Position: Biological Science Aides/Technicians
Salary Range: $16.24-$18.06/hour PA
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The USDA Agriculture Research Service in Boise, Idaho is seeking to hire Biological Science Aides/Technicians to collect vegetation data for rangeland research. Pay grade for these Federal positions will range from GS-3 to GS-5 ($16.24-$18.06/hour) depending on the applicant’s education and previous work experience. Term of the positions will be a minimum of three month’s starting mid-May to the end of September 2023 (start/end dates are negotiable). The duty station for these positions will be based out of the ARS office facility in Boise, Idaho. Applicants must meet basic Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standard’s requirements of the scientific discipline necessary to perform the duties and responsibilities of this position for the qualifying grade.
Duties: Technical work will be conducted primarily in remote field locations but will also include some laboratory work. Each Biological Science Aide/Technician will work as part of a team to establish monitoring plots in a variety of vegetation types in accordance with established guidelines and protocols. Collect field observations of resource conditions. Identify grasses, herbs, shrubs, and trees to species. Catalog, label, and store plant materials collected during the season. Operate field instrumentation and equipment. Enter natural resource field data into a computer. Act as a Visual Observer for Unpiloted Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight operations. Sort and process vegetation materials in the laboratory.
Physical Demands: Work is physically demanding with prolonged periods in the field, walking and bending often required. Heavy items (packs and equipment) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis over complex terrain in potentially inclement weather.  Will be required to operate light vehicles and 4X4s. Camping in remote backcountry locations will be required during some portions of the summer field campaign.
Successful applicants will receive training in ecological field and laboratory techniques. Specific training in vegetation sampling, plant species identification, data recording, and operation and maintenance of field instrumentation and equipment will be provided. Laboratory training generally will include vegetation sample preparation, laboratory analysis, and data collection and entry into electronic databases.
Desired Skills and Experience:
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- Plant identification.
- Proficiency with common software (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Word and Access).
- Have conducted demanding physical work outdoors.
- Familiarity with GPS instrumentation.
- Experience driving on unimproved or primitive roads. – current valid drivers license required
Please provide Resume, and up to three references.
Contact: Brooke Hansen, brooke.bowers@usda.gov