Biological Science Technician @ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Job Summary

You will serve as a Biological Science Technician with US Fish and Wildlife Service located in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) rate of 2.49% is authorized.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 10/29/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted.

An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.

Selective Placement Factors: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. If you do not provide evidence that you possess the following selective factor(s), you will be rated not qualified. Fluent in Spanish and English AND Minimum Qualification

Requirements

• To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: Minimum Qualification [GS-05] One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 grade level or higher in the Federal service related to wildlife management.
• Examples of qualifying experience include
• (1) assist with studies and surveys;
• (2) collecting and recording biological, physical, or environmental data in wildlife habitat;
• (3) organize biological data, or other work directly related to the duties or the position.
• 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.
• At least 6 semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position to be filled (e.g. wildlife management).
• OR A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement Minimum Qualifications [GS-06] One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level or higher in the Federal service related to wildlife management.
• Examples of qualifying experience include
• (1) conduct field investigation, studies and surveys, radio tagging;
• (2) collecting and recording biological, physical, or environmental data in wildlife, their habitat, and organize biological data;
• (3) training field staff on standard operating procedures and equipment use;
• (4) conducting program outreach to user groups and general public; and (6) using computer software to manage and analyze data and draft scientific reports.

NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified.

• OR One full year of graduate-level education that is directly related to the position to be filled (e.g., major study in or directly related to wildlife management).
• A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement.
• Combination of education and experience as listed above.
• Possess a combination of education and experience as listed above.
• To combine education and experience, first take the number of progressively higher-level graduate education you have completed and then divide it by 54.
• Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months.
• Add the percentages together.
• The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.
• You must include hours per week and transcripts.
• 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.
• 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.

Major Duties

• Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Assist in the planning and implementation of wildlife censuses and surveys and recommend wildlife management practices.
• Assists in planning multifaceted wildlife studies by contributing ideas, determining research methods, establishing practical procedures for accomplishing and reporting the work and determining other needs, such as costs, equipment and personnel.
• Assists Wildlife Biologists and Senior Technician in the routine maintenance of the captive Puerto Rican Parrot flock.
• Assist in the wild population studies and monitoring activities related to the management of the wild Puerto Rican Parrot flock including accurate record keeping and management of computerized databases.
• Captures, applies visual and radio tags, and gathers physiological and spatial data on wildlife.
• Operates light trucks, vehicles, and various other equipment such as generators, radios, radio tracking equipment, water monitoring equipment, global positioning systems and cameras.t.
• Assist and supports in interagency recovery efforts including activities related to the Puerto Rican Parrot wild population in the Karst region and Maricao State Forest.
• Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• You must pass a physical examination.
• You may need to complete a statement regarding your physical ability.
• You must be able to complete a Wildlife Radio tracking training program.
• You will be required to work on weekends and holidays.
• Might be required to work overtime and night shifts.
• You may be required to travel to other sites in Puerto Rico.
• You will be required to take tree climbing training and climb trees above 50 feet.
• You will be required to take chain saw training.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1 year probationay period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.
• This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized.
• In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.
• Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.