Outreach Notice – 180 Day Seasonal Biological Science Technician Positions

GG-404-5 Field Technicians   Salary: $15.49 per hour  Vacancy # SRFS-16-005

Duration of job: 4-6 months

Type of appointment: Temporary – Fulltime, with possible periods of PT or Intermittent work.

Duty Station: Boise, ID. 

Must have 9 months of field experience OR 3 years of sub-professional 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 hrs) plus 3 months of lab or field work experience.  In addition, incumbents must have at least 1 months experience in sampling plant communities, and preferred candidate will be familiar with plant species in the Great Basin ecoregion.  Candidates without 1 months experience sampling and identifying plant species will not be considered. 

DUTIES (specific): The work is part of a project investigating factors associated with successful sagebrush establishment and restoration across the Great Basin. The goal is to provide insight into the treatment practices and project locations that have the highest probability of producing quality sagebrush and sage-grouse habitat. The biological science technicians will collect data to quantify plant communities throughout a wide range of sagebrush conditions at restoration sites in southwest Oregon, southern Idaho, western Utah, and Nevada.

Major duties of the position include identifying Great Basin plants to species, collecting data on vegetation abundance, sage-grouse use, soil characteristics, and sagebrush genetics, using GPS and GIS to navigate to remote locations, driving on poor and sometimes muddy roads, accurately recording ecological data, and data entry.  The technicians may also assist with site selection protocols to identify suitable study site and plot locations.  Field trips will often require extensive driving, camping.

The biological science technicians will work in 2-person teams in conjunction with field crew coordinators. Field work will involve exposure to extreme temperature and weather conditions.  Crews will work independently with extensive stays (up to 10 days) in remote locations.  Candidates will be chosen based on their combination of experience and education.  The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in identifying Great Basin grasses, forbs, and shrubs to the species level.  Travel expenses will be paid by the project at either standard federal per diem or a camp rate per diem.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  The work involves long hours spent standing, bending, walking, and a great amount of physical exertion.  The incumbent may be required to lift containers weighing up to 35 pounds in the performance of the assignment.  Work could possibly be done in 10 -12 hours per day; hours can include all times of day and night, and will vary during the employment term with weather and field conditions.  Core hours will typically be 7:00 am – 5:30 pm.

The jobs will be posted on the internet at the following site.  Make sure to indicate in your application the Job # SRFS-16-005.  All applicants must apply by following the instructions in the job announcements at the following websites:     Opens 03/29/2016 Closes 04/11/2016

Idaho Worksource:   https://labor.idaho.gov/IdahoWorks/secure/Logon.aspx

Posting #  ID698421

Agency Job # SRFS-16-005

The USGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Selection for this position will be based solely on merit, fitness, and qualifications without regard to race, sex, color, religion, age, marital status, national origin, non-disqualifying handicap conditions, sexual orientation, or any other non-merit factors.   This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities

For more information please contact: Michelle Schatz – USGS FRESC HQ – for application questions

Ph. (541)750-1040  OR  Email:  GS_NW_FRESC_Jobs@usgs.gov