester hours minus 60) by 60. Add the two percentages.

GS-6 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes experience in the collection, holding and transportation of fish or other animals to include equipment operation such as electronic fish counters or other animal enumeration technology, electronic valves and pneumatic gates; and scientific data collection. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05).

OR

Education: A half year (i.e., 9 semester hours) of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as biology, fish and wildlife, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 9. Add the two percentages.

Education

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: [click to reveal website link]https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/

Additional information

• This is a full time SEASONAL position with Rotating Shifts; duty time is approximately March through November.
• Management may select at any of the grade levels announced.
• Noncompetitive promotion potential to target grade.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• One year trial/probationary period may be required.
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
• This is a(n) Science, Engineering and Analysis Career Field position.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.
• This position is covered under the NATIONAL FEDERATION of FEDERAL EMPLOYEES (NFFE) Bargaining Unit.
• A Relocation, Recruitment, Student Loan Repayment, Advance in Hire or Advance Leave Accrual incentive may be authorized if it is in the best interest of the government.

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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.