Biological Science Technician (Soils)

Full Job Description

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

Information about Billings, Montana and the surrounding area can be found at Billings Field Office | Bureau of Land Management 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 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. GS-7: one year of specialized work experience equivalent to GS-6 level.

Examples of specialized experience may include leading or conducting field inventories of soil types to develop intensive soil information and collecting ecological site information; 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.

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 Technicians (Soils) perform duties that include field inventories, collecting ecological site information, and population distributions, conditions, trends, associated species, landform of occurrence, geology, and soil type.
• They make census counts of various species and/or record observations, based on guidelines provided, on species condition or stream surveys.
• Biological Science Technicians (Soils) often work from an outline, checking extensive data in the field of fish habitat conditions (streams or lakes).
• They enter and retrieve data from automated databases, record results and compile data into reports.
• Biological Science Technicians (Soils) may also assist in construction or placement of habitat improvement structures, fences, gabions, trash catchers, etc.