Type: Temporary, Field and Lab Work, Full-time with possible periods of PT or Intermittent work
Title: GG-404-5 Biological Science Technicians
Duty Station/Location: Corvallis, OR
Job Number: Vacancy #SRF-25-001
Salary: $19.38 per hour
Duration of job: April 7, 2025 through approx. August 8, 2025
Deadline: 11/25/2024
The U.S. Geological Survey is seeking to hire up to 4 technicians that will work on two different projects over the summer. The first project, the SageSTEP project, is the longest-running and largest replicated fuels treatment experiment in the Intermountain West investigating the long-term ecological impacts of fuel reduction treatments in sagebrush steppe and juniper woodlands. Find out more about the project at www.sagestep.org. The second project is investigating methods to improve and streamline fuel load measurements along Potential Control Locations to support strategic pre-fire planning in sagebrush rangelands, linking on-the-ground measurements with UAV imagery. Technicians may also work on several other USGS projects identifying strategies to control the dominance of cheatgrass and other weeds on Great Basin rangelands, restoring native species, and increasing biodiversity. Technicians will be part of a 4–5-person team working and camping in the field together. Crews will install monitoring transects in established long term subplots to collect botanical & fuel data & samples following established protocols.
DUTIES:
As a Biological Science Technician Field Assistant with the U.S. Geological Survey, some of your specific duties will include:
Identify grasses, forbs, and shrubs to species (up to 250 different species)
Monitor native grasses, forbs, and shrub volume and density
Perform various vegetation cover and fuel load sampling protocols
Operates 4-wheel drive vehicles on poor and sometime muddy roads
Accurately record and enter data on tablets in field
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Field work will take place throughout eastern OR, eastern WA, and northern CA; and lab/computer work will take place in Corvallis, OR. All work is performed in a lab and/or field environment. Field work involves moderate or sometimes extreme exposure to the discomforts of rain, wind, & extreme cold/hot weather. Fieldwork typically involves 5-9 consecutive days in remote field locations with workdays up to 12 hours/day. Due to the wide geographical extent of the project, extensive travel is necessary. Work involves camping in tents on public lands, hiking in rugged terrain, & working under extreme weather conditions. Must know and follow personal safety precautions. If selected, you will be required to complete a pre-employment physical and must have a valid driver’s license.
Benefits:
Technicians are eligible to enroll in a Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) plan.
Technicians will receive $40/day per diem while camping.
Technicians will earn 4 hours of sick leave and 4 hours of annual leave every pay period.
Key Requirements:
Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
A valid state driver's license and safe driving record are required.
Selectee subject to successful completion of a pre-employment medical exam.
Housing will not be provided.
More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
Basis of Rating:
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.
Qualifications:
To qualify for a GG-5 you need 9 months of field party experience OR 3 years of subprofessional work experience OR *3 years of college with courses related to the work of the position to be filled (equivalent to 90 semester/135 quarter hours) plus 3 months of lab or field work experience.
*if qualifying based on college coursework, must have received unofficial transcripts as part of application package.
Desired applicant will have at least 3 months of experience identifying plants in the field. Make sure to indicate in your application the Job # SRFS-25-001.
All applicants must apply by following the instructions:
HOW TO APPLY: Submit one of the following forms of application: (a) résumé OR (b) OF-612, Optional Application for Federal Employment, OR (c) other written format.
IF SUBMITTING A RESUME be sure to include the following for EACH job listed:
To and From dates of employment as mm/dd/yyyy and how many hours per week you worked each job.
Percentage of time spent doing field survey work
Percentage of time spent doing laboratory work
Statement of duties; supervisor contact information.
Also identify any job on resume that you received credit on a college transcript for. Be sure to also address the additional qualifier, if applicable. Please also submit transcripts (unofficial is acceptable) to document all education used for position qualification. ALWAYS INCLUDE THE JOB# OF THE VACANCY (#SRFS-25-001) YOU ARE APPLYING TO. Application package can be submitted electronically to email address provided below by closing date. Hard Copy applications are also accepted but must be received by the closing date. To claim 5 point Veteran's Preference, a DD214 showing character of discharge is required. If claiming 10 point Veteran's Preference, a SF15 with proof of claim is required.
Send Application packages to: gs_nw_fresc_jobs@usgs.gov
OR
Apply In Person At:
USGS FRESC
777 NW 9th St STE 400
CORVALLIS, OR 97330-6169
Apply By Mail To:
FRESC Jobs
USGS FRESC
777 NW 9th St STE 400
CORVALLIS, OR 97330-6169
Contact By:
Phone (541) 750-1040
Fax (541) 750-1066
Email gs_nw_fresc_jobs@usgs.gov
For more information please contact:
For application questions:
Michelle Schatz- USGS FRESC HQ
Ph. (541)750-1040
Email: gs_nw_fresc_jobs@usgs.gov
For job questions:
Scott Shaff- USGS FRESC
Ph. (541) 714-0238
Email: sshaff@usgs.gov
Other Information:
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.
USGS employees are subject to Title 43, USC Section 31(a) and may not: (a) have any personal, private, direct or indirect interest in lands or mineral wealth of lands under survey; (b) have any substantial personal, private, direct or indirect interests in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business with the United States; or (c) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations.
DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
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.
The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
If you misrepresent your experience or education or provide false or fraudulent information in or with your application, it may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work. Making false or fraudulent statements also may be punishable by fine or imprisonment.
If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service Law.
