Job Information
National Park Service Student Trainee (Biological Science Technician) in United States
Summary The internship program provides students enrolled in education environments with paid opportunities to explore Federal careers. This position is established to provide a meaningful employment opportunity in the Biological Science Technician Occupation. Open to the first 50 applicants or until 01/16/2025 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration. Responsibilities Major duties include, but are not limited to, Interns may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment. Organize, schedule and execute a wide variety of established natural resource management projects. Specifically, this position is responsible for coordinating and leading a Youth Conservation Corp field crew conducting habitat restoration and invasive plant control activities throughout the park. Practical knowledge of a wide range of ecological concepts, on-the-ground restoration skills and ability to work well with staff and a diversity of park partners is required. Control of non-native plant species involves the use of a variety of methods, including herbicides, hand-pulling, and mechanical removal with weed wrenches and loppers. Monitor and identify newly introduced species to the park and to distinguish native species vs. nonnative. Use computer software applications (e.g., Access, Excel, Word, ArcGIS etc.) and GPS/GIS equipment to enter, process, assemble, and summarize data, and create reports and recommendations from natural resources projects. Additional duties may include work on other resource-related projects such as water quality monitoring, plant or animal surveys, and assisting the Interpretation Program. Area Location & Information: Effigy Mounds National Monument is located in the rugged bluffs three miles north of Marquette, Iowa along the Mississippi River. The 2,526 acre monument was established in 1949 to protect over 200 burial mounds in a variety of shapes including effigies of animals and birds. The diverse mixture of forest, prairies, wetlands and rivers found today are remnants of the environment that once supported the ancient mound building cultures. Effigy Mounds is located in a rural area within a few miles of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin and Marquette, McGregor and Waukon, Iowa. Housing with reasonable rates is available in nearby communities. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula on the south shore of Lake Superior between the communities of Munising (population 2,500) and Grand Marais. The duty stations for these positions are at Munising and Grand Marais. Government housing may be available for rent. Amenities in Munising include basic shopping, medical facilities, and K-12 schools. Grand Marais has a population of less than 500 people and shopping is limited. K-12 schools are available in Grand Marais. Basic shopping and medical facilities for those at Grand Marais are available 60 miles away in Munising. Summers are generally warm and pleasant. The winter season may extend from October to May and is often characterized by cold temperatures and seasonal snowfall in excess of 140 inches. The area is rich in outdoor sporting activities including hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, biking, camping, and skiing. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. Pathways participant agreement is required. You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use. 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 driver's 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. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, you may be required to submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program. Bargaining Unit: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is covered by a union. Qualifications All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-01/16/2025-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Temporary appointment not-to-exceed one year but may be extended each year without further competition, if you continue to meet the eligibility requirements under the Pathways Internship program and funding is available. Interns may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount qualified specialized experience. To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes vegetation management activities such as: applying/performing a variety of manual, mechanical, chemical, and/or bio-control methods to manage exotic (non-native) species, native species, and/or weeds; performing basic vegetation inventories, studies, and surveys; participating in site rehabilitation through soil preparation, planting, propagating, and weeding; etc. You must include start/end months and hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least completed four (4) years of education above high school (120 semester hour or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or 24 semester hours of course work in a related field (such as in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, ecology, or mathematics, or other directly-related subject matter); and at least 6 semester hours of this coursework was in plant or botany-related subjects. You must include transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. You must include transcripts. You must include start/end months and hours per week worked. CTAP/ICTAP: CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. If you are applying under CTAP or ICTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility under 5 CFR 330.602(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible. For information on CTAP and ICTAP visit: USAJOBS Help Center | Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) Volunteer 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. 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. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. You will NOT be considered under Pathways unless you provide supporting information from your school. Documentation may be provided in letter format from your academic advisor, school counselor, admission office, etc. to prove enrollment OR it may be provided in the form of several official documents from your school such as a copy of your official transcripts and a copy of your class schedule for next semester. Copies of documents from your school website are acceptable if they contain all relevant information as listed above. Letters from advisors or other school officials must be on school letterhead. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Additional Information A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. If selected, you will be required to sign a Pathways Agreement which specifies the conditions of your employment as we've indicated in this job announcement. You must continue to meet the Pathways Program requirements throughout the duration of your appointment. To verify that you do, we will require proof of your continued enrollment and good standing each semester or grading period throughout your internship. Failure to do so will result in termination of your internship and employment. Physical Demands: The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking, and bending often required. Heavy items (e.g., packs and equipment up to 50 pounds) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis Working Conditions: The work is performed in an office, laboratory, and in the field. Field work includes exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, pesticides, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals. Laboratory work may involve exposure to hazardous chemicals.