Biological Science Technician (Natural Resource Monitoring)

Full Job Description

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. Positions are located throughout Nevada (see additional information section for salary information).

We expect to fill a few vacancies; additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

This is a Temporary Position: Appointments to this position will not convey permanent status and will be for a period not-to-exceed 1,039 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 requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume.

No assumptions will be made about your experience.

At the GS-05 Level: Specialized Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-04) in the Federal service.

Specialized experience includes assisting with collection of vegetation or soil field data; documenting field observations to determine the need for improvement projects; and experience using maps, compasses, or Global Positioning System GPS to record and determine locations.

-OR- Education: Successful completion of a full four (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 six (6) semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position to be filled.

-OR- Combination of Education and Specialized Experience: I possess an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate undergraduate education.

Undergraduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

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: Monitoring work requires regular and recurring periods of physical exertion including walking, bending, climbing, crouching, or stooping over rough, uneven, rocky surfaces or mountainous terrain.

Monitoring protocols require sufficient physical strength to use manual hand tools such as shovels, trowels, or screening devices.

Monitoring work occasionally requires lifting moderately heavy items such as equipment and samples. Data analysis is performed in an office setting with no special physical demands.

Work Environment: Monitoring data is collected at field sites which are outdoor settings and therefore subject to the risks and discomforts arising from remoteness (e.g., distance from services such as medical offices), weather (e.g., extreme temperatures and precipitation), wildlife (e.g., bites and stings), and diverse terrain (e.g., steep, rocky, or unstable footing).

Implementation of standard field-going precautions such as planning (e.g., checking the weather and sharing travel details with the supervisor or higher-graded employee), situational awareness, and proper personal protective equipment (e.g., sun protection, field clothing, gloves, sturdy footwear, a basic first aid kit) are sufficient to mitigate most risks.

Accessing field sites requires the use of two- or four-wheel drive vehicles and comes with the risk of vehicular accidents.

Safety instructions and risk management protocols will be communicated by the supervisor prior to initiating field work.

Individuals driving a government vehicle are required to complete a Defensive Driving Course.

The quality assurance and quality control and data analysis support work is performed in a work environment that involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of offices (e.g., use of safe work practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, observance of fire regulations and traffic signals, etc.).

The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. Major Duties:

• Collects natural resource and ecological data (e.g., terrestrial, lotic, and wetland/riparian) following standardized protocols to support Bureau of Land Management natural resource monitoring and planning efforts.
• Attend field method trainings to learn standardizing monitoring protocols and calibration techniques.
• Assist with mapping natural and ecological resources (such as soils, vegetation, streams/rivers, wetland/riparian areas, etc.) using geographic information systems (GIS) to increase efficiency of field data collection.
• Assist with compiling data for basic analyses of natural resources and ecological data monitoring.
• Assist field crews conducting natural resource and ecological monitoring work by scheduling field assignments, advising lower-graded technicians, and reviewing crew member data forms to ensure adherence to protocols.