Biological Science Technician (Wildlife) (Seasonal).

Bureau of Land Management; Ridgecrest (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The Bureau of Land Management seeks a Biological Science Technician (Wildlife) to support field wildlife monitoring and habitat projects near Ridgecrest, California.

You will conduct surveys, analyze data, prepare reports, assist in habitat improvement designs, and lead seasonal crews when needed, while ensuring safety and adherence to regulations.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience in wildlife monitoring, habitat assessment, and environmental reporting.
• Experience managing GIS datasets and using automated wildlife databases.
• Field crews leadership and safety compliance experience.

Responsibilities

• Performs full range of aid type duties and technical duties in wildlife programs.
• Serves as crewmember or crew lead for projects.
• Conducts on-the-ground wildlife inventories and habitat surveys.
• Prepares reports and recommendations for management.
• Enters and retrieves data from databases and maintains field equipment.

Skills

Wildlife monitoring

Habitat assessment

Environmental reporting

Data & GIS

Compliance checks

Field logistics

Crew leadership

Education

Graduate education

Tools

GIS mapping

GPS

Job description

Duties

Performs the full range of aid type duties and a variety of technical duties in support of wildlife programs.

Serves as crewmember and occasionally crew lead for specific projects.

• Performs on-the-ground inventories of wildlife and their habitat, analyzes the data and reports the findings; determines factors such as occupancy and fate of reproductive efforts for selected sites, feed habits, mortality, success of growth, and adult and young behavior.
• Performs on-the-ground surveys of wildlife habitat and prepares reports and makes recommendations to management on the findings.
• Compiles and organizes survey data and prepares narratives and reports.
• Enters and retrieves data from automated databases.
• Uses, maintains, and calibrates specialized field equipment including GPS units, data loggers, remote cameras and telemetry gear to ensure accurate data capture during wildlife monitoring projects.
• Plans, aids in designing, and lays out projects for wildlife habitat improvement.
• Determines likely impacts of minerals exploration, development, and operation, realty actions, recreational activities, forestry and range development or improvement projects on wildlife and their habitat.
• Will provide information and prepare preliminary analysis of impacts on wildlife for inclusion in environmental documents.
• Conducts compliance checks on minerals exploration, development, and operations, realty actions, and range improvement projects to evaluate impacts and assure conformation with mitigation measures; confers with offending party to resolve nonconformance situations.
• Reviews forestry, watershed, and rangeland projects for compatibility with wildlife needs and recommends construction specifications or modifications to protect or improve habitat.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Direct Deposit Required.
• Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
• Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
• This position requires you to wear an officially-approved uniform while in a duty status. The incumbent is required to wear the uniform in accordance with applicable policies and be required to sign a condition of uniform wear statement.
• Some locations may require that you possess (or obtain within 30 days of entrance on duty) and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.
• This position is included in a bargaining unit. The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), Local 2052, is the exclusive representative of all employees in this bargaining unit.

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

To qualify at the GS-07 level you must meet the following:

Specialized Experience: Applicants must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-06 level comparable in difficulty and complexity to perform the duties of a Biological Science Technician (Wildlife). Qualifying specialized experience includes:

• Wildlife Monitoring: Conducting field surveys and systematic tracking to monitor wildlife populations, behavioral patterns, and habitat health.
• Habitat Assessment: Evaluating land and vegetation conditions to plan restoration projects and protect critical wildlife corridors.
• Environmental Reporting: Drafting technical field summaries and preliminary biological assessments for inclusion in NEPA documentation.
• Data & GIS: Managing, mapping, and auditing spatial and biological datasets using GIS and automated wildlife databases.
• Compliance Checks: Inspecting permitted land uses like mining and grazing to ensure adherence to wildlife mitigation rules.
• Field Logistics: Operating and maintaining specialized field gear including telemetry equipment, GPS units, and remote cameras.
• Crew Leadership: Leading seasonal field crews on remote back-country hitches while enforcing safety and data protocols.

OR

Education:

To qualify based on education, you must have one (1) full year (18 semester hours) of graduate-level education in a related field of study.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience:

You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the difficulty and complexity to do the work of this position.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Physical Demands

Work requires some physical exertion such as bending and walking in terrain that is rough, rocky, mountainous and densely vegetated. Required to lift and carry equipment necessary to efficiently perform the work of the position, and to provide for personal comfort and safety. This can include tools, personal protective equipment, food and water for extended periods of work away from vehicles.

Work Environment

Office work is performed in a setting that is adequately lighted, ventilated, cooled and heated. When doing fieldwork is subject to cuts and bruises, extreme, adverse weather conditions, and injuries and discomforts from pests or animals. Employee will adhere to all safety rules.

Education

Applicants may qualify for these positions based on experience, education, or an equivalent combination as described in the Qualifications section of this announcement.

Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-05 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-07. One year of full time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.

If using education to qualify, you must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. See Required Documents section for more information.

Additional information

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information:

Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

This position is not eligible for Telework.

All positions may not be filled or they may be filled at different times depending on budget, hiring needs, and requirements. These positions are temporary and are expected to last for up to 6 months. These positions have no promotion potential, if you want to be considered for a higher grade you must apply for the higher grade.

If selected from this announcement you may be rehired for identical positions without further competition based on work needs, funding, or any other condition of employment.

If selected from this or a similar competitive, seasonal announcement, your appointment may be creditable for consideration under PL-114-47,

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.