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Wildlife Biologist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located on the Ottawa National Forest, Watersmeet-Iron River/Bessemer Ranger Districts, duty location of Watersmeet, MI.

The target grade of this position is GS-9. The incumbent 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 Terry Gokee at 802-779-7682, or email terry.gokee@usda.gov

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/19/2021 to 08/26/2021
Salary
$43,683 to - $43,683 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Watersmeet, MI
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel for meetings, training, and site visits will be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
9
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
21-R9SVJUN-0907-815207DP-CW
Control number
611116000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to the Public

Duties

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  • GS-7 Level Duties:
  • Investigate wildlife damage to habitat reforestation projects and conflicts between livestock and wildlife.
  • Collect field data on wildlife habitats and vegetation to prepare wildlife, habitat, range allotment, deer herd, and other maps and management plans.
  • Assemble biological and vegetation use data from records to determine past wildlife and livestock use.
  • Enter field data into databases or geographic information systems (GIS).
  • Conduct inventories for game and nongame wildlife to use in wildlife management plans and biological and environmental assessments.
  • Integrate wildlife management plans into forestry, recreation, and other management activities
  • Serve as project leader on wildlife habitat improvement projects.
  • Participate on interdisciplinary teams to address natural resource management issues.
  • GS-9 level duties:
  • Gather, compile, and analyze data to determine wildlife habitat requirements.
  • Analyze data to assess wildlife habitat quality and quantity.
  • Interpret biological requirements to address wildlife species and their habitats.
  • Study and recommend solutions to address wildlife habitat problems.
  • Digitize and process data to be used in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
  • Coordinate wildlife management information with other natural resource program areas.
  • Prepare wildlife management data for unit land management planning team.
  • Prepare operating plans and budgets for wildlife habitat improvement and animal damage control projects.
  • Participate on interdisciplinary teams to present wildlife program information.
  • Serve as project lead to address wildlife habitat improvement projects.

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.

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:
GS-0486:
Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in biological science 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

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-7 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level; OR one full year of graduate level education; OR an appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience; OR Superior Academic Achievement (to determine if you are eligible, go to: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

Examples of specialized experience are defined as one or more of the following: Assisted with the collection of field data on wildlife habitats and vegetation; Assisted with interpretation of aerial photos to determine vegetation types; Assisted with assembling biological and vegetation use data from records to determine past wildlife and livestock use; Assisted with communication and interpretative programs related to wildlife and their habitats.

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

Education requirement is listed 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.

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed.

This is a bargaining unit position represented by the National Federation of Federal Employees, IAMAW.

Government Housing may be available temporarily.


This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/

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/11205662

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