Range Technician (Weeds)

Full Job Description

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

Information about Marina, CA and the surrounding area can be found linked. We expect to fill 2 vacancies, additional 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.

Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): In addition to the experience requirements described in the group coverage standard, seasonal experience may also be creditable.

A season of experience is considered to be a period of no less than 3 months of continuous employment on a seasonal basis.

Shorter periods may be combined to make a season, provided a total of at least 3 months' experience is shown.

For any period where the work exceeded 3 months, the excess work is credited towards an additional season of experience.

One season of experience is qualifying for GS-2; 2 seasons of experience qualify for GS-3; and 4 seasons of experience qualify for GS-4.

Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Work in the conservation, regulation, and use of public or Federally controlled lands for grazing. Range research activities.

Work in the operation of a livestock ranch or in assisting in the management or preservation of lands comparable to the public range. Range or forest fire control, prevention, or suppression work.

OR Education and Training For GS-3: Successful completion of 1 year of study that included at least 6 semester hours in a combination of courses such as range management or conservation, agriculture, forestry, wildlife management, engineering, biology, mathematics, or other natural or physical sciences.

For GS-4: Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of courses such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science.

No more than 3 semester hours in mathematics is credit-able.

For GS-5: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (a) with major study in forestry, range management, agriculture, or a subject-matter field directly related to the position, or (b) that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as those shown above For GS-4.

No more than 6 semester hours in mathematics is creditable.

Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): GS-05: You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-04 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: .conducting weed treatments under the supervision of another licensed pesticide applicator.

Assisting with inventory, mapping, and monitoring weed infestations. Maintaining spraying equipment, and responsible for complying with proper application, storage, and handling of pesticides.

OR Successful completion of a full four year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (a) with a major forestry, range management, agriculture or a subject-matter field directly related to the position or (b) that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources, outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering or wildland fire science.

No more than 6 semester hours in math is creditable. OR A combination of experience and education to meet the total experience. GS-06: One year of specialized work experience equivalent to GS-5 level.

Examples of specialized experience may include; overseeing and performing maintenance work related to weed management. Independently conducting weed treatment with minimal supervision.

Accurately documenting pesticide use. Assisting with range improvements, inventory, and mapping infestations. Obtain the appropriate license for pesticide application.

Assisting in enforcement of range rules and regulations.

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 the total experience.

GS-07: One year of specialized work experience equivalent to GS-6 level. Examples of specialized experience may include; independently performing all aspects of treating weeds with minimal supervision.

Serving as a crew lead. Accurately documenting pesticide use. Assisting permanent staff with mapping, weed monitoring, and developing a weed management plan.

Assisting in the management of public range resources of a district or other specified area by observing and reporting special conditions regarding them and performing the detailed work necessary to complete specific plans for development of an area for proper range management and conservation.

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 the 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: The work ranges from sedentary when completing duties in the office to frequent field work requiring a considerable amount of walking, riding, stooping, bending, and lifting.

Work Environment: Office work is performed in adequately lighted, heated, and air-conditioned offices.

Much of the time is spent in the field where exposure to extremes of heat and cold, rough terrain, insects, snakes, and other hazards are common.

The incumbent carefully adheres to all safety procedures to mitigate hazards encountered. Major Duties:

• Operate, maintain, and inventory weed management equipment. Conduct rangeland rehabilitation and restoration projects.
• Mix, maintain, and calibrate herbicides and pesticides for use in rangeland environments.
• Inventory, monitor, and map existing weed populations utilizing global positioning systems and topographic maps. Prepare reports based on environmental assessments.
• Ensures facilities and customer use areas are free of visible safety hazards.
• Higher level grades may serve as crew leaders for weed control, inventory, and rehabilitation projects. Organizing, scheduling, and executing assignments and reports. May train lower-level employees on duties involving weed management.
• Work with landowners and cooperators within the geographic area to ensure weed management efforts are successful.