Biological Sciences Technician: Exotic Plant Management
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: The purpose of this position is to perform fieldwork in support of the Northern Great Plains Exotic Plant Management Team. This team conducts work 14 national parks located in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming. Employees will be stationed at Theodore Roosevelt National Park with travel between the other parks required. Transportation, motels and per diem will be provided while in travel status.
The employee will carry out the exotic plant control program using chemical, manual, mechanical and biological control application techniques. Work varies from standing, walking, and hiking over rough terrain carrying a three-gallon backpack sprayer to pulling or cutting exotic vegetation. The main focus will be herbicide treatment of noxious weeds. Other duties may involve plant identification, vegetation monitoring, biological control collection and distribution, survey and inventory work, map reading, data collection, record keeping, and public awareness. The use of standard pesticide application and biological control field and safety equipment will be required as well as the use of global positioning systems (GPS units), computers, cameras, and on-and off-road vehicles. The employee will be responsible for maintaining equipment and managing data collected in the field. These data will be organized, processed and sent to a data manager for review. The employee will oversee daily field operations, provide leadership to other employees and respond to changing conditions without on-site direction.
In addition to working in an office setting, the work involves walking, climbing, and backpacking with a load over rough terrain, sometimes for extended periods of time; lifting moderately heavy items; bending and stooping for long periods; and working under occasionally inclement (cold, hot, rain, wind) weather conditions. Fieldwork includes exposure to biting insects, wild animals, high pollen levels, dermatitis-causing plants, and poisonous snakes.
SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE
For each task in the following list, choose the statement from the list below that best describes your experience and/or training. Please select only one letter for each item.
WARNING! Your answers will be verified against the information you provide in your application/resume. Your score will be lowered if your answers cannot be verified. ***IF YOU SELECT LEVEL E AND YOUR APPLICATION DOES NOT SUPPORT A LEVEL E, YOUR SCORE WILL BE LOWERED***
LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS:
A – I have not had education, training or experience performing this task
B – I have had education or training in performing this task, but have not yet performed it on the job; or, I have a beginning level of experience with this task
C – I have performed this task on the job, or, I have an average level of experience with this task. My work on this task was monitored closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper procedures
D – I have performed this task as a regular part of a job, or, I have an above average level of experience with this task. I have performed it independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee
E – I am considered an expert in performing this task and/or I have supervised performance of this task *** IF YOU SELECT LEVEL E AND YOU DO NOT SUPPORT LEVEL E IN THE QUESTIONNAIRE, YOUR SCORE WILL BE LOWERED. RESPONSES SUCH AS “SEE RESUME” ARE NOT SUFFICIENT. YOU MUST RESPOND WITH SPECIFIC EXAMPLES/INFORMATION TO SUPPORT YOUR SELECTION WHICH SHOULD BE REFLECTED IN YOUR APPLICATION***
1. Do you currently or have you ever possessed a state pesticide applicators license?
2. Operate four-wheel drive vehicle with manual transmission on rough, unimproved roads.
3. Operate all terrain vehicles (ATV) off-road, in rough terrain.
4. Apply herbicide using an ATV mounted boombuster sprayer.
5. Apply herbicide using a backpack sprayer.
6. Maintain and troubleshoot herbicide spray equipment.
7. Control weeds using mechanical methods, including hand tools, weed-whips and hand pulling.
8. Control weeds using biological methods, such as collecting and dispersing large numbers of insects.
9. Identify common exotic plants found in the northern Great Plains.
10. Identify vascular plants to the species level using a taxonomic key.
11. Identify common northern Great Plains grasses and forbs to genera on site.
12. Use Trimble GeoExplorer 3 GPS units to collect points and polygons using a standardized data dictionary.
13. Download and correct GPS data using Pathfinder Office software.
14. Enter data into Excel spreadsheets.
15. Conduct routine computer tasks such as internet queries, email and word processing.
16. Keep detailed and accurate records of daily field activities.
17. Complete assigned tasks and respond to changing conditions without on-site direction.
18. Hike long distances (5-10 miles a day) carrying a backpack sprayer weighing 45 pounds.
19. Use a digital camera to document field activities.
20. Navigate to a certain location using a compass and topographic map.