NPS | Page, AZ | Closes 12/2/2016

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nationalparkservice

NPS Biological Science Aid

OPENING DATE: 11/28/2016

CLOSING DATE: 12/2/2016

DEPARTMENT: National Park Service

JOB TYPE: Full-time

SALARY: $12.33  / Per Hour

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The employee assists other park staff with vegetation and wildlife stewardship and range management activities. Wildlife related duties will include observing, monitoring, and recording (acoustic equipment) a wide variety of basic data on habitat conditions, number, and distribution of wildlife species. Invasive species management duties will include pest identification, implementation of IPM control methods (i.e. mechanical, chemical, cultural, and biological) and public outreach. Employee will apply approved herbicides using backpack and handheld sprayers. Native plant restoration duties will include collecting and processing native plant seeds, plant propagation, plant salvaging, potting, transplanting, preparing seedbeds, seeding, planting, mulching, and watering. Monitoring duties will include collection of qualitative and quantitative data related to wildlife, vegetation, and range management. Data management responsibilities include completing field data sheets; using computer programs such as MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and SonoBat; operating global positioning system (GPS) equipment; and entering data into databases and/or park geographic information systems (GIS). Employees will operate manual transmission vehicles, water pumps and tanks, high-pressure hot water washers, line trimmers, tillers, chainsaws, hand tools, and may be required to tow and back 17’trailers. Employees must have a valid state driver’s license. Employees may be required to obtain a Utah and/or Arizona pesticide applicators license within one month of entering into duty. Employees will be required to complete the rabies pre-exposure vaccination series prior to handling bats. Employees will be required to work weekends, overnight back-country camp, and travel to work on other resource management projects throughout the region.  These positions are generally field based and involve performing labor intensive tasks for prolonged periods of time (10 or more hours daily) in front-country and back-country settings.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  Moderate to high physical effort is required to complete assigned tasks.  The employee will be required to routinely hike up to 10 miles/day with a 40 lb. pack load, during day or night, often in rugged terrain or on steep slopes, with total elevation gain/loss of up to 1000 feet.  Manual labor duties will require using hand tools for extended periods of time. APPLICANTS MUST BE IN EXCELLENT PHYSICAL CONDITION TO PERFORM REQUIRED JOB DUTIES.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  The majority of time will be spent working outdoors, often at remote locations in rugged terrain. Field work sites range from 3000 feet to 7500 feet in elevation.  Temperatures during working hours in the summer can approach 110 F and in the winter can approach 25 F.  Necessary personal protective and other safety equipment will be provided. Job hazards include: falling on steep slopes, heat exhaustion, hypothermia, lightning strikes, insect stings (bees, wasps, and scorpions), and surprise wildlife encounters.  Some work is performed indoors at a personal computer station.

Page, Arizona (Wahweap) is located on the Arizona-Utah border, 135 miles north of Flagstaff, Arizona, the nearest larger community. Wahweap Sub-District is located seven miles from Page.   Page looks out on beautiful Lake Powell which offers boating, associated water sports recreation and fishing.   The surrounding land of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area offers beautiful red rock country for hiking and backcountry recreational activity.   Page is centrally located to many other National Parks, such as the Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches and Canyonlands to name a few.   Page offers normal community amenities such as shopping, medical and dental facilities, schools K-12 and college courses available through local Coconino Community College. The area enjoys typical high desert climate with temperatures ranging from 100 in summer to mid-teens in winter with low humidity and sunshine most days of the year. Elevation in Page is 4300 feet above sea level.http://www.pagelakepowelltourism.com/  Park housing may be available, but is not guaranteed. Because of limited housing, seasonal employees are typically assigned shared quarters, which will not accommodate family members or pets.

Major Duties may include, but are not limited to:

  • Collects, prepares, evaluates, and verifies samples and supporting records; maintains records and locates and compiles data and other information from various sources.
  • Assists in one or more phases of the research process by performing a variety of technical duties, in a laboratory, field, or greenhouse facility environment, common to the assigned area of work.
  • Performs routine and recurring techniques and studies using a variety of specialized equipment.
  • Maintains inventory of chemicals, supplies, and equipment for use in the laboratory, field or greenhouse facility, and safely disposes of waste material (both chemical and biological).

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement, Friday, December 02, 2016. Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sectors.
QUALIFICATIONS: To be eligible for this position, you must possess the qualifying specialized experience and/or education as described in the occupational/assessment questionnaire and as outlined below.

Experience: 6 months of general experience. In making this claim, I understand that General Experience is (1) Any type of work that demonstrates my ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. General experience could be controlling of invasive plants, rehabilitation and replanting of trail sides, nursery work, etc.

Education:  one year of education above high school in an accredited educational institution (30 semester hour or 45 quarter hours) which included at least 6 semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. IMPORTANT – PLEASE NOTE: You must document your course work and/or degree completed in your resume or other application materials you submit. You must submit a copy of your transcripts indicating number of credit hours in order to qualify based on education). If you are qualifying based on education and you do not submit specific course work information as described previously, your application will be rated not qualified for consideration. (A copy of your official transcripts will be required before entrance on duty, if selected).

Combination:  an equivalent combination of education and experience. For example, I have 3 months of general experience (50% of the experience requirements for this position and grade level) combined with 6 months of education as outlined above (50% of the education required to qualify), which included at least 3 semester hours of scientific or technical courses, such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics.

EDUCATION:
To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking or other equivalent documentation.  Applicants can verify accreditation HERE 

Transcripts do not need to be official but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify then you will need to provide official transcripts before you enter on duty.

You can receive credit for education received outside the United States if you provide evidence that it is comparable to an accredited education institution in the United States when you apply. For further information click HERE.

Requirements
1.National Park Service (NPS) uniformed position. Employee will be required to wear a uniform and comply with NPS uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided to defray the cost of the uniform.
2. You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid state issued drivers license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle.

To apply, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/457038800/