POSITION
- GS-0421-03 Plant Protection Aide
SALARY
-Penfield
- GS-03 $15.17 per Hour
-Lockport
- GS-03 $15.77 per Hour
PROGRAM AREA
- Plant Protection and Quarantine, Field Ops, District 4
DUTY LOCATION
- Penfield, NY
- Lockport, NY
WORK SCHEDULE
- Full-time
Part Time or Intermittent may be available under special circumstances.
TYPE OF APPOINTMENT
- Limited Appointment – Temporary
May work up to 180 days per year. These positions may be extended for additional years, but no more than 180 days may be worked per year.
NUMBER OF VACANCIES
- Multiple Vacancies at Both Locations
TRAVEL REQUIRED
- Occasional Travel – Travel may be required for training and work assignments.
REQUIREMENTS
- Must be a US Citizen or US National.
- Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
- Successful completion of one-year trial period or probationary period as applicable.
- Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
- Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
- Operation of government owned or leased vehicles will be required. Must have or be able to obtain a driver’s license.
WHO MAY APPLY
This announcement is open to all United States citizens.
OVERVIEW
APHIS is a multi-faceted Agency with a broad mission area that includes protecting and promoting U.S. agricultural health, regulating genetically engineered organisms, administering the Animal Welfare Act and carrying out wildlife damage management activities. These efforts support the overall mission of USDA, which is to protect and promote food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues.
Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) is a program within APHIS which safeguards U.S. agriculture and natural resources against the entry, establishment, and spread of economically and environmentally significant pests, and facilitates the safe trade of agricultural products. Join our team and gain valuable experience working in the field to stop this invasive species from harming our nation’s agriculture.
These positions will be working on projects combating the European Cherry Fruit Fly or the Box Tree Moth based on the location of the position. Join our team and gain valuable experience working in the field to stop these invasive species from harming our nation’s agriculture. Find a link to the PPQ website here and learn more about our program:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/pests-diseases/hungry-pests/ecff/cherry-fruit-fly
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DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Duties may include, but not limited to, the following:
- Contacting landowners, tenants, farmers, nurserymen, orchardists, commercial facilities, municipal authorities, and others to secure permission to conduct survey and inspection responsibilities.
- Inspecting trees for exotic plant pests; trapping insects on private properties, nurseries, and other situations.
- Identifying and marking trees for treatment or removal.
- Assisting with/conducting treatments and conducting follow-up inspections.
- Collecting survey and inspection data using a provided government-owned electronic device and maintaining daily records of work completed.
- Commuting to and from the vehicle parking station, operating a government owned vehicle while conducting duties, and use GPS or other approved tools to navigate.
- Working independently or as part of a team in a field environment and in collaboration with cooperating agencies.
- Will be exposed to a variety of environmental conditions typical of Northwestern New York, with expectations to work outdoors throughout the May-October survey season. Typical environmental conditions may include; cold, heat, sun, rain, snow, wind, biting/stinging insects, dogs, domestic/wild animals, poison ivy, etc.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
- For the GS-03 grade level: Six months general experience, OR; Successful completion of 1 year of study that included at least 4 semester hours in coursework related to the occupation.
General Experience:
- Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant’s ability to perform the work of the position, OR;
- Experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation.
Education Coursework for Education Substitution: Biology, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Zoology, Botany, Forestry, Chemistry, Agriculture, or Physics.
Equal Opportunity (EEO) Policy