Biological Science Aid/Tech (Plants)

Full Job Description

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. This position is located in Lakeview, Oregon.

Information about Lakeview and the surrounding area can be found at https://www.allaboutlakecounty.com/. We expect to fill many vacancies.

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume.

No assumptions will be made about your experience.

GS-3: Must possess 6 months of general experience working in any professional, technical, or other responsible field that provided you with a familiarity of biological science programs or techniques of collecting scientific data; -OR- Successful completion of 1 year of study above high school, that included at least 6 semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture or mathematics; -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate undergraduate education.

GS-4: Must possess 6 months of general experience and 6 months of specialized experience.

Examples of general experience may include working in any professional, technical, or other responsible field that provided you with a familiarity of native plants in their natural habitat or techniques of collecting scientific data.

Examples of specialized experience may include experience related to plant studies such as following specific instructions to check extensive data relating to the survey/study area; collecting samples; or observing and recording specific information (i.e., vegetative cover, water quality samples, flora or fauna).

-OR- Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics.

At least 6 semester hours of courses must be directly related to the position to be filled.

-OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate undergraduate education.

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. You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Physical Demands/Work Environments: Work requires some physical exertion such as bending and walking/hiking in terrain that is rough, rocky, mountainous and densely vegetated that may also be steep, wet and muddy.

Required to lift and carry equipment necessary to perform the work of the position, this includes tools, personal protective equipment, food and water for extended periods away from a vehicle.

Work while in the office is performed in adequately lighted, ventilated, cooled and heated area.

Fieldwork is subject to cuts and bruises, extreme and adverse weather conditions and injuries and discomforts from pests and animals. Major Duties:

• Biological Science Aids perform a variety of routine procedural tasks in support of biological programs.
• Biological Science Aids may assist conducting field surveys or proposed actions (timber sales, road construction proposals, land exchanges, etc.) for federally listed plant species, and conduct monitoring of known sites to ascertain site resources.
• Biological Science Aids use GPS devices for navigation and data collection.
• Biological Science Technicians (Plants) (BST) make observations and record data relating to plant studies; document occurrence and distribution of identified species; inventory rare and endangered species habitat.
• BSTs conduct controlling noxious weeds through IPM activities such as manual hand digging/pulling, mowing, or spraying noxious weeds with herbicides, as well as assisting with surveys of sprayed plants.
• BSTs participate in environmental studies documenting factors affecting plant species and habitat; conduct field searches for populations of sensitive, threatened or endangered plant species, weeds (non-native invasive plant species).