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Fish and Wildlife Biologist

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

Summary

These positions are Fish and Wildlife Biologist, GS- 0401-9/11.

This position is also open to the public under announcement MR-21-11245937-LP-DE. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Salary will be based upon duty station and locality pay once selected. Locality tables may be found here.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open date: 10/01/2021
Closed date: 10/14/2021
Location
7 vacancies in the following locations:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—- See "Additional Information" section for locations that offer relocation.
Salary
$53,433 - $95,980 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 11
Promotion potential
11
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
MR-21-11245938-LP-MP
Control number
616013600

Duties

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As a Fish and Wildlife Biologist, the primary purpose of these positions is to provide biological support on a variety of issues relating to restoration, preservation and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats.

  • Conducting a wide variety of complex biological and ecological surveys, investigations or inspections involving complex land and water resource development actions
  • Assessing restoration and project impacts for the involved area
  • Assisting or developing fish and/or wildlife recovery or management plans to insure conservation and enhancement of fish and/or wildlife and their habitat for a geographic area having a variety of habitat conditions.
Description of each vacancy:

Position(s) in Ventura, California: These positions serves as a biologist with the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office (California). Major duties include assisting other Federal agencies and the public with Endangered Species Act (ESA) coordination and implementation, with a focus on sections 7 and 10 of the ESA. Duties include writing documents and reviewing reports and management plans. Qualified candidates will have strong writing, collaboration, coordination, and negotiation skills. This position serves as a biologist with the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office (California). Major duties include assisting other military partners and Federal agencies and the public with Endangered Species Act (ESA) coordination and implementation, with a focus on sections 7 of the ESA and Sikes Act. Duties include writing documents and forming species recovery projects. Qualified candidates will have strong writing, collaboration, coordination, and negotiation skills.

Position at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida: USFWS biologist coordinating execution of Air Force Partnership (Sikes Act) projects on MacDill Air Force Base, cooperatively furthering military readiness and conservation in a high operational tempo. Individual will be independent, flexible and remotely Service supervised. Daily interface with active duty military, civilian biologists (Service and Air Force), and partners, recovering and studying T&E species on and off base (field work, habitat restoration, project coordination, planning, INRMPs, and ESA Section 7 consultations).

Position(s) in Albuquerque, NM and Roswell, New Mexico: Albuquerque -- This position will support the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The successful candidate will have experience with fisheries/biological science, along with strong writing and interpersonal skills. Specific tasks will include interfacing and working with a diverse array of stakeholders to implement and evaluate recovery actions, promote education and information sharing and conservation planning, and assisting with some ESA section 7 consultations within the San Juan River Basin.

Roswell -- This position is based out of the Roswell Bureau of Land Management Field Office. Work includes biological surveys and monitoring, site visits and partnerships with industry representatives to support the Energy Policy Act of 2005 by increasing knowledge of listed and sensitive species to streamline permit requests and regulatory compliance. This biologist will lead or assist with management of federally listed and/or sensitive species that may include lesser prairie-chicken, Roswell and Koster's springsnails, and Kuenzler hedgehog cactus.

Position(s) in Austin, Texas: One position will focus on assisting other Federal agencies and the public with Endangered Species Act (ESA) coordination and implementation. Important skills include the ability to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for species status tracking, and a willingness and ability to learn and properly apply ESA regulations and policy to a wide spectrum of project types and species.

One position will support the Austin office's freshwater mussel program. The successful candidate will have experience with freshwater mussels, along with strong writing and interpersonal skills. Specific tasks will include assisting with status assessments, and development and implementation of recovery actions in coordination with a diverse array of stakeholders and external partners.

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.
  • Driver's License: Selectees must possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during their tenure.
  • Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform is required.
  • Probationary Period: Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 10/14/2021 will be considered.

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

Basic Requirement:

  1. Degree: Biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. -OR-
  2. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related discipline -- plus -- appropriate experience or additional education that is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in the biological sciences; agriculture, or natural resources. The quality of the combination must demonstrate that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of the position and is comparable to that normally acquired through the completion of a full four-year course of study with a major as described above.
Minimum Qualification [GS-09]
  1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-07 in the Federal service. Experience may include conducting biological or ecological investigations to determine the impact of various land and water development projects upon the fish and/or wildlife resources of an area; reviewing permit applications; assisting in developing comprehensive fish and/or wildlife management plans; preparing portions of draft biological opinions/assessments as required under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA); reviewing biological portions of environment assessment/impact statements or resource planning reports; implementing biological work and/or habitat preservation and development work for endangered, threatened, proposed, and candidate species and their habitats; and implementing federal environmental laws (i.e., Endangered Species Act, specifically Sections 7 and 10; Clean Water Act; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act; National Environmental Policy Act), regulations, and policies involving natural resource issues. -OR-
  2. 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education at an accredited college or university leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in wildlife biology, ecology, or a directly related field appropriate to this position; -OR-
  3. A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement. (When combining education with experience, first determine the total qualifying education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; then determine the experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; finally, add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level.)
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 may include conducting moderately complex biological or ecological investigations to determine the impact of various land and water development projects upon endangered species and their habitats; negotiating alternative actions or mitigation measures, etc.; developing habitat conservation or restoration projects; serving as a technical advisor on the Endangered Species Act for other staff, government agencies, land owners, private interest groups, etc.; preparing biological portions of environmental assessment/impact statements or comprehensive resource planning reports; and implementing federal environmental laws (i.e., Endangered Species Act, specifically Sections 7 and 10; Clean Water Act; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act; National Environmental Policy Act), regulations, and policies involving natural resource issues. -OR-
  2. 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. -OR-
  3. A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement. (When combining education with experience, first determine the total qualifying education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; then determine the experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; finally, add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level.)
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

Relocation Authorization:

  • For positions in Albuquerque or Roswell, New Mexico: No PCS entitlements are authorized.
  • For positions in Austin, Texas: No PCS entitlements are authorized.
  • For positions at MacDill AFB, in Tampa, Florida: No PCS entitlements are authorized.
  • For positions in Ventura, California: 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 may be authorized for this position excluding contractor home sale.
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 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):

  • Knowledge of the concepts, principles, methodologies, and practices of conservation biology and/or ecology, related to the threats facing species at risk and their habitats, e.g., grasslands, forests, prairies, shrub lands, wetlands, and deserts.
  • Knowledge of applicable Federal environmental laws and Executive Orders, (e.g., Endangered Species Act, National Environment Policy Act, Coastal Barrier Resources Act, Clean Water Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Oil Pollution Act and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act); of other Federal regulations; and of Service/Department policies or guidelines in order to ensure that legal standards are met in the review of proposed land and water resource development projects (Federal, Tribal, State, commercial industry, and surrounding landowners/FWP).
  • Skill in planning and conducting complex inspections of existing projects to ensure that legal standards and other requirements are met and implemented in a manner most beneficial to fish and/or wildlife resources.
  • Attention to Detail; Decision Making; Flexibility; Integrity/Honesty; Interpersonal Skills; Learning; Reading; Reasoning; Self-Management; Teamwork; Stress Tolerance

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.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Agency contact information

Human Resources Staffing Division
Phone
833-512-0482
Email
fwshiring@fws.gov
Address
Division of Human Resources
Division of Human Resources
500 Gold Avenue, SW Room 5222
Albuquerque, NM 87103
US

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