Job summary

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. About the Position: The Summer Hire program is from May thru August 2025, will need to be available to start by May 26, 2025. Management may fill multiple vacancies at each location. Applicants applying for Yankton, SD will have their duty station set as St. Helena, NE.

Major duties

Work on the Missouri River monitoring Federally listed threatened shorebirds (piping plovers) during their breeding season from May through August. Field work includes locating nests, tracking nest status, assigning nest fate, and observing hatched chicks until fledging on sandbar and reservoir shoreline habitat in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Obtain sufficient information to prepare biological data reports, species accounts or related assessments.

Qualification

***This is an open continuous announcement. First cutoff will occur two weeks after the open date. Applications after first cutoff will receive consideration as future vacancies occur. *** Position may be filled as a temporary appointment NTE 6 months. A current permanent Army employee is not eligible for return placement under a new appointment. Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. General and/or Specialized Experience for GS-04: Six months of general experience (1) in any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with collecting, preparing and assembling basic data AND six months of specialized experience which includes assisting in research activities or field investigations related to the biological sciences. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-03). OR Education: Two years of education above the high school level which includes 12 semester hours in courses related to the work of the position in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours must be directly related to this position. Transcripts must be submitted at time of application for verification. NOTE: Two (2) years of education is defined as 60-89 semester hours or 90-134 quarter hours.ORCombination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of education by 60. Add the two percentages. Specialized Experience for GS-05: One year of specialized experience which includes applying principles and techniques of biological data surveying, biological collection, and field identification of animal species. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-04). OR Education: Four year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours must be directly related to this position; OR-Combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience. NOTE: Four (4) years of education is defined as 120 or more semester hours or 180 or more quarter hours. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of education beyond two years (total semester hours minus 60) by 60. Add the two percentages. Specialized Experience for GS-06: One year of specialized experience which includes monitoring different biological species in the wild and preparing data reports on findings. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05). OR Education: A half year (i.e., 9 semester hours) of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 9. Add the two percentages.

Education

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 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/

Evaluations

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation. Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates.