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Native American Liaison

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

Summary

This position is a Native American Liaison, GS- 0301-11/12 working in Alaska for the R7-Assistant Regional Director-Science Application.

This position is also open to status candidates under announcement R7-23-11800497-JP-MPP. 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
01/13/2023 to 02/13/2023
Salary
$77,898 to - $121,378 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection
Remote job
No
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
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
R7-23-11800496-JP-DEU
Control number
699777900

Duties

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As a Native American Liaison your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

FWS Working Title: Indigenous Knowledge Liaison

DUTIES

  • Advocates for the inclusion of Indigenous and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) in ways that help the USFWS collectively understand a more complete picture of ecological systems and improve people's lives, while achieving landscape level conservation outcomes across the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
  • Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with Native American tribes, organizations, committees, etc., relative to pertinent Service programs, projects, initiatives, etc., as they interact with Native American interests. Represents the Service and the Region at meetings and conferences relating to Native American issues.
  • Applies an Indigenous lens to creating or analyzing data and information - indigenizing the ways information is being collected, analyzed, used and shared - in order to respect Alaska Native self-determination, cultures, languages, and ways of living, being, and knowing.
  • Works as a liaison to encourage participatory and Indigenous led research in FWS research projects and activities while demonstrating an understanding about the ways western-based research can work alongside Indigenous knowledge to further the mission of the FWS and support locally led stewardship of natural and cultural resources.
The duty station for this position will be located in Region 7 which includes the State of Alaska. The salary will be based upon duty station and locality pay once selected. Locality tables may be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2023/general-schedule/. Please Note: If selected, you may be placed at a regional office, field office, current duty station, or other DOI-owned or leased worksite at the discretion of management. Additional questions regarding placement should be reserved for the interview process.

The position will be located in the state of Alaska. Anchorage is preferred.

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 Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How to Apply).
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
  • Selectees MAY be required to possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during their tenure.
  • Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 02/13/2023 will be considered.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification.

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: 1) Facilitating consultation and communication between tribes and government agencies (or similar) to support the inclusion of Indigenous and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) alongside Western Scientific data and research; 2) Developing and carrying out implementation guidance and plans for ITEK inclusion in decision making processes; 3) Lead the development of natural and/or cultural resource conservation plans; and 4) Recognize sensitive issues of tribal, regional, and national concern and keep key management officials informed of sensitive and/or potentially controversial issues or concerns.
Minimum Qualification GS-11:
  1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-09 in the Federal service. Experience includes: 1) Directly gathering or assisting in gathering ITEK for use in policy, decisions, regulations, or similar processes; 2) Facilitating consultation and communication between tribes and government agencies; 3) Assisting with developing and implementing projects or programs related to tribal interests; and 4) Assisting in the development of natural and/or cultural resource conservation plans. OR
  2. 3 full academic years of progressively higher related level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OR
  3. A combination of both experience and education when combined equate to 100% of the qualification requirement.
This vacancy will utilize a multiple hurdle assessment process to determine the qualifications of applicants. The first hurdle will consist of applicants completing an occupational questionnaire related to the major duties and competencies of the position. The second hurdle will consist of applicant resumes being reviewed by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel for related position competencies against a pre-determined rating schedule. This process will determine the final rating of the applicant for possible referral to the hiring official for hiring consideration.

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

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:-Yes, 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.

-Discretionary entitlements are not authorized for this position.

Telework: This position is suitable for telework and may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.

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/"

Cost of Living Allowance: In addition to the yearly salary, this position is entitled to a 2.01 % COLA rate cost-of-living allowance (COLA) https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/nonforeign-areas/#url=COLA-Rates .This allowance is subject to annual review, adjustment, and rate decrease.

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 the principles, methods, practices and techniques of conveying scientific or Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) to facilitate communication and consultation with Western Scientists and Native American Tribes.
  • Understanding of environmental laws and regulations as they apply to Alaska Native interests such as (not limited to) Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA).
  • Ability to communicate effectively to facilitate the consideration of Alaska Native values, cultural concerns, and trust obligations.
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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