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Wildlife Refuge Manager

Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This vacancy announcement is part of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service coordinated advertisement for 11 Wildlife Refuge Managers GS-0485-12

You may apply to a maximum of 5 duty stations for which you are interested.

This position is also open to status candidates under announcement MR-21-11001407-TD-MP. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
02/09/2021 to 02/23/2021
Salary
$86,283 to - $112,172 per year

Salary may vary depending on location selected for.

Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Locations
11 vacancies in the following locations:
Sasabe, AZ
Willows, CA
Ullin, IL
Pleasanton, KS
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Q Access Authorization
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
MR-21-11001406-TD-DE
Control number
591780000

Duties

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As a Wildlife Refuge Manager your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

  • Plan, manage, evaluate, and carry out the biological program at assigned Refuge/Wetland Management District (WMD).
  • Prepare proposals for development/improvement projects (to include timeframes and costs) for the assigned Refuge/WMD and submit for review/approval during annual budget cycle.
  • Oversee, review and approve land and aquatic conservation activities, habitat creation, restoration and containment projects, research studies, population studies, wildlife inventory, and monitoring activities.
  • Develop and maintain partnerships with other Federal, state, and local agencies, private organizations, and special interest groups to protect lands around the Refuge/WMD.
  • Remain abreast of current and changing natural resources laws, rules and regulations that affect the National Wildlife Refuge System (e.g., water rights, rights-of-way, oil and gas, easements, fee title lands, etc.).
  • Responsible for administrative oversight of the Fire Management Program assigned to the Refuge/WMD in accordance with Service/Department policies.
  • Oversee, administer and/or develop required National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation including Environmental Assessments (EAs), Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSIs), Categorical Exclusions (CEs), Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 consultations, archeological resource clearances, etc.
  • Develop long-range plans, annual work plans, budgets and work schedules.
  • Develop cost estimates and the work sequence for major and minor rehabilitation projects of Refuge/WMD facilities and lands to prepare funding proposals that support internal and external funding.
  • Prepare administrative reports, annual narrative reports, and other documents associated with wildlife management and administrative programs.
  • Update, prioritize, manage and/or utilize automated systems for budget tracking, procurement, time and attendance, asset inventories/maintenance, etc.
  • Administer a public use program consistent with compatibility standards.
  • Supervise a small team of professional, technical, analytical, administrative support staff, and maintenance workers (permanent and seasonal staff), staff may also include Contractors, Volunteers, Interns, etc. setting a team attitude of adhering to high professional standards and completion of accurate, high quality work.
  • Ensures that work is conducted safely and actively supports, implements, and complies with the Equal Employment Opportunity Program.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
  • Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
  • Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform is required.
  • Probationary Period: Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
  • Driver's License: Selectees must possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during their tenure.
  • Drug Testing Position: Applicants tentatively selected to Willows, CA will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
  • See Additional Information section for link to additional conditions of employment applicable to each position advertised.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 02/23/2021 will be considered. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.

Basic Requirement:

  1. Completion of a 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a Bachelors or higher degree with major in zoology, wildlife management, or an appropriate field of biology that included at least 9 semester hours in zoology; 6 semester hours in such wildlife courses as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, or wildlife management; 3 semester hours in botany, and 3 semester hours in conservation biology. OR
  2. Completion of courses in an accredited college or university equivalent to a major in zoology, wildlife management, or appropriate field of biology that included at least 9 semester hours in zoology; 6 semester hours in such wildlife courses as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, or wildlife management; 3 semester hours in botany, and 3 semester hours in conservation biology PLUS appropriate experience and/or additional education comparable to the completion of a 4-year course of study. OR
  3. Have previously occupied a position in the GS-0485 series prior to December 3, 2010, and meet the basic education requirement of the previous qualification standard. Previous standard: bachelor or higher degree with major in zoology, wildlife management, or an appropriate field of biology, that includes 9 semester hours in zoology; 6 semester hours in wildlife; and 9 semester hours in botany. NOTE: To qualify under this option, you must submit your transcripts and a copy of your SF-50 (Personnel Action), dated prior to Dec 3, 2010, showing that you held a position in the GS-0485 series.

Minimum Qualification GS-12
  1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-11 in the Federal service. Experience includes planning and directing a broad variety of management operations in a natural resources setting; planning, directing, and evaluating all aspects of a wildlife management program; developing long and short term management plans; leading a staff of professional and nonprofessional personnel.

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), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. 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

Additional information

PCS Information: Please see additional information about each location here.

Telework: Please see additional information about each vacancy here.

Conditions of Employment: Please see additional information about each vacancy here.

Salary Tables: The salary for each location may vary depending on locality. Locality tables may be found here.

Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP):Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.For information on CTAP and ICTAP visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/"

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 outlined above.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications 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 of natural resource laws, regulations, and policies including the National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act (NWRIA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
  • Skill and diplomacy in coordinating station activities with other agencies and organizations.
  • Ability to communicate and work closely with other federal, state, tribal, and local government officials as well as interest groups.
  • Knowledge and skill in applying a wide range of theories, principles and concepts of population, wildlife and aquatic biology, wildlife management, species lifecycle requirements/management, and conservation biology.
  • Knowledge of planning and budgeting processes to participate in the development of long-range plans, annual work plans, and associated budgeting.
  • Ability to supervise a multidisciplinary staff and achieve management objectives by working with others.

All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. The category ratings for this position are: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified

The category rating process protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

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