Job Description
Summary
These positions are
Biological Science Technician (Sea Lamprey) , GS- 0404-5 working for either the Marquette Biological Station, Marquette, Michigan or the Ludington Biological Station, Ludington, Michigan, you will provide technical support to control sea lampreys in the Great Lakes and its tributaries.
Housing is NOT provided . Duties Help
This is a temporary appointment intended for seasonal work that is less than 6 months or 1040 hours from the date of appointment/service year. It is expected this position will be terminated upon completion of the seasons work. The agency may non-competitively rehire an eligible temporary seasonal worker in subsequent years who works less than 6 months or 1040 hours in their service year.
As a Seasonal-Biological Science Technician
(Sea Lamprey) your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Leads and ensures completion of the daily fieldwork of same and lower grade employees and contractors at remote locations following standard protocols without direct daily contact with supervisor.
- Provides technical support and participates with other team members to conduct lampricide treatments, alternative controls, and assessment operations including pesticide application, chemical analysis of water, quality assurance procedures, bioassay tests, measurement of stream flow characteristics, velocity and discharge, sea lamprey sterilization, collection of biological specimens, instream and offshore assessments, studies to determine the distribution, growth and abundance of sea lampreys in the larval, parasitic and spawning life stages, and to measure the effect of lamprey control to non-target species.
- Operates, maintains, repairs, fabricates and occasionally designs highly specialized fishery equipment (equipment for mixing and delivering concentration of liquid and powder forms of lampricides, lamprey sterilization equipment, fish holding and hauling facilities, water filtration apparatus, water sampling devices, electrofishing gear, electrical/mechanical weirs, nets, trawls and traps).
FORMAL TRAINING FOR THESE POSITIONS WILL BEGIN:
MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2026, FOR THE LUDINGTON LOCATION AND
MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2026 , FOR THE MARQUETTE LOCATION. A DELAYED START COULD BE CONSIDERED, BUT EMPLOYMENT MUST BEGIN NO LATER THAN
MAY 04, 2026. Physical Capability : Much of the work is performed in a field environment and involves arduous labor. The incumbent is required to be in excellent physical condition and capable of rigorous outdoor activities, including safely hiking over wet, rough, steep, slippery or rocky terrain. Work requires frequent bending, stooping, walking, standing, working in cramped positions, climbing, and prolonged standing on concrete floors. Duties of the position occasionally require driving on unimproved roads, considerable walking on steep terrain (80 percent or more), working in water with boots or waders, walking through or working in heavily timbered areas (sometimes walking 5 or more miles), at times carrying heavy packs, lifting and moving objects over 50 pounds, bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, climbing, or other similar activities. The field work takes place outdoors during all seasons of the year, often under adverse weather conditions, with temperatures ranging from 20 to 100 degrees (F), and in very dry to rainy and snowy conditions. Field work is performed during the daytime, night, weekends, and holidays. The nature of the work requires an adequate sense of sight and hearing to safely perform the duties. Work requires the incumbent to wear potentially uncomfortable safety equipment, including a negative pressure respirator sometimes in excess of 8 hours.
Requirements Help
Conditions of employment - Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
- Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. To verify registration, visit SSS.gov.
- Selectees MUST pass a pre-employment medical examination, and the selectee will require continued medical clearance through periodic medical examination.
- Driver's License: This position requires the incumbent to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of their official duties. Selectee must hold and maintain a valid state driver's license throughout their employment in this position.
- Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform WILL be required.
- Extensive field travel of 20 or more nights per month during the April - September field season.
- Selectees MUST be able to obtain certification in ATV operation, motorboat operation and safety, defensive driving, electrofishing, first aid and CPR.
- Selectees MAY be required to be a certified pesticide applicator.
- Incumbent is subject to medical surveillance testing before and after field seasons based on exposure to hazardous chemical agents.
- Government Travel Card: Selectees are REQUIRED to apply for a government travel charge card within 30 days of their appointment. Inability to clear the credit check required to obtain a government travel charge card may result in removal.
Qualifications Only experience and education obtained by 12/08/2025 will be considered.
In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualification. Minimum Qualification [GS-05]- One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-04 in the Federal service related toaquatics and/or fisheries. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include leading others as part of a technical team to accomplish aquatic or fisheries related objectives, collecting and recording biological, physical, or environmental data in an aquatic or fisheries related field setting; the operation, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of sampling devices related to aquatic or fisheries related work; and ability to use computer software to manage and analyze data and draft scientific reports
- Successful completion of a full four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with at least 24 semester hours (36 quarter 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 of coursework directly related to the position being filled, such as fishery biology, ichthyology, limnology, aquaculture, etc. (Submit a copy of transcript with your application). OR
- A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement. Education must include 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 of coursework directly related to the position being filled, such as fishery biology, ichthyology, limnology, aquaculture, etc. (You are required to submit a copy of transcript(s) with your application).
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.
Education PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.
PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).
Additional information PCS : Not Authorized
Telework : No
Additional Vacancies : One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.
Temporary Benefits: Most Federal employees earn both annual and sick leave. For additional information, visit Leave Administration. Effective January 2015, employees on temporary appointments may be eligible for health benefits through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program and, if eligible, will receive the same government contribution as full-time permanent employees. To be eligible for consideration, temporary employees working full-time or part-time must be on appointments expected to last at least 90 days, or be on an intermittent work schedule and expected to work 130 hours per month for at least 90 days. Employees electing to participate in the FEHB will be responsible for the employee share of the premium while on the official agency roles, which is deducted from bi-weekly earnings. After separating from federal employment, employees will be offered to continue participation in FEHB under the Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) option. Employees electing to continue coverage under the TCC provision will be responsible for the full premium amount plus a 2% administration fee.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. 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 for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements) for the position with a score of 80 or above on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application.
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Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit
USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.
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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.
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Job Tags
Permanent employment, Full time, Temporary work, Part time, For contractors, Interim role, Seasonal work, Work at office, Local area, Remote work, Night shift, Weekend work,