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Thank you for your interest in the Physical Science Technician position with the National Park Service.
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Your responses to this questionnaire in conjunction with other portions of your complete application will be evaluated to determine your qualification for this position. THE RESUME OR APPLICATION MATERIALS YOU SUBMIT FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST SUPPORT ALL RESPONSES. IF NOT, YOUR SCORE WILL BE LOWERED AND/OR YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Please carefully follow all instructions before submitting your responses. If you change a response, be certain to unclick the incorrect response before you submit the application. Once you have submitted your application, items that are left blank will not receive credit. This is a federal job application system. Providing false information or failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely may be grounds for not hiring, disbarment from federal employment, or dismissal after you begin work.
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From the responses below, select the one response that best describes how you meet the minimum qualification requirements for a Physical Science Technician, GS-1311-07 position. Read all responses before making your selection. If you leave this question blank, you will be rated ineligible.
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For each of the following tasks, choose the statement from the list below that best describe your experience and/or training. Do not overstate or understate your level of experience and demonstrated capability. You should be aware that your ratings are subject to evaluation and verification based on the resume, narratives, and other relevant documents you submit. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your stated level of experience and demonstrated capability. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting you or for dismissing you from the position following acceptance.
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Physical Strength and Agility: Ability to bend, lift, climb, stand, and walk for long periods of time; ability to perform moderately heavy laboring work.
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Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
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Work outdoors in potentially hot, cold, wet, or windy weather or other uncomfortable conditions.
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Hike off-trail on steep, uneven, or rocky terrain and in dense vegetation.
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Camp in primitive backcountry settings for multiple days in a row, including occasional overnight backpacking trips, while practicing "leave no trace" camping principles.
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Enter small bodies of water up to 15 feet deep using waders, inflatable tubes or kayaks, or other similar equipment.
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Anticipate and adapt to dynamic field conditions and challenges, exercising sound decision-making, situational awareness, and preparation.
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Field Data Collection: Ability to collect, record, and ensure accuracy of field data (for example, stream and river discharge measurements).
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Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
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Collect hydrologic data at springs, streams, lakes, or wells using standard field methods and tools (e.g., staff gages, pressure transducers, flow meters).
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Collect water quality or chemistry data at springs, streams, lakes, or wells using standard field methods and tools (e.g., multi-probes, sondes, field filtration).
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Conduct aquatic invertebrate sampling and sorting in aquatic ecosystems using standard field methods and tools.
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Identify native riparian and invasive plants in the Mojave and Great Basin region to prescribed taxonomy or hierarchy.
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Troubleshoot malfunctioning data collection instruments and software.
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Research and make recommendations for improvements, repairs, or replacements to malfunctioning or outdated data collection instruments and software.
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Information Management: Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems.
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Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
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Independently complete thorough and accurate work on time and at the level of quality required, exercising sound decision-making and attention to detail.
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Use electronic mapping tools to create and update site condition information and hiking routes and driving directions to field sites.
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Enter and upload scientific data into electronic field forms and applications following prescribed data quality standards.
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Review and ensure quality control of scientific data in software and databases following prescribed data quality standards. This includes exercising judgment to apply corrections, grades, and qualifiers to data. This also includes identifying and flagging scientific data that do not meet prescribed data quality standards.
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Manage continuous data files from long-term deployed data collection instruments.
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Make recommendations to improve data quality, data collection, or data workflows.
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Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules.
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Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
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Organize and coordinate the logistics, scheduling, and planning for field work and travel, such as researching itineraries, routes, forecasted weather conditions, and other safety considerations.
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Locate and navigate to remote backcountry field sites on roads and on foot using smartphone applications, GPS devices, or topographic maps and compasses.
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Drive 4WD vehicles on poorly maintained dirt roads. Exercise judgment in navigating obstacles, depending on road and weather conditions and other safety considerations.
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Maintain work vehicles, field camping gear, water quality instruments, and sampling equipment. This includes regular maintenance, calibration, repair, cleaning, and decontamination.
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Ensure that field crews follow organizational safety procedures and assist in the improvement of organizational safety plans and emergency prevention and response.
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Identify problem solving strategies consistent with organizational goals, using logic to develop and implement innovative tools and techniques to resolve complex problems and issues.
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Teamwork: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
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Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
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Lead a team or field crew in order to achieve organizational objectives.
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Communicate effectively with coworkers, supervisors, volunteers, and the public, such as discussing issues, sharing information, soliciting ideas, and using participative decision-making processes.
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Show respect for the values and ideas of others, even when not agreeing with them. Demonstrate tact and courtesy when interacting with others.
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Act in a just, fair, and ethical manner. Encourage ethical behavior among others.
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Prepare technical reports, email correspondences, and other written documents in a clear and understandable manner using correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
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Give presentations and other oral communication on scientific information and field efforts to technical and non-technical audiences. This includes formal presentations at professional conferences or informal communication at public outreach events.
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