Job Listing: Biologist

Duty Locations

 1 vacancy - Fort Collins, CO You can make a difference! The U.S. Department of Agriculture's
(USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) needs bright,
energetic and committed professionals to facilitate the domestic and
international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and to protect
the health and care of animals and plants in the United States. MRP
offers an array of occupations and is committed to diversity in the
workplace. We operate in domestic and global markets. Be part of an
organization that protects the health and agriculture of the
American people. Join our team!
*****USAJobs users can now attach uploaded documents to their
profile. We are currently unable to access them; therefore, you
must submit supporting documentation according to the instructions
in the "how to apply" section of this vacancy announcement.*****

Location:
Wildlife Services,
National Wildlife Research Center
Wildlife Disease Research Program,
Fort Collins, CO

Salary:
Range for GS-7: $39,376 to $39,376 (incl. 21.03% locality pay)
Range for GS-9: $48,164 to $48,164 (incl. 21.03% locality pay)

APHIS is an emergency response agency.

This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to
participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support
emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. It
is difficult to predict the frequency with which such emergency
situations may occur - and could range from several emergencies in a
year to none over the course of many years. In the event that you
are called upon to support an emergency program, this may require
irregular working hours, including overtime, and may include duties
other than those specified in your official position description.
While some emergency program support assignments may be able to be
performed at the employee's current duty station, in other cases
employees may be asked to go on-site to a temporary duty station
location. In addition, it may be necessary for employees to
participate in multiple rotations to an emergency program
assignment. Attempts will be made to keep disruption to the
employee to a minimum.

Major Duties

The duties described are for the full-performance level. At
developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited
scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.

The position is located at the National Wildlife Research Center
(NWRC) in Fort Collins, Colorado. It is under the Wildlife Disease
Research Program of the NWRC, which is responsible for research into
wildlife disease issues relating to agriculture and human health and
safety. The coordination of the employee's activities will be the
responsibility of the Project Leader for Rabies and Bovine
Tuberculosis Projects. The incumbent will assist in field, pen, and
laboratory studies on wildlife diseases to assess the effect on
agriculture and human health and safety, under approved research
projects, "Investigating the ecology, control, and prevention of
terrestrial rabies in free-ranging wildlife", and "Controlling
wildlife vectors of bovine tuberculosis". The goal of the project
is to study the ecology of wildlife diseases; assess the risk of
disease transmission among wildlife, domestic animals, and humans;
and develop methods that reduce or eliminate such transmission.

The duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: the
incumbent will
have major involvement with several aspects of a wide variety of
research studies designated to assess the risk of disease
transmission among wildlife, domestic animals and humans and; and
develop methods that reduce or eliminate such transmission. With
minimal supervision, perform a variety of technical procedures on
wildlife, including animal capture, restraint, marking, transport,
collection of biological data and samples; chemical immobilization;
and animal necropsy. Performs a variety of specialized technical
laboratory procedures, including PCR, DNA extraction, and tooth
aging and biomarker analysis. Performs research and evaluation of
animal disease using infrared thermography technology. Comply with
Good Laboratory Practices, Animal Welfare Act, Endangered Species
Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and applicable state and
federal wildlife laws and regulations. Supervise other personnel
(e.g. subordinates, temporaries, volunteers, students, etc.) as
necessary, particularly when conducting routine laboratory and field
work. Procure equipment and supplies necessary to conduct field,
pen, and laboratory research. Perform other related duties as
assigned.

How to Apply

ONLINE APPLICATION:
*****USAJobs users can now attach uploaded documents to their
profile. We are currently unable to access them; therefore, you
must
submit supporting documentation according to the instructions in
the "how to apply" section of this vacancy announcement.*****
Application to this announcement requires the online submission of
basic applicant information, responses to vacancy specific questions
or knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA) questions and submission of
supporting documentation (described in the required documents
section below). All application materials will be accepted until
midnight Eastern Time on the closing date. Help in applying online
is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Central Time at the number listed in the Contact information section.
NOTE: Our online application system is 100% compatible with IE
versions 5.5 and above. If you are using any other web browser
to complete your application you may experience errors, missing text
or you may be unable to complete your application on-line.
STEP ONE (On-line Resume):
You must create a user account and at least one Federal resume at
USAJOBS. The information you provide in your Federal resume will
become part of your application and will automatically be
transferred to our system when you apply on-line.
1. Begin the application process by clicking on the [Apply Online]
button at the bottom of the announcement.
2. Log into your USAJOBS account (if you are not already logged in)
or create one (if you do not have one established).
3. Select the resume you would like to submit and click on [Apply
for this position now!]. You will now be automatically transferred
to our system where you will complete the application process.
STEP TWO (Personal Information):
1. Once you have been transferred, follow the on-screen prompts to
complete your application. Be certain to read the on-screen
instructions thoroughly before continuing. First, you will be asked
to complete or update your information on file.
2. If you have already been to our site you will have the option to
update your information on file or go directly to the assessment.
We recommend selecting the option to update your information on file
each time you apply. By selecting this option you will be able to
verify your data on file is accurate. Additionally, your faxed
supporting documentation is stored within this section and therefore
you will be able to review your stored documents and/or print fax
cover sheets if you need to submit/re-submit documents.
3. After completing or updating your information, you will be
notified of the announcement types you are eligible to apply to.
Follow the prompts to move through the website, you will be taken to
a page containing a list of fax cover sheets for supporting
documents.
STEP THREE (Faxing Supporting Documentation):
The next step of the application process is to fax all the required
supporting documentation specified in the Required Documents section
of this vacancy announcement. You do not need to have all of your
supporting documentation submitted in order to continue with the
online portion of the application process. Please carefully follow
the instructions below to ensure your supporting documents are
properly faxed and received. All required documents must be
received by midnight Eastern Time on the closing date of the vacancy
announcement.
***Not all of the document types listed will pertain to you; only
submit documents needed to complete your application package. For
example, the Schedule A Certification document must only be
submitted by individuals applying based on eligibility for
appointment due to a disability. The SF-50 is a form current and
former Federal employees submit to document their Federal employment
status.
***Supporting documentation will not be accepted via e-mail.
FAX INSTRUCTIONS:
1. If you have previously faxed supporting documentation the status
of those documents will indicate Received. There is no need
to resubmit documents which show a status of received unless you are
submitting an updated copy. (If a document is resubmitted, it
replaces the previous submission, which means the previous document
is no longer available to the human resources office. If you are
adding to, rather than replacing, a previous submission, you must
fax both the old document and the new document for them both to be
accessible to HR.)
2. You must use a separate cover sheet for each category of
supporting documentation (i.e., transcripts, SF-50, DD-214). Choose
the document cover sheet(s) you would like to print by selecting the
appropriate check boxes in the Selected Documents column.
3. Click the [Print Cover Sheets] button. A window will pop up
containing the fax cover sheet(s) you selected. Print the coversheet
(s). NOTE: You must be connected to a printer in order to
print the coversheets. Additionally, you must allow pop-ups.
4. Once you have reviewed the list of documents and printed any
required fax cover sheets click on [Done]. You will be moved
forward in the application process.
5. Before faxing your document(s), take care to ensure the document
is legible and all information is complete and signed, if
necessary. Fax only documents which are clear and legible.
Original documents with light or faded print and/or dark or
patterned backgrounds will not be legible upon receipt. Illegible
faxed documents cannot be used for qualification or verification
purposes.
6. Place the corresponding cover sheet on top of the document and
fax the cover sheet and document together to the fax number
specified on the cover sheet. NOTE: If you are faxing
documents from more than one category of supporting documentation,
you must submit them with the appropriate cover sheet. EACH
DOCUMENT TYPE MUST BE FAXED SEPARATELY under its corresponding
cover sheet. DO NOT FAX ALL DOCUMENTS TYPES UNDER ONE COVER
SHEET. (i.e., Transcripts are one type of document; fax all
pages of your transcript and other education-related documents under
the transcript cover sheet; the SF-50 is another document type, if
you are faxing more than one SF-50, fax them all under the SF-50
cover sheet.)
7. Be sure to save these cover sheets in the event you need to re-
fax your supporting documents. Each fax transmission includes a
unique identification number and bar code, which ensures your
document is processed correctly.
8. You will receive an e-mail confirming the fax has been
successfully received by Human Resources. You should retain your e-
mail confirmation and confirmation of your fax transmittal report as
proof of submission. If you fax was not successful, please resubmit
or e-mail: apphelp@aphis.usda.gov.
Your application will be considered incomplete and YOU WILL BE
FOUND INELIGIBLE if you fail to submit the required
documentation as specified under the required documents section by
midnight Eastern Time on the closing date of the vacancy
announcement.
STEP FOUR (Vacancy Specific Questions or KSAs):
1. After reviewing your supporting documentation, you will be asked
to respond to questions specific to this vacancy. You must respond
to all questions in order to save or proceed with the application
process.
2. Once you have answered all vacancy questions click on [Finished].
STEP FIVE (Review and Submit Application):
The final step of the application process is to review and submit
your complete online application package.
1. Review the personal information, core questions, vacancy
questions and resume for accuracy and completeness.
2. Once you are satisfied with your application click on [Finished]
to submit your application. If you do not click on this final
[Finished] button your application will not be submitted and you
will not receive consideration.
3. Once you have submitted your application you will be redirected
back to USAJOBS where you may view your application status, continue
to browse for open positions and/or apply for additional positions.
You may return at any time until midnight Eastern Time on the
closing date of the announcement to update or make changes to your
application.
APPLICANTS WHO DO NOT APPLY ONLINE:
You are strongly encouraged to complete the on-line portion of the
application process via USAJOBS. If you cannot apply on-line, call
the number listed under Agency Contact section between 8:00 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. (Central Time) prior to the closing date to request a hard
copy of the complete application package. If you do not request the
complete application package, and your application does not include
all the information requested within the web site How do I apply
if I cannot apply on-line (See link below.), you will not be
considered for this vacancy. Be advised, if you request an
application package late in the announcement period, you cannot
receive an extension past the closing date. Hard copy faxed
applications must be received by midnight Eastern Time on the
closing date of the announcement. Hard copy applications that are
not faxed will be accepted at the Human Resources Office listed in
the Agency Contact section of this announcement until 4:30 p.m.
(Central Time). All hard copy applications must include all the
information listed at How do I Apply if I cannot apply on-
line. Application packages submitted via e-mail will NOT be
accepted.
***Do NOT use government postage paid envelopes.
***Applicants who cannot apply on-line, click the link below for
instructions on how to apply.
HREF="http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mrpbs/hr/job_opportunities/usajobs.sh
tml">
How to apply if I cannot apply online
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mrpbs/hr/job_opportunities/usajobs.shtml
At the above web site, click on Frequently Asked Questions,
then Applying for Jobs and finally How to apply if I
cannot apply online
***Be certain to submit all supporting documentation. This
information should be submitted in the format prescribed within the
Required Documents section of this announcement.
***If you are found qualified for this position, you will ONLY be
considered at the grade level(s) for which you applied*
APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT ALL OF THE INFORMATION REQUESTED ON THE WEB
SITE HOW DO I APPLY IF I CANNOT APPLY ON-LINE. APPLICANTS
FAILING TO SUBMIT A COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE WILL NOT BE
CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION.


Required Documents:
All required supporting documentation MUST be received by midnight
Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement. Supporting
documentation must be faxed to the fax number noted on the system
generated fax cover sheets. Please carefully read the How to
Apply section for instructions on faxing your supporting
documentation. You only need to fax your supporting documentation
into the system one time. Once submitted, it will be automatically
applied to any future positions you apply to with us. You only need
to resubmit documentation if you need to submit an updated copy.
***Fax only documents which are clear and legible. Original
documents with light or faded print and/or dark or patterned
backgrounds will not be legible upon receipt. Illegible faxed
documents cannot be used for qualification or verification
purposes. If your supporting documentation has light or faded print
and/or dark or patterned backgrounds but is otherwise legible, it
may be mailed to the address listed in the Agency Contact section.
Mailed supporting documentation must include your name and the
announcement number to which you are applying.
***If you are unable to fax your supporting documentation you may
send it to the contact address listed in the Agency Contact section
of this vacancy announcement. Mailed supporting documentation must
include your name and the announcement number to which you are
applying. Please note, if you are mailing your supporting
documentation, you must submit one full set of supporting
documentation for each announcement to which you are applying. If
you list more than one announcement number on a set of supporting
documentation, your supporting documentation will only be applied to
the first number listed. Do NOT use government postage paid
envelopes.
Documentation of Education:
College transcripts or a list of all college courses with
grades and credits (indicate quarter/semester hours and GPA, names
of all colleges and universities attended including city, state,
major(s) and type and year of degree(s) received); or
A copy of your college diploma. If your degree is in a
related science or field you must provide a list of college
courses or transcripts documenting you have completed the specific
course work required for this vacancy (e.g., 24 semester units in a
specific curriculum); or
Copies of current licenses (e.g., a license to practice
veterinary medicine conferred by a state Board of Veterinary Medical
Examiners) or copies of a certificate of membership in a
professional organization, or certificates (e.g., Diplomate in a
speciality area of veterinary medicine, CPA) that are indicative of
possessing the educational requirements of this announcement.
If you are selected for a position that requires specific
course work or you were qualified on the basis of an unofficial list
of college courses or copies of diplomas, licenses, or certificates
of membership you MUST submit copies of official college transcripts
BEFORE your selection may be confirmed.
NOTE: Foreign education must be evaluated by an approved
organization. The U.S. Department of Education may be of some help
in providing information on these organizations. Visit the U.S.
Department of Education at the following web site:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlit
e-visitus-forrecog.html
This is not an active link. You will need to copy and paste this
address into your web browser address bar.
***Your application package must include an English translation of
the foreign transcript.***
If you are applying for Veterans' Preference, you MUST submit
the following proof of eligibility:
Five Point Preference: DD-214 (Member Copy 4)
Ten Point Preference: DD-214 (Member Copy 4) and Standard Form
15 (Application for 10-Point Veterans Preference) with documentary
proof required, such as a letter from the Department of Veterans'
Affairs dated 1991 or later.
Click this link for a copy of Standard Form 15:

Standard Form 15
http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf
For more information about Veterans' Preference follow the link
below:
HREF= "http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mrpbs/hr/job_opportunities/usajobs.s
html
At the above web site click on Applicants and then click on
Appointing Authorities for Veterans and Preference Information
or, visit:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mrpbs/hr/job_opportunities/usajobs.shtml
Or, reference OPM's VetGuide at:
VetGuide
http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.htm.


Contact Information:
Human Resources

Phone: 612-336-3315

Fax: 612-336-3560

Email: steven.a.corradi@aphis.usda.gov


Or write:
Marketing & Regulatory Programs
100 N. 6th Street
Butler Square Bldg, 5th Floor, Suite 510 C
Minneapolis, MN 55403

Fax: 612-336-3560


What To Expect Next:
After the announcement has closed, applicants will be evaluated to
determine the best qualified. Best qualified applicants will be
forwarded to the selecting official for further consideration and
possible interview and selection.
You may check the status of your application on-line 24 hours a day
through USAJOBS. To check on your application status:
Follow this link to the USAJOBS web site:
USAJOBS Log In
http://www.usajobs.gov/
Click on the MY USAJOBS link.
Fill in your USAJOBS Username and Password and select the
Track your online job applications link.
You will now see a complete list of all vacancies to which you
have applied and the current status of your application for each
vacancy.
To see more detailed information regarding your status for
positions you have applied for with this agency, click on the
more information link in the application status column.
You will be redirected to our system to view the details of your
application
Once you have been redirected the [View Detailed Status of
applications with this agency] option will be selected for you.
Click on [Continue] and you will see the more detailed explanation
of your status.
This Track your online job applications option is the only
notification you will receive concerning the status of your
application. No additional correspondence will be sent.
If you have questions about your rating please submit your questions
in writing via e-mail or USPS mail to the contact listed in the
Agency Contact section of this announcement.