The Northern Great Plains Inventory & Monitoring Network (NGPN) is recruiting 8 seasonal biological technicians. Six positions will be GS- 0404-05 ($15.00/hour) and two positions will be GS-0404-06 ($16.73/hour). NGPN was established to develop and provide scientifically credible information on the current status and long-term trends of the composition, structure, and function of ecosystems in thirteen national park units in North and South Dakota, eastern Wyoming, and Nebraska (for more information see: http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ngpn/index.cfm). The technicians will be duty stationed at the Network office in Rapid City, South Dakota, where there is no government housing available. The term of the positions will not exceed 1,039 hours (~ 6 months), and are expected to begin in Spring/Summer 2012, and extend through Summer/Fall 2012. All applicants must apply for positions through USAJOBS. See below for more information and links to the applications for each of the positions.
**************** Biological Science Technician (Plants) GS_06: 2 vacancies DEADLINE: 1/27/2012 The Biological Technician (plants) will help implement a long-term ecological monitoring program for vegetation in 13 park units. The incumbent visits field sites to implement and supervise data collection. The position will involve a combination of office work, field time, and travel to the parks. The incumbent is supervised by the NGPN Vegetation Ecologist and assists both the Ecologist and Lead Biological Technician in managing and running the field crews. This position works 10-hour days and requires constant travel to parks within Nebraska, Wyoming, South and North Dakota. Crew members will be required to hike off trail with heavy packs, sometimes in extremely hot weather or through thick vegetation. The anticipated field season is May through September, with some office work at the beginning and end of the season. The term will begin in April. This position will assist the Ecologist and Lead Biological Technician for plant monitoring in the following tasks: 1. Supervising plant data collection using established network monitoring protocols. 2. Accurately identifying Northern Great Plains vegetation to the species level in the field or in the office using standard floras. 3. Training crew members in appropriate data collection, entry, and verification methods. 4. Conducting fieldwork in remote backcountry settings and under difficult conditions in a safe and efficient manner. 5. Ensuring crew safety 6. Entering data and following quality assurance procedures to ensure accurate data transcription into established databases. 7. Maintaining field and camping equipment. To apply and for more details see: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/306875600 For more information contact: Isabel Ashton, [email protected] ***************** Biological Science Technician (GIS/Data Management) GS_05: 1 vacancy DEADLINE: 1/30/2012 Assist with the development of spatial and non-spatial natural resource datasets in 13 national park units across the Northern Great Plains region, including North and South Dakota, Wyoming, and Nebraska. As part of the data management program, the selectee will gain experience in the use of global positioning system (GPS) and geographic information system (GIS) technologies, centralized natural resource databases, and development of natural resource worldwide web content. The majority of the duties are accomplished in the office setting, but field opportunities will be available assisting Network ecologists with monitoring plants, birds, and prairie dogs. The term of the position will not exceed 1093 hours and will begin in late-March to early-April, 2012. To apply and for more details see: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/306764300 For more information contact: Stephen Wilson, [email protected] ******************* Biological Science Technician (Plants) GS_05: 4 vacancies DEADLINE: 2/1/2012 The Biological Technicians (plants) will help implement a long-term ecological monitoring program for vegetation in 13 park units in the Northern Great Plains. The incumbents visit field sites to collect extensive monitoring data on grasses, forbs, trees and shrubs, (identifying them to the species level) and fuel loads. The position will involve a combination of office work, field time, and travel to the parks. These positions work 10-hour days and require constant travel to parks within Nebraska, Wyoming, South and North Dakota. Crew members will be required to hike off trail with heavy packs, sometimes in extremely hot weather or through thick vegetation. The position will spend approximately 10-20% of time performing computer and office work, the majority of which will be done after the field season. The anticipated field season is May through September, with some office work at the beginning and end of the season. The term will begin in May. To apply and for more details see: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/306782700 For more information contact: Isabel Ashton, [email protected] ****************** Biological Science Technician (Wildlife/Hydrology) GS_05: 1 vacancy DEADLINE: 2/2/2012 The Biological Technician will help implement a long-term ecological monitoring program for water quality, land birds, and prairie dogs in 4 of the 13 park units of the Northern Great Plains Network. The position will involve a combination of office work, field work, and travel to parks. The incumbent will visit field sites to deploy, download data, maintain equipment, and take down the automated recording units and the surrounding fencing material; conduct visual counts and map distribution of prairie dogs; and collect macroinvertebrate samples in the Niobrara River. In addition, the position will assist the Ecologist with reviewing the water quality monitoring protocol. The technician will be required to hike off trail with a heavy back pack and set up/take down deer stands for prairie dog visual counts in hot weather through thick vegetation. The position will spend approximately 40% of time reviewing protocols and performing computer/office work. The term of the position will not exceed 1093 hours and will begin in March, 2012. The anticipated field season is from March through August. To apply and for more details see: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/306888100 For more information contact: Marcia Wilson, [email protected]
