UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Great Lakes Science Center – Lake Ontario Biological Station
Oswego, New York

Website https://www.usgs.gov/centers/glsc

Announcement Number:           GLSC-2019-NY02
Hiring Agency:                          INTERIOR, U.S. Geological Survey
Position Title:                           Biological Science Technician (Field Assistant), GG-0404-05
Open Period:                            February 22, 2019 to March 15, 2019 5:00 PM, EDT or until filled
Type of Appointment:               Temporary, Excepted Service, Not-to-Exceed 180days in a Service Year. The work of this project will not exceed 1039 paid hours in a service year. Positions may offer rehire eligibility for subsequent appointments, provided the employee has not exceeded 1039 hours of work in a twelve month period and has achieved an acceptable level of performance.

Series/Grade:   GG-0404-05
Salary:               $16.00/hour
Promotion Potential:  The grade level for which you are selected is the full performance level.

Duty Location(s):
• FEW in Oswego, NY

For More Information:
Brian Lantry, U.S. Geological Survey
Great Lakes Science Center
17 Lake St.
Oswego, New York 13126
Phone: 315-343-3951 ext6518
[email protected]

 

Who May Apply:                       United States Citizens

What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position?
This vacancy is limited to the first 100 applications received, and will close at midnight

Central Time on the day this application limit is reached regardless of the closing date specified in this vacancy announcement. Any application received prior to midnight Central Time of the day the application limit is reached will be accepted and considered. You are strongly encouraged to submit all required supporting documents at the time of application should the vacancy close earlier than stated in this announcement due to the applicant limit being reached. Supporting documents will not be accepted once the vacancy announcement closes.

Supervisory Position:    No
Relocation Authorized: No
Travel Required: Occasional overnight travel of up to 15 nights per month may be required.
KEY REQUIREMENTS:

• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
• Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
• Overnight travel of up to 15 nights per month may be required.
• Selectee must have a valid current U.S. passport, and must not be under any restrictions for travel to Canada.
• Selectee must provide a valid driver’s license and safe driving record.

A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant’s successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

Position requires completion of a medical examination at Federal expense.
You will be required to operate a government-owned or leased vehicle in the performance of your official duties. Applicants for this position must meet the following requirements: (1) possession of a valid State driver’s license, and (2) possess a safe driving record. If selected, you will be required to provide proof of a valid State license and a copy of your driving record.

Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update your information.

THIS IS A TEMPORARY EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION for which all qualified applicants, with or without Federal status may apply and be considered.  Appointment to this position, however, will not convey permanent status in the Federal service.  Appointment will only be for the duration of the position, in this case, 1039 hours or less. Positions may offer rehire eligibility for subsequent appointments, provided the employee has not exceeded 1039 hours of work in a twelve-month period and has achieved an acceptable level of performance.

SUMMARY:
The USGS Great Lakes Science Center is seeking Biological Science Technicians for the 2019 spring and summer field season.
This position begins April 1, 2019 and will end approximately December 31, 2019.

DUTIES:
Incumbent will provide research support on ecological studies of fishes from Lake Ontario ecosystems including: fieldwork on large research vessels using trawls, gill nets, plankton nets, water quality measurement devices, and hydroacoustic sampling gears; laboratory analysis and sample processing for taxonomic identification; fish stomach contents analysis; age estimation; benthic sample sorting; stable isotope sample preparation; data entry; data quality assurance; and assistance with preparation of reports.

Required skills include a general knowledge of processes, methods, and procedures of fisheries and aquatic sciences.  The incumbent must have the ability to catalogue and track samples and properly handle and dispose of chemical preservatives.  Incumbent should have knowledge of computer spreadsheet operations and entry-level statistical computations in R, or a similar computer program.  Incumbent should also have knowledge of light microscopy to examine biological organisms.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The incumbent will participate as a crewmember on USGS large research vessels.   In accordance with USGS Large Vessel Safety Program policies (SM-445-2-H, Chapter 49), the incumbent will be required to: 1) pass a pre-employment medical evaluation and 2) be enrolled in a random drug testing program.  Field work on large research vessels is conducted in all weather conditions; therefore, the incumbent must not be prone to debilitating sea sickness.  Laboratory work is generally performed indoors seated in front of a microscope or computer.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  The work is performed in a laboratory and on a large research vessel.  Field work involves moderate or sometimes extreme exposure to the discomforts of rain and cold/hot weather.  Special safety precautions are required in many cases, and the employee may typically wear life jackets, special safety boots, waders, and/or special organism handling gear.

 

QUALIFICATIONS & EVALUATIONS:

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 experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

EDUCATION:  One year of full-time academic study is 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business or technical school. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained in an accredited business, technical school, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent was a prerequisite.

If you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide all unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) or list of course work, which includes semester hours earned and grade received, by the closing date of this announcement or you will be disqualified from further consideration. This proof may be emailed, to the office (see “Required Documents” and/or “Contact Information”). Please ensure that all documentation is legible. If you are currently employed by the Federal government in the same occupational series as the advertised position, you are not required to submit transcripts at this time.

Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the

United States.
For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/quals/foreign.html.

QUALIFICATIONS:
For the GG-05 level:

• 9 months field party experience OR
• 3 years sub-professional experience OR
• 3 years college study related to biology PLUS 3 months lab or field work experience. Satisfactory completion of a field course in biology may be substituted for the 3 months of field and/or laboratory experience. (Sub-professional experience is defined as technical work performed in support of field or laboratory investigation relating to the biological sciences which provided basic knowledge or skills in gathering, recording, and assembling scientific data; using scientific instruments; setting up and operating test apparatus; and manipulating quantitative data. Experience may include assisting professional employee in such duties).

 

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

BASIS OF EVALUATION:  Applicants will not be rated or ranked. All applicants that meet the basic eligibility and qualification requirements of the position will be referred to the selecting official in preference eligible order.  Applicants will receive a basic eligible or ineligible rating based upon the qualification requirements. First preference in referral will be given to eligible applicants entitled to 10-point veteran’s preference who have a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more. All other qualified applicants entitled to veteran’s preference will be given preference over qualified applicants not entitled to veteran’s preference.

All applicants must be United States Citizens. Under regulations contained in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, employment in this position is limited to those persons who are authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of appointment.

As a condition of employment, all new employees reporting for duty with the Department of the Interior will be paid through direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.  Applicants selected for Federal employment will be required to complete a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failure to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on the application may be ground for not hiring the applicant, or for firing the applicant after he/she begins work.  Also, he/she may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. code, Title 18, section 1001).  Prior to or at the time of appointment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959, will have to certify that they have registered with the Selective service system in order to be appointed to a position with the United States Geological Survey, unless legally qualified for an exception.

Employees of the U.S. Geological Survey are subject to the provisions of Title 43, U.S. code, Section 31 (a) and may not according to this legislation and related regulation: (A) have any personal or private interest, direct or indirect, in lands or mineral wealth of such lands or a region under survey and whose title is in the U.S.; (B) execute surveys or examination for private parties or corporations; or (C) have personal or private interest, direct or indirect, in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business in the U.S. except where specifically authorized by the director of the U.S. Geological Survey.

NOTE: If it is determined that you have rated yourself higher than is supported in your description of experience and/or education as described in your resume/application, or that your resume or application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible, not qualified, or your score may be lowered.

 

BENEFITS and OTHER INFO

BENEFITS: Temporary appointees expected to work at least 130 hours per month for at least 90 days will be eligible to enroll in a Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) plan. Individuals eligible under this rule receive the full government contribution to their premiums regardless of work schedule and will also be eligible to participate in the Flexible Spending Accounts and Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program. Temporary appointees are not covered by the Federal Employee Retirement System and are ineligible for Federal life, dental, or vision insurance.

OTHER INFORMATION:  The Hiring Official will determine the work schedule based upon project needs. There will be busy periods when those selected will be required to work full- or part-time schedules and other periods when individuals will be placed on intermittent schedules and will only work when their services are required. Those selected will be required to sign a statement of understanding to this effect.

Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position.

The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

HOW TO APPLY: Carefully read all information and instructions. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the application is completed. This office will not be responsible for soliciting additional information from applicants and will consider individuals based on their applications and supporting documentation as submitted.

 Applications must be received via email by the closing date on the announcement to be considered. All application materials must arrive by 5:00 p.m. EDT on the closing date of the announcement, and must include the announcement number of the job for which you are applying.

Submit the following to complete the application process:

(a) Cover Letter and Resume. You must indicate the locations and grade level for which you want to be considered. If you do not indicate specific locations and grade levels your application will be considered incomplete and you will not be further considered.

(b) If you are qualifying for each grade level based on education, you must submit college transcripts (can be unofficial) or a list of college courses, specifying title of coursework, completion date, semester or quarter hours earned by course title, and grade earned. If selected you will be required to provide official transcripts.

If claiming 5-point veteran’s preference, a DD-214 showing character of discharge is required.

If claiming 10-point veteran’s preference a DD-214 showing character of discharge is required and a VA letter showing % of disability is required.

 

APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:00PM EDT, MARCH 1, 2019

Attn: Brian Lantry

U.S. Geological Survey
Great Lakes Science Center
Lake Ontario Biological Station
17 Lake St.
Oswego, New York 13126

Phone: 315-343-3951 ext6518
Fax: 315-342-8065
Or e-mail all application documents to:
[email protected]

 

 

APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE:

JOB INFORMATION:

-Cover letter and resume

-Announcement number, title, and grade(s) and duty station(s) of the job(s) for which you are applying

PERSONAL INFORMATION:

-Full name, mailing address (with zip code) and day and evening phone numbers (with area code)

-Country of Citizenship

-Veteran’s Preference (10 point, 5 point, Not a veteran)

-Highest Federal civilian grade held, if applicable (also give job series and dates held)

EDUCATION:

-High School (name, address, including zip code if known)

-Colleges and universities (address including zip code if known)

-Major(s)

-Type and year of any degrees received

-Copy of your college transcripts or list of college courses completed. Specify title of course, semester or quarter hours earned for each course, date completed, grade earned.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

-Give the following information on your paid and unpaid work experience related to the job:

-Job Title (include series and grade if Federal job)

-Duties and accomplishments

-Employer’s name and address

-Supervisor’s name and phone numbers

-Starting and ending dates (MONTH, DATE and YEAR)

-HOURS PER WEEK

-Salary

-Indicate if we may contact your current supervisor

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:

-Job-related training courses (title, length, date taken)

-Job-related skills (i.e., other languages, computer software/hardware, tools, machinery, typing speed, first aid, etc.

 

VETERAN’S PREFERENCE and ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

If you are claiming veterans’ preference you must provide a legible copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, member 4 copy or any official documentation or statement from the Armed Forces that confirms your dates of service and that your separation, discharge, or release from active duty was under honorable conditions (i.e., Honorable or General Discharge). Note: If you have more than one DD-214 for multiple periods of active duty, submit a copy for each period of service.

If you are currently on active military duty, you must provide documentation (e.g., campaign document, award citation, etc.), that verifies entitlement to veterans’ preference and that your character of military service is honorable.

If you are claiming 10-point veterans’ preference, in addition to the documents specified above, you must also submit documentation that supports your claim, e.g., an official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs (dated 1991 or later) or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying the existence of a service-connected disability, or the award of the Purple Heart, etc. The overall rating must be identified on your certification letter or separation orders.

Documentation must be received by the closing date shown in this vacancy announcement.

If you fail to submit any of the required documentation, you will not be granted veterans’ preference. Additional information on veterans’ preference can be found in the Vet Guide.

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

If you are rated as one of the qualified candidates, you will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. You will be notified via email or phone.

 

Contact Person: Brian Lantry

Contact Phone:   315-343-3951 ext6518

Contact email:    [email protected]