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Fish and Wildlife Biologist

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

Summary

This position is a Fish and Wildlife Biologist, GS- 0401-7/9 working in Jackson, Wyoming for the National Elk Refuge.

This position is also open to the public under announcement R3-21-11202353-IS-DE. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
08/23/2021 to 09/06/2021
Salary
$43,683 to - $69,462 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 9
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Jackson, WY
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - 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
9
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
R6-21-11203058-IS-MP
Control number
611818400

Duties

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As a Fish and Wildlife Biologist your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

--Plans and conducts investigations of moderate complexity to determine the impact of various land and water development projects upon the fish and/or wildlife resources of an area.
--Performs data analysis and writes reports to evaluate findings and make broad recommendations.
--Assists in developing comprehensive fish and/or wildlife management plans to ensure conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish and/or wildlife and their habitat for a geographic area having a variety of habitat conditions. This requires the ability to develop, coordinate, or review plans that may encompass any and all programs that affect fish and/or wildlife and their habitat conditions including, but not limited to, fire management, moist soil management, cooperative farming, wetland management, water quantity/quality, timber/forestry, or grassland management and/or restoration.
--Helps gather, organize, and interpret biological, ecological, pathological, public use or other pertinent information to ensure management plans are current.
--Assists with implementation of management plans, studies and investigations required for species propagation/production, resource protection, ecological factors, public information, and other aspects of natural resource management.
--Responds to written, telephone and in-person inquiries from the public and the news media, obtaining and providing requested information within established guidelines of the office and in conformance with agency and Departmental policy.

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.
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply).
  • Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation.
  • Drug testing position: Subject to Drug/Alcohol Testing. Selectees tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
  • Driver's License: A valid driver's license for the operation of any single vehicle or combination of vehicles, except motorcycles, that does not require a commercial driver license is required. May operate off-road recreational vehicles.
  • Uniform: Official National Wildlife Refuge System field uniform is required
  • Firearm: Carry, handle and use firearms for animal control in compliance with safety policies; carry a firearm for personal protection from wildlife and to euthanize elk and other ungulates to collect biological samples.
  • Firearm: Required training and an up-to-date license to carry, handle and use firearms for animal control in compliance with safety policies.
  • Probationary Period: Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 09/06/2021 will be considered.

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

Basic Requirement:
A. Degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR
B. Combination of education and experience with courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Minimum Qualification [GS-9]
One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-7 in the Federal service. Experience may include: 1) determined the effects of habitat and management projects on wildlife and habitat resources; 2) applied and adapted biological and ecological procedures used in wildlife disease, habitat and management projects and research; 3) studied effects of wildlife disease, habitat and management projects and drawn sound conclusions based on those observations; 4) collected biological data and used mathematics and standard statistical procedures to analyze and present results; and 5) assisted in planning and originating plans, procedures, and schedules to conduct biological/ecological investigations.

Minimum Qualification [GS-7]
One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-5 in the Federal service. Experience may include: 1) determined the effects of habitat and management projects on wildlife and habitat resources; 2) performed data analysis using common statistical procedures; 3) used data and its analysis to write objective reports requiring a minimum of review and editing; 4) planned and developed work procedures and schedules; 5) identified information needed to solve problems and select techniques for carrying out assignments; and 6) organized and presented evaluations and findings to all levels of management and employees.

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.

Time In Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically,
i. Area of Consideration.
ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502.
iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions or for Federal Wage System (FWS), wage grade positions, applicants are evaluated using the OPM Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations and the job element examining method
Your SF-50 will be used to confirm you meet all requirements

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

Entitlements for payment of basic moving expenses, as required and to the extent allowed by the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) 302-3.101, are authorized for eligible applicants changing duty station when the change meets the distance tests as provided in FTR 302-1.1 and 302-2.6. All moving expenses are taxable. Relocation discretionary entitlements May be authorized for this position excluding contractor-provided home sale.

This position is suitable for telework in an emergency or natural disaster.

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 click here

The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA),P.L. 114-47, allows certain individuals who currently or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies to compete under merit promotion procedures.

For Eligibility Information click here: USAJOBS Help Center | Land Management

Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority: 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 and received a certificate of non-competitive eligibility. Completed most recent Corps service, for which a certificate of non-competitive eligibility was issued, within the last 2 years. Appointment must be effected within the 2 year period.

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 based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

GS-9 and GS-7 Competencies:
Attention to Detail
Decision Making
Flexibility
Integrity/Honesty
Interpersonal Skills
Learning
Reading
Reasoning
Self-Management
Teamwork

GS-9 KSAs:
--Knowledge and experience in fish and/or wildlife biology and a working familiarity with related disciplines in order to determine the effects of land and water projects on the fish and/or wildlife resources of an area.
--Skill in making close observations to study effects on fish and/or wildlife habitat and to recognize problems, draw sound conclusions on basis of observations, and prepare reports for technical and administrative use.
--Skill in planning and originating sound plans, procedures, and schedules.
--Skill in verbal and written communications including skill in presenting data and its analysis, and to write objective reports requiring a minimum of review and editing.

GS-7 KSAs:
--Knowledge of the principles of fish and wildlife biology, fishery biology, and/or wildlife biology and a familiarity with related disciplines, such as would be obtained through a college major in the appropriate discipline or its equivalent, and additional work experience or education in the appropriate discipline, in order to determine the effects of land and water development projects on the fish and wildlife resources of an area.
--Skill in mathematics to perform data analysis.
--Ability to independently identify information needed to solve problems and select techniques for carrying out assignments.
--Skill in oral and written communication including ability to organize and present evaluations and findings to all levels of management, employees, the media, and the general public.

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

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