Biological Technician (Fisheries) – Chugach National Forest – Cordova, AK
Chugach National Forest Merit Promotion Opportunity
****OUTREACH NOTICE***
Position Title: Biological Technician (Fisheries), GS-0404-06/07 (13/13)Term position
Tour of Duty: Full Time (PSE 13/13); 1year term position with option to extend to 2 years
Duty Station: Cordova Ranger District, Cordova, AK
Locality: For 2012, employees receive 24.69%
Nontaxable Cost-of-Living Allowance: 7.18%
The Chugach National Forest (CNF) has identified a merit promotion opportunity. The final determination for the vacancy announcement’s area of consideration and multi-graded announcement will be based on the responses to this outreach notice.
Outreached positions can be filled immediately, without advertisement, if an employee responds who qualifies for placement without competition. Your interest will identify a vacancy announcement may be advertised multi-graded.
Please be aware that a formal vacancy announcement may not be issued if a qualified employee, who can be placed noncompetitively, responds to this outreach. Management can select a qualified employee, who responded to this outreach notice, without issuing a formal vacancy announcement.
If you currently hold or have held a permanent position at the GS-07 level, please attach a resume detailing experience related to the duties of this position. This information will be used to determine noncompetitive hiring eligibility.
Please express your interest in this opportunity no later than January 25, 2012.
Description of Duties:
This is a 1-year term position (with option to extend to 2 years) that will assist the Prince William Sound Aquatic Program Manager with a climate change study and the management of the fisheries and watershed program on the Cordova Ranger District and the portion of the Glacier Ranger District that encompasses Prince William Sound (PWS). The two districts have well-established fisheries and watershed programs focusing on cutthroat trout and Pacific salmon habitat enhancement and restoration. The PWS Zone includes the entirety of Prince William Sound which is predominantly “wild”, but it does have management challenges as the area was affected by the 1964 earthquake and also encompasses the area of the Exxon-Valdez Oil Spill. PWS Zone also includes the famous Copper River Delta, which has a special management mandate from Congress to manage for fish and wildlife and their habitats. Work projects are varied. Most work is accomplished in very remote locations that are accessed either by boat or small aircraft. The incumbent will work with the PWS Aquatic Program Manager to coordinate with other technicians and scientists to provide logistics, sampling assistance, and provide for transportation for the Pacific Northwest Research Station climate change study.
Individually, or as a crew leader, participates in the development of fisheries project plans. Measures the amount and quantity of spawning areas on designated streams; samples and makes qualitative analyses of aquatic insects; determines pool/riffle ration through observation; and measures and records discharge volumes through interpolation.
Analyzes field data and makes recommendations for habitat improvement projects such as plunge pools and diversion dams to improve streambed configuration. Using a variety of tools takes bottom gravel samples and analyzes for silt, size fractions, etc. Develops data into statistical reports.
Independently prepares charts, graphs, and/or reports for presentation. Applies skill and knowledge in gathering significant and accurate biological data and then analyzes, evaluates, consolidates and reports on findings. Prepares charts, graphs, etc. for studies requiring the application of different methods, procedures, and techniques. Reports are incorporated into larger projects.
Independently coordinates and provides transportation, field logistics and work efforts for multiple studies in multiple locations throughout the field season. Coordination will occur with other field technicians, biologists and scientists. Incumbent will need to organize and schedule shared gear, equipment and boats with other fish and wildlife crew members. Coordinating and scheduling personnel and equipment will require flexibility and good communication skills.
Employment Conditions:
This is a field going position; the ability to obtain and maintain weapons certification is a condition of employment in this position as you will be required to carry a firearm. To maintain employment in this position you must receive a negative pre-certification drug test result, pass a minimum background investigation, pass firearm classroom training, pass the shooting proficiency test and be enrolled in the random drug testing pool while employed in this position. Failure to pass any of these required tests and investigations will result in immediate termination.
A valid state driver’s license is required as a condition of employment. Employee will be operating jet boats and airboats.
Work Environment:
Alaskan field logistics will require the incumbent to travel via boats, airplanes and helicopters to remote work sites. This position may require working in remote field camps in adverse conditions for extended periods of time using alternate work schedules (including weekends). The work requires regular and protracted periods of considerable strenuous physical exertion such as carrying or lifting heavy objects (over 50 lbs) over uneven terrain (primarily wetland/bog/riverine habitats), hacking passages through dense vegetation, climbing steep hill slopes, and kneeling, bending or twisting movements.
The work environment involves high risks with regular and recurring exposure to potentially dangerous situations or unusual environmental stress where high risk factors exist which cannot be reasonably controlled. For example, working under extreme weather conditions and working in areas of densely populated brown bears, where safety precautions cannot completely eliminate danger.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Those who are interested in this opportunity must meet the qualification requirements for the GS-0404-06/07. Qualifications are covered in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook. These standards are available on the Internet at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/index.htm.
For more information about the position:
Contact Person: Deyna Kuntzsch
Phone Number: 907-424-4737
Email address: dkuntzsch@fs.fed.us
If you are interested in the position, please fill out the attached form and send it to Deyna Kuntzsch at dkuntzsch@fs.fed.us by January 25, 2012.
Thank you for your interest in our position.
Forest and Community Information:
Prince William Sound Zone
The Prince William Sound zone consists of Prince William Sound and the Copper River Delta. The management emphasis of the Copper River Delta is the conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats, as legislated in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). The 700,000 acre Copper River Delta, is the largest contiguous wetland on the Pacific Coast of North America and is a critical stopover area along the Pacific flyway for millions of shorebirds during their annual spring migration to breeding grounds in western Alaska. The Copper River Delta is also home to trumpeter swans (7 % of the world’s population nests here), dusky Canada geese (virtually the entire population), gray wolf, moose, brown and black bear, mountain goat, trout and all species of salmon. There is an increasing focus in the Alaska Region on the international significance of this key coastal wetland. In addition, the phenomenal resources of Prince William Sound include over 3000 islands and over 4000 miles of coastal shoreline habitat with spectacular tidewater glaciers in the most northern extent of the Pacific coastal rain forest.
The Prince William Sound (PWS) zone team is leading the way in long range planning with the Prince William Sound Framework project nearing completion. With well established partnerships with US Fish and Wildlife Service and Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, as well as several universities, the PWS zone is in the midst of exciting resource management opportunities.
Cordova is a small, full service, fishing community situated on the southeast shore of the Prince William Sound in south central Alaska. It is accessible only by air and water. The airport is 13 miles from town and is served by daily jet service between Anchorage, Juneau, and Seattle by Alaska Airlines. It also has commuter flights most days between Anchorage and Cordova by ERA Aviation. Cordova is also served by the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry with round trips between Cordova, Valdez and Whittier. The schedule varies between winter and summer, but the ferry generally comes to Cordova at least once a week. Cordova has a hospital, K-12 school, community college, post office, shopping, churches, and a multitude of recreation opportunities, including a full size swimming pool, community center and a ski hill.
For more information on the community of Cordova contact anyone on the Cordova District (Ph: (907) 424-7661), or the Cordova Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 99, Cordova, AK. 99574, Ph: (907) 424-7260. www.cordovachamber.com