UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, APHIS
ANNOUNCEMENT # USDA-WS-12-02

POSITION TITLE: Biological Science Technician (Wildlife)
Full-time Appointment w/o benefits
Not to exceed: 7 months

SERIES/GRADE: AD-404-4/5/6

LOCATION: Wildlife Services, Western Region
Duty Station: Alameda County, CA

SALARY: Range for AD-4: $27,990 to $36,384
Range for AD-5: $31,315 to $40,706
Range for AD-6: $34,907 to $45,376

APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their career with APHIS. It is difficult to predict the frequency with which such emergency situations may occur — and could range from several emergencies in a year to none over the course of many years. In the event that you are called upon to support an emergency program, this may require irregular working hours, including overtime, and may include duties other than those specified in your official position description. While some emergency program support assignments may be able to be performed at the employee’s current duty station, in other cases employees may be asked to go on-site to a temporary duty station location. In addition, it may be necessary for employees to participate in multiple rotations to an emergency program assignment. Attempts to keep disruption to the employees to a minimum will be made.

WHEN TO APPLY: February 6, 2012 to February 21, 2012

Mail/Fax Applications to: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
3419A Arden Way
Sacramento, CA 95825
Attn: Wendy Silva
Fax: 916-979-2680
WHO MAY APPLY?
Open to all.

WHAT ARE THE DUTIES?
The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of a more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity. Duties consist of providing technical assistance to home and land owners, direct control activities through use of cage traps, snares, euthanasia drugs, and firearms while providing wildlife damage control operations for the protection of property, livestock, and crops and other agricultural resources, human-health and
safety, and natural resources in Alameda County, California. Primary species involved are skunks, raccoon, feral cats, red fox and opossums as well as various mammalian and avian predator species. These duties are conducted in an urban (85%) / rural (15%) settings.

ARE THERE SPECIAL CONDITIONS OR REQUIREMENTS?
* As a condition of employment, appropriate security clearance is required for this position.
* Position is subject to random and/or applicant drug testing.
* You must have a valid CA State Motor vehicle license.
* Selectee must qualify in the use of firearms after appointment and will be required to carry and use firearms in the performance of the duties of this position.
* Applicants will be required to sign an HRO-Form 127, Inquiry for Positions Requiring Possession of Firearms at time of appointment.
* May be required to pass certified pesticide applicator examinations.
* Must be qualified to use immobilization drugs and obtain certification.
* Relocation costs will not be paid for this position.

SPECIAL NOTICE: Applicants filing under this announcement will be considered for the above duty location only.

DO I QUALIFY?
To qualify, all applicants MUST meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

GENERAL EXPERIENCE:
(1). Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant’s ability to perform the work of the position. (2). Experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Applicants who have required by this standard to have general experience, education above the high school level, or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR AD-4 GRADE LEVEL: Applicant’s must have 6 months of general experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the position or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. In addition to this, applicant’s needs 6 months of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level in the Federal service. This experience is typically, or related to, the work of the position being filled.
OR
EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION FOR AD-4 GRADE LEVEL: Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, and mathematics with at least 6 of those 12 semester hours in wildlife.

FOR THE AD-5 & AD-6 GRADE LEVELS – Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level in
the Federal service. This experience is typically in, or related to, the work of the position being filled and must have equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities as listed is the factors of supplemental experience below.
OR
EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION AT THE AD-5 GRADE LEVEL – Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree with a major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of these courses: biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics with at least 6 semester hours in wildlife.
OR
EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION AT THE AD-6 GRADE LEVEL – In addition to a four-year degree, 6 months of graduate level education that included at least 9 semester hours in wildlife biology, or wildlife management, or wildlife ecology.
OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE AT THE AD-4/5/6 GRADE LEVELS – Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience are also qualifying.

SUPPLEMENTAL EXPERIENCE STATEMENT:
THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ARE TO BE ANSWERED ON A SEPERATE SHEET OF PAPER:

FACTOR 1- A general background in a biological or agricultural field which demonstrates the ability to learn basic wildlife damage management methods — techniques, including the use of firearms, euthanasia drugs, toxicants, traps, etc.; tracking of wildlife, identifying wildlife concerns associated with depredation.
a. Describe any experience and/or education in a biological or agricultural field, which demonstrated the ability to learn basic wildlife damage management methods — techniques.
b. List the extent of experience you have had with the following methods - techniques:

firearms toxicants
euthanasia drugs traps
tracking of wildlife Identifying wildlife concerns associated with depredation or damage.

c. List any experience you have had working with threatened and/or endangered species.

FACTOR 2- ABILITY TO PLAN AND ORGANIZE WORK: Describe any experience that would demonstrate your ability to plan and organize work. Please also describe any computer skills you possess.

FACTOR 3- ABILITY TO DEAL EFFECTIVELY WITH OTHERS: What experience do you have in dealing with others? Have you had to negotiate issues or handle controversial matters? Describe.
FACTOR 4- KNOWLEDGE OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO WILDLIFE SERVICES: Describe your knowledge of Federal, State, and local laws and regulations pertaining to wildlife damage management.

Note: The questions in Factor 1-4 of the Supplemental Experience Statement, must be answered, signed, and dated. Exaggeration or misstatements may be cause for your disqualification or later removal from the program. After completing the Supplemental Experience Statement, look it over carefully to make sure that you have answered every question. Be sure that you have given complete information about your experience. You cannot be given credit for work you do not tell us about.

WHAT MUST MY APPLICATION INCLUDE?
Your application (OF-612), resume, or any other written format you choose to describe your job-related qualifications must include:

* Announcement Number, Title, Series, and Grade(s) for which you are applying
* Your Full Name, Mailing Address (including zip code) and Phone Number(s) (including area codes)
* Social Security Number
* Country of Citizenship
* Documentation of Education: High School — Give name, city, state, and date of diploma or GED. College — List the names of all colleges and universities attended including city, state, major(s), and type and year of any degree received. College transcripts — A copy of your college diploma or a list of college courses with grades and credits, (indicate quarter/semester hours and GPA) MUST be submitted.
* Work History – Describe in your own words previous work applicable to this position. (Do not submit a position description.) INCLUDE DATES (M/D/Y), HOURS PER WEEK; AND, IF FEDERAL CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDE THE SERIES AND GRADE LEVEL. IF THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INCLUDED, THE EXPERIENCE CANNOT BE CREDITED.
* Description of other experience related to this job (e.g., volunteer work).

HOW TO APPLY: Submit:
a. Complete up-to-date Application for Federal Employment (OF-612)
b. Your answers to the four Factors in the Supplemental Experience Statement and (if applicable)
c. A copy of college transcripts to:

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Wildlife Services
3419 A Arden Way
Sacramento, CA 95825

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you should need any forms identified in above paragraphs, feel free to contact Wendy Silva at 916-979-2675 for a copy.

Failure to follow application instructions regarding filing appropriate forms and answering questions may result in loss of employment considerations for this position. All applications must be signed, dated, and received by the closing date of this announcement.
All candidates will be considered without regarding to race, creed, color, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor.

• Location: Fremont, CA
• Compensation: $27,990 – $45,376
• Principals only. Recruiters, please don’t contact this job poster.
• Phone calls about this job are ok.
• Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.