Summary This position is a Biological Science Technician (Fish), GS- 0404-5/6 working in Lodi, CA for the R8-Lodi Fish and Wildlife Office. This position is also open to the public under announcement R8-25-12588378-LAS-DE. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods. Responsibilities As a Biological Science Technician (Fish) your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Uses active and passive collection methods to conduct fish surveys (aquatic habitat and aquatic organism census) including the use of electrofishing equipment, beach seines, trawls, gill nets, hoop nets, fyke nets, and rotary screw traps. This may also require snorkeling for direct observation. Collects water quality parameters using water quality meters. Identifies fish (including larval) to species in the field and lab using dichotomous keys. Recover coded-wire tags from specimens collected. Collects biological samples ensuring correct documentation, reporting, storage, transport and delivery of samples taken. Uses established automated databases to enter, organize, and perform preliminary analysis of collected data, using standard statistical methods in preparation of reports. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Only experience and education obtained by 11/12/2024 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualification. Minimum Qualification [GS-05] Possess one full year of specialized experience comparable to the GS-04 grade level in Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes: 1) Assist with conducting surveys of fish/aquatic species and their habitat, 2) Assist with accurately collecting, recording and summarizing biological data collected during fish/aquatic surveys; and 3) Interact collaboratively with colleagues to complete projects related to fish or aquatic species; NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. OR Successfully completed a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics and at least 6 semester hours of courses such as limnology, ichthyology, fishery biology, aquatic botany, aquatic fauna, oceanography, fish culture, or related courses in the field of fishery biology; OR Possess a combination of specialized experience (as described above in 1) and education (as described above in 2). Minimum Qualification [GS-06] Possess one full year of specialized experience comparable to the GS-05 grade level in Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes: 1) Conduct surveys of fish/aquatic species and their habitat, 2) Collect, record and summarize biological data collected during fish/aquatic surveys; 3) Interact collaboratively with colleagues to complete projects related to fish or aquatic species; 4) Use seines and nets to collect fish; and 5) Experience securing, transporting/trailering, loading/packing, launching/retrieving, and maneuvering/operating watercraft safely for electrofishing and/or netting on large rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and ponds; NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. OR Possess one full year of progressively higher-level graduate education (18 semester hours) leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, in a field related to fisheries; OR Possess a combination of graduate level education and specialized experience directly related to the position as described above. 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. Time In Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically, i. Area of Consideration. ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502. iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions or for Federal Wage System (FWS), wage grade positions, applicants are evaluated using the OPM Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations and the job element examining method Your SF-50 will be used to confirm you meet all requirements Education PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts. PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov) Additional Information Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other offices in the local commuting area. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) / Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Those claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most recent SF-50 noting position, grade, and duty location with their application. CTAP/ICTAP applicants must be well-qualified (i.e. meet the minimum qualification requirements, education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information click here The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA),P.L. 114-47 allows certain individuals who currently or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies to compete under merit promotion procedures. Note: You MUST submit ALL SF-50s and performance information for each period of temporary/term employment that qualifies for LMWFA. Performance documentation can be obtained by contacting the supervisors for the positions you served in during your 24 months. If they did not complete performance appraisals ask them to provide a statement of performance for each period of service. The statement must specify the dates for each employment period and your level of performance (dates should match the dates on the SF-50s). Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority: Served as a qualified youth on an appropriate conservation project completing a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service that included at least 120 hours through the PLC and received a certificate of non-competitive eligibility. Completed most recent Corps service, for which a certificate of non-competitive eligibility was issued, within the last 2 years. Appointment must be effected within the 2 year period. Applicants who apply agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal info shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. Reasonable Accommodation (RA): The USFWS provides RA to applicants with disabilities. If you have a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USAHire Competency Based Assessments (CBA), you will have the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Request and appropriate supporting documentation must be received prior to starting the USAHire CBA. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email to complete the USAHire CBA. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USAHire CBA if you received the link after the close of the announcement. Please review: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable\_Accommodations\_for\_USA\_Hire