Biologist

Duties

Incumbent will assist in the implementation of a multi-park California condor project that addresses both the social and biological recovery needs of the species.

* Conduct condor monitoring in the park to train a project intern on condor biology, management, monitoring techniques that will be shared with other NPS units;
* Coordinate seven national parks on condor recovery through consistent messaging, education, and non-lead outreach programs;
* Facilitate new partnerships among national parks with condors, and
* Ensure Interpretive and Wildlife staff work together on existing and new condor-focused interpretive materials
* Identify key messages that consider the social aspects of California condor recovery and incorporating these in interpretive displays
* Work with Condor Program Manager to help coordinate the project
* Work with PINN's Interpretive Division to communicate about the project and request input and advice on any new condor interpretive materials
* Mentor and supervising project interns in condor field and outreach activities
* Work with partners to address human-related challenges to condor recovery
* Share condor-focused biology and outreach materials among national parks and partners in different states
* Create professional graphics and text with Interpretive Divisions from multiple NPS units that can be used in any new condor education materials

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Work is partially sedentary, with prolonged sitting, standing, walking and bending often required. Heavy items (packs and equipment) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis. Incumbent must be able to carry a 45 lb. pack for up to 10 miles per day, and carry a 30 lb. pack for up to 15 miles per day. Incumbent must be able to hike in steep terrain and work outside in temperatures often up to 95 degrees and occasionally up to 110 degrees. Work may also be performed in inclement weather e.g., rain in spring and summer.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed primarily indoors. Occasionally, work may be performed outdoors in all types of weather and conditions. Outdoor assignments may be performed in potentially hazardous areas including off-trail, steep slopes, rocky terrain, caves, firelines, deserts, and forests. On occasion, flying in fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters is possible.

AREA INFORMATION: Pinnacles National Park is located in California's Central Coast region of the Gabilan Mountain Range east of the Salinas Valley. The park's 27,000 acres, with over 16,000 acres of designated wilderness, has at its core rock formations of an ancient volcanic field that originated 200 miles southeast as it crept along the San Andreas Fault over the past 23 million years or so. The surrounding landscape is largely chaparral with areas of oak grasslands. Beyond the boundaries are working landscapes for ranching and agricultural operations that still support this rural part of California and uphold dark night skies. Elevations range from 824 to 3304 feet and temperature extremes range from 15 degrees in winter to over 110 degrees in summer. While administrative duties are performed in an office setting, the balance of duties takes place throughout the park with exposure to the climate prevailing at the time, including extremes of temperature and moisture. The position is located at the eastside park headquarters in Paicines, CA.

Qualifications

Basic Qualification Requirement for Biologist, GS-0401-09.

A full four year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in biological sciences, agriculture, natural or cultural resource management, chemistry, anthropology, or related disciplines appropriate to this position.

OR

A combination of education and experience that included course work equivalent to a major (i.e., 24 semester hours) in biological sciences, agriculture, resource management, sociology, chemistry, or a closely related discipline; PLUS appropriate experience or additional course work. The quality of the combination demonstrates that I possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of the position and is comparable to that normally acquired through the completion of a full four-year course of study with a major as described above.

In addition to meeting the Basic Qualification Requirement, applicants must have specialized experience and/or directly related education in the amounts shown below.

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience for this position include duties such as: monitoring and implementing effective methods of endangered species recovery and management; initiating and refining methods and techniques for resource management; working with partners on complicated social issues related to conservation of species, compiling and analyzing biological information and monitoring data for scientific reports, posters, and graphics.

OR

Successfully completed two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree in a directly related field such as biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines, and which has provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the work of this position.

OR

Two years of graduate study in a field directly-related to the work of this position as shown above, or an equivalent combination of such education and experience. For example, I have six months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement), and 27 semester hours or 41 quarter hours of directly-related graduate level education in an accredited educational institution (50% of the qualifying education).

NOTE: Credit will be given for all qualifying experience regardless of whether compensation was received and whether the experience was gained as a part-time or full-time occupation. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. 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. To receive credit for such experience, your resume must indicate clearly: 1. The nature of your duties and responsibilities in each position;and 2. Complete dates of employment period (e.g. MM/YY to MM/YY, MM/YYYY to Present, etc.); and 3. The number of hours per week spent in such employment for each position.

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.