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Wildlife Biologist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located with the Alaska Region, Chugach National Forest, Cordova Ranger District.

Serves as a professional wildlife biologist in the administration of the wildlife habitat and related coordination with other resources.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Erin Cooper at 907-424-4757
or by email at erin.cooper@usda.gov.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
12/03/2020 to 12/11/2020
Salary
$59,165 to - $59,165 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Cordova, AK
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position for field site visits, meetings or training.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
21-R10-10978224-DP-EMH
Control number
586052900

Duties

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  • Gathers, compiles, and analyzes data to determine wildlife habitat requirements and management needs.
  • Assesses habitat quality and quantity, interpreting biological requirements for all wildlife species and their habitat.
  • Inventories and monitors wildlife habitat and in some cases populations.
  • Determines the need for and recommending wildlife habitat restoration, enhancement or improvement projects
  • Studies and recommends solutions to special coordination problems involving wildlife habitat protection.
  • Performs specific portions or minor phases of assignments in support of Integrated Resource Inventory (IRI) activities.
  • Prepares field data to be digitized; digitizes data and processes data for use in geographic information systems (GIS).
  • Works cooperatively with State wildlife resource agencies. Coordinates wildlife management with timber, grazing, minerals and recreation and other resource programs.
  • Prepares wildlife management input for the unit land management planning team. Prepares environmental analysis reports. Develops biological evaluations for review by journey-level biologists.
  • Recommends, prepares, or reviews annual operating plans and budgets for wildlife habitat improvement and animal damage control projects in consideration of biological needs, project standards, and the needs of other resources.
  • Participates in wildlife monitoring program activities by making observations, gathering data, and reporting findings. Gathers information to be used in environmental assessments and environmental impact statements affecting wildlife resources.
  • Develops plans for information and education activities in wildlife conservation. Responsible for assigned areas of public relation activities, such as speaking at meetings and participating in field trips.
  • Serves as project leader on wildlife habitat improvement projects and participates on interdisciplinary teams in all aspects of natural resource management, which may include program evaluation.
  • Manages wildlife partnership programs.

Requirements

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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 or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
  • Must possess and maintain a valid driver?s license.
  • This is a Test Designated Position. You will be tested for illegal drugs prior to appointment and randomly thereafter. Appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results.
  • This position requires initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Basic Requirement for the GS-0486-09:

Must possess a biological science bachelor degree from an accredited college or university that included at least 9 semester hours in such wildlife subjects as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, wildlife management, or research courses in the field of wildlife biology; and at least 12 semester hours in zoology in such subjects as general zoology, invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, genetics, ecology, cellular biology, parasitology, entomology, or research courses in such subjects (Excess courses in wildlife biology may be used to meet the zoology requirements where appropriate.); and at least 9 semester hours in botany or the related plant sciences.

OR: A combination of education and experience: equivalent to a major in biological science (i.e., at least 30 semester hours), with at least 9 semester hours in wildlife subjects, 12 semester hours in zoology, and 9 semester hours in botany or related plant science, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

For the GS-09: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: Serving as an advanced trainee specializing in wildlife biology and performing common qualitative and quantitative analyses of wildlife resources; conducting surveys and drafting tentative professional opinions to assist in determining wildlife resource needs and remedies; and assisting in carrying out a range of analytical/scientific assignments in the wildlife biology profession that included researching and analyzing data, issues, and information that support wildlife project recommendations.

OR: Successfully completed 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education from an accredited college or university leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in wildlife biology.

OR: a combination of graduate education in wildlife biology and specialized experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as listed above may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

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.

Education

See educational requirement above.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered.

The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.

This is a bargaining unit designated position.

Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.

Government Housing may be available


This position is eligible for telework and other flexible work arrangements.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications.

You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. You will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Individuals with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10978224

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