Biological Science Tech (Fisheries)

Full Job Description

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource. We expect to fill many vacancies. This is a temporary appointment.

Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status and will be for a period not-to-exceed 1560 hours in a service year.

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

No assumptions will be made about your experience. GS-5: Resume should demonstrate one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-4 level.

Examples of specialized experience may include, depending on assignment participating in, fish population counts, banding, tagging and releasing fisheries related species; water quality sampling of streams and lakes; aquatic and riparian inventories; inventorying rare, and endangered species habitat based on guidelines; and taking soil samples by layer and root samples; -OR- Successful completion of a full 4 year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree that included at least 24 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 this position; -OR- A combination of experience and education to meet total experience.

GS-6: Resume should demonstrate one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 level.

Examples of specialized experience may include surveying, mapping and documenting a variety of fisheries related species and habitat conditions; aquatic and riparian inventories, maps, and surveys; compiling of occurrence and distribution data, cover maps, and herbarium study mounts; assisting in performing fisheries or riparian studies and in constructing fish or stream/riparian habitat improvement structures; and compiling data obtained through soil inventory and assembling data into a logical sequence for review; -OR- Successful completion of 6 months graduate education directly related to the work of the position; -OR- A combination of experience and education to meet total experience.

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 may be performed indoors or outdoors.

Work may occur in steep, wet and muddy terrain, in campgrounds, recreation sites, visitor centers, offices, fee booths, bathrooms, trails or remote areas requiring extended camping.

Positions may require physical exertions such as extended walking/standing, driving, stooping/crouching, digging, or lifting/carrying.

Individuals should be able to work alone or with people; during day/night/weekend/holiday hours. Major Duties:

• Biological Science Technicians (Fisheries) may plan and conduct aquatic and riparian inventories and studies as well as plan and conduct fish population studies.
• Riparian studies may be conducted on wetland areas and along stream corridors and may include species inventory and condition assessments.
• They also analyze inventory or study data; prepare data for inclusion in study reports; and make recommendations for aquatic and riparian enhancement projects or improvements in survey techniques and evaluation methods.
• Other duties may include: Work from an outline; check extensive data in the field of fish habitat condition (stream or lake); record results; make census counts of various species or record observations, on species condition or stream surveys.
• Biological Science Technicians (Fisheries) may also plan and conduct simple water quality samplings of streams and lakes.
• They may also assist in construction or placement of habitat improvement structures, fences, gabions, trash catchers, etc.