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Conditions of Employment
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
- Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
- Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
- Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
- May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
- Time-in-Grade requirements apply to status candidates
- Drug Testing position
- Valid state driver's license required
- Wear of an official USFWS uniform
- LMWFA or Public Land Corps eligibles may apply
- Additional suitability and security requirement for access to secured databases
- Direct deposit of salary to a financial institution
Qualifications
Only experience and education obtained by 06/25/2019 will be considered.
Basic Requirements: You must meet A or B below to qualify for the position.
A. Successful completion a full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's degree in zoology, wildlife management, or an appropriate field of biology that included at least nine semester hours in zoology; at least six semester hours in such wildlife courses as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, or wildlife management; at least three semester hours in botany, and three semester hours in conservation biology.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major in one of the fields described in A above that included at least nine semester hours in zoology; at least six semester hours in such wildlife courses as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, or wildlife management; at least three semester hours in botany; and three semester hours in conservation biology; plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Specialized Experience Requirements: In addition to meeting one of the basic entry requirements listed above, you must have the appropriate specialized experience as described below. You may qualify at the GS-12 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal Service that demonstrates your ability to: 1) Coordinate, plan, and carry out various duties involved with the effective and efficient running of land management activities, biological programs and services; 2) Develop and foster partnerships with other Federal, state and local agencies, and private organizations to protect lands; 3) Participate in the development of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation (or portions thereof) including Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Endangered Species Act (ESA), Section 7 consultations; 4) Prepare Comprehensive Conservation Plans, Habitat Management Plans, Land Acquisition and Protection Plans, and similar action plans; and 5) Assist with planning and directing comprehensive public relations/public use programs on a wildlife refuge or similar public lands.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA), P.L. 114-47
This allows certain individuals who currently or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies to compete under merit promotion procedures.
Current Appointees
·Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency.
·Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; AND
·Must have performed at an acceptable level.
Former Appointees
·Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency,
·Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years;
·Must apply for position within 2 years after separation,
·Must have been separated for reasons other than misconduct or performance; AND
·Must have performed at an acceptable level
Note: You must submit ALL SF-50s and performance information for each period of temporary/term employment that qualifies for LMWFA.
Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority
(1) In order to be eligible for PLC non-competitive status, a former member of the PLC must provide documentation, as part of their application, verifying their eligibility and meet the following criteria:
(a) Served as a qualified youth on an appropriate conservation project completing a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service that included at least 120 hours through the PLC;
(b) Applied to a vacancy announcement for which applications are being accepted from individuals with non-competitive status;
(c) Meet the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) minimum qualification standards stated in the vacancy announcement for the position which you are applying; and
(d) Completed his/her most recent Corps service, which provided him/her with a total of 640 hours, inclusive of 120 hours on a PLC project as defined in 16 USC 1723(d), within the last two (2) years.
(2) Appointments must be effected within the two years requirement.
(3) The two year time-frame cannot be extended.
(4) Selectees will be subject to a probationary period.
(5) This authority may be used for General Schedule and Federal Wage System positions.
(6) Competitive service appointments may be made for temporary, term or permanent positions.
Note: You must provide a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Compliance Hiring Based for Public Land Corps Service.
Education
PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s) and grade point average or class ranking. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.
PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the basic qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the basic qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience which resulted in you being listed in the highest quality category, you may lose consideration, or be assigned to a lower quality category for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
- Knowledge and skill in applying a wide range of theories, principles and concepts of population and wildlife and aquatic biology, wildlife management, species lifecycle requirements/management, and conservation biology.
- Ability to direct daily operations of staff, plan and prioritize projects and work assignments, coordinate with staff including biological and maintenance, train staff and volunteers and ensure operations are occurring in a safe manner.
- Knowledge of natural resource laws, regulations, and polices including the National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act (NWRIA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and their requirements.
- Skill and diplomacy in coordinating station activities with other agencies and organizations; ability to deal effectively with the general public; and ability to exercise tact and diplomacy in official association with Federal, state, and local agencies, and various organizations and special interest groups.
- Ability to administer public use programs within the scope of the refuge administration act and other policies.
- Familiarity with concepts and procedures sufficient to develop preliminary plans for maintenance, repairs, or replacement of Refuge facilities and infrastructure and to assist with contract specifications.
- Knowledge of planning and budgeting processes to participate in the development of long-range plans, annual work plans, and associated budgeting.
If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 showing you were honorably discharged. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must attach an SF-15," Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" in addition to the proof required by that form.
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Background checks and security clearance
