Biological Science Technician (Wildlife)
Orland Park, IL and Chicago, IL
Salary: $36,209 - $58,313
Full-Time
Duties:
- Duties will include organizing, planning, conducting, and implementing operational wildlife damage management operations in Northern Illinois.
- Specific duties will include managing damage caused avian and mammalian wild animals which threaten health and human safety and property, collecting data for several wildlife damage management research projects, conducting wildlife hazard assessments, as well as the preparation of reports regarding daily, weekly or monthly activities, observations.
- Must be skilled in the use of various available control devices (including firearms).
- Collects biological specimens for wildlife disease surveillance and management purposes.
- This assignment involves working as part of a team of WS employees conducting wildlife damage management in northern Illinois most within the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area. The employee will also work closely with cooperating entities while conducting damage management activities.
- Work shifts change daily and may include working afternoons, evenings, weekends and/or nights.
- Effective communication skills with other WS employees, partnering agencies/entities, and the public are required.
Minimum Eligiblity Requirments:
GS-404-5 LEVEL SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IN:
- Identifying North American wildlife species
- The principles of wildlife ecology and management.
- Conducting basic computer operations for record keeping, data analysis, report writing and correspondence.
- Education Substitution at the GS-5 Level: GS-5: A full four-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 in wildlife.
- OR Combination of Education & Experience at the GS-05 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.
GS-404-06 LEVEL - ALL REQUIREMENTS OF THE GS-0404-5 LEVEL AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IN:
- Dealing with human-wildlife conflicts and principles of wildlife damage management.
- The requirements of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and Federal Air Regulations.
- Conducting wildlife counts and abundance surveys.
- The use of firearms, traps, snares, pesticides, immobilizing drugs, pyrotechnics, electronic harassment devices, and other non-lethal control tools.
GS-404-07 LEVEL – ALL REQUIREMENTS OF THE GS 0404-06 LEVEL AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IN:
- Airport wildlife hazard management.
- Selecting appropriate wildlife damage management strategies, techniques, and tools and apply them to specific situations.
- Interpreting and applying policies, regulations, laws, and ordinances that affect wildlife damage management operations and working within those guidelines.
- Using computers for word processing, spreadsheets, GIS and database applications.
- Assessing the abundance, behavior, and habitats of North American wildlife species.
- Education Substitution at the GS-6/7 Level: Graduate education that included at least 18 semester hours with an emphasis in Wildlife. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.
- OR Combination of Education & Experience at the GS-5/6/7 Grade Level: Equivalent combinations of successful completed education and experience may be used to meet the total qualification requirements. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.
Other Requirements:
- Must obtain or have a valid Illinois’ driver’s license (if applicable to your position).
- Operation of Government-owned or leased vehicles is required (if this applies).
- As a condition of employment, appropriate security clearance is required for this position.
- Position is subject to random and applicant drug testing.
- Must have a knowledge of and be capable of using:
- Working with the public and other cooperating agencies
- Communication skills o Electronic equipment (GPS, Trimble, computer)
- Must demonstrate a respect for safety in all operations, including the operation of motor vehicles, firearms, control devices, and equipment.
- Must possess or be able to acquire an Illinois Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) within 90 days of employment.
Emergency Response – APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. It is difficult to predict the frequency with which such emergency situations may occur – and could range from several emergencies in a year to none over the course of many years. In the event that you are called upon to support an emergency program, this may require irregular working hours, including overtime, and may include duties other than those specified in your official position description. While some emergency program support assignments may be able to be performed at the employee’s current duty station, in other cases employees may be asked to go on-site to a temporary duty state location. In addition, it may be necessary for employees to participate in multiple rotations to an emergency program assignment. Attempts will be made to keep disruption to the employee to a minimum.
Failure to follow application instructions regarding filing appropriate forms and answering questions may result in loss of employment considerations for this position. All applications must be signed, dated, and received by the closing date of this announcement.
NOTE: APPLICANTS FOR THIS POSITION WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT TO URINALYSIS TO SCREEN FOR ILLEGAL DRUG USE PRIOR TO APPOINTMENT. APPOINTMENT TO THE POSITION WILL BE CONTINGENT UPON A NEGATIVE DRUG TEST RESULT. INCUMBENTS OF THIS POSITION WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT TO URINALYSIS TO SCREEN FOR ILLEGAL DRUG USE ON AN ONGOING BASIS AFTER APPOINTMENT, AS DIRECTED.
Carrying a firearm is a condition of employment – In the passing of the Lautenberg Amendment, Congress passed legislation which prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from possessing a firearm or ammunition. If selected you will be required to sign the form, “Inquiry for Positions Requiring Possession of Firearms,” certifying that you meet this criteria.
Who May Apply:
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
- Must be 18 years old
- If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 and are at least 18 years of age, civil service employment law (5 U.S.C. 3328) requires that you must be registered with the Selective Service System, unless you meet certain exemptions (proof of registration and/or exemption required). Website: http://www.sss.gov.
Required Documents:
- Resume
- Transcripts (if qualifying on education)
- DD-214 (Member 4 copy) and/or VA letter required for applicable Veteran Preference. Current active duty members must submit a certification that they are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted.
- OF-306. The OF-306 form may be obtained from Contact Office or downloaded from http://www.opm.gov/forms/html/of.asp.
How to Apply:
Additional materials not listed above (i.e. position descriptions, training certificates, etc.) may not be considered. Applicants who do not submit the required items listed above may not be considered. Applications with all supporting documents must be submitted to the contact office and must be RECEIVED by the CLOSING DATE of this announcement. Interested individuals should send a resume, OF-306 form, transcripts, veteran documentation (if applicable) to the address listed here:
Craig Pullins, District Supervisor
Northern IL 3430 Constitution Dr., Suite 121
Springfield, IL 62711
Craig.K.Pullins@aphis.usda.gov (preferred method)
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you should need the forms identified in above paragraph, feel free to contact (773) 686-6955 for a copy.
All candidates will be considered without regarding to race, creed, color, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor.
Relocation costs will not be paid for this position.
