Biological Science Technician (Plants)

Full Job Description

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. This position is located in Marina or Santa Cruz, CA, and Bishop, CA.

Visit Marina, CA , Santa Cruz, CA and Bishop, CA for information about the surrounding area. We expect to fill 3 vacancies, more vacancies may be filled if they become available.

This is a temporary appointment. Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status and will be for a period not-to-exceed 1039 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.

Individual Occupational Requirements Experience may include: Research activity or control program work; Nursery work that required the growing and maintenance of plants in a controlled environment; Work comparable to that with a large dairy farm where production records, animal environment, and sanitary conditions were kept in accordance with modern dairy practice.

(Farming experience that was not performed in a controlled environment, or experience as a laborer who was not responsible for planning and scheduling his/her own work, but only performed assigned tasks, would not qualify as specialized experience).

OR For GS-5: Successful completion of a full 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 those shown above for GS-3.

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

The successful completion of a full course of study of at least 12 months in a school for clinical laboratory technicians may be substituted for the 1 year of specialized experience required at the GS-5 level for positions involving microbiology and biochemistry technician work.

Specialized Experience: For GS-5: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-4 level.

Examples of specialized experience may include experience related to plant studies such as inventorying rare and endangered plants and species habitat based on guidelines; taking soil samples by layer; and taking root samples.

-OR- Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or 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 have been directly related to the position to be filled. -OR- A combination of experience and education to meet total experience.

For GS-06: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 level.

Examples of specialized experience may include experience related to plant studies such as surveying, mapping and documenting a variety of plant species and habitat conditions; compiling occurrence and distribution data, cover maps, and herbarium study mounts; assisting in performing habitat studies and in constructing 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 of graduate study directly related to the work of the position. -OR- A combination of experience and education to meet total experience.

For GS-07: One (1) year of specialized work experience equivalent to GS-6 level.

Examples of specialized experience may include experience related to plant studies such as surveying, mapping and documenting a variety of plant species and habitat conditions; compiling occurrence and distribution data, cover maps, and herbarium study mounts; assisting in performing botanical studies and in constructing habitat improvement structures; compiling data obtained through soil inventory; and assembling data into a logical sequence for review.

-OR- Successful completion of one full year of graduate education directly related to the work of the position. -OR- A combination of experience and education to meet total experience.

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

Graduate 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: Requires some physical exertion such as bending and walking in terrain that is rough, rocky mountainous and densely vegetated.

required to lift and carry equipment necessary to efficiently perform the work of the position, and to provide for personal comfort and safety.

This can include tools, personal protective equipment, food and water for extended periods of work away from vehicles.

Work Environment: Work is performed in a setting that is adequately lighted, ventilated, cooled and heated.

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

• Make observations and record data relating to plant studies; document occurrence and distribution of identified species; complete inventories for specific species in potential habitat areas, document locations using maps and GIS/GPS technology.
• Conducts botany inventories and studies which are similar to previous such efforts; analyze inventory or study data, and prepares data so as to be suitable for inclusion in plans or study.
• Researches and catalogues and identifies status of various species through current literature or other sources.
• Photograph, collect and mount plant specimens encountered at different stages of development; collect ecological site information for population distribution, condition, trend, associated species, geology and soil type.
• Collects ecological site information for sensitive, threatened, or endangered plants as well as conditions, trends, geology, and soil type to determine factors limiting distribution and potential for enhancement through management measures.
• Duties may include preparing reports and summarizing findings.