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Wildlife Biologist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

These positions are located on a Forest Service Unit and is responsible for providing professional wildlife expertise in the protection, management, and improvement of wildlife within the framework of multiple-use management of forest and range lands.

This is an open and continuous announcement. See Additional Information section for more information. Applications will expire every 90 days. In order to remain in consideration, applicants must resubmit their application.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/25/2022 to 09/30/2022
Salary
$44,790 to - $86,074 per year

Salary wage as shown is for Rest of the U.S. Final salary will be determined at the time of selection dependent on the duty location.

Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 11
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Alpine, AZ
Camp Verde, AZ
Chino Valley, AZ
Douglas, AZ
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel for training, meetings and site visits may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Multiple - This announcement may be used to fill positions with a permanent full-time work schedule OR seasonal work schedule where full-time work is guaranteed for 13 or 18 pay periods and when not working, you will be placed in non-pay/non-duty status.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
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
22-R3OCR-WLDF-0486-7-9-11G
Control number
649225900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current permanent federal employees with competitive status, Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP and VEOA eligibles, Farm Service Agency permanent county employees, 30 percent or More Disabled Veterans, Certain Former Overseas and Foreign Service Employees, Military Spouses, Interchange Agreement and Other Miscellaneous Authorities, People with Disabilities, Peace Corps and VISTA, Reinstatement, Public Land Corps, Resource Assistant Program, and VRA eligible candidates.

Duties

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  • Responsibilities are listed at the full performance GS-11 level.
  • Provide guidance for the development of wildlife or habitat management plans for technical soundness and adequacy in meeting overall wildlife management objectives and ensure plans are implemented.
  • Correlate wildlife management with other resource uses (e.g. timber, recreation, and minerals management) and implement wildlife habitat management programs with emphasis on maintaining and enhancing bio-diversity.
  • Analyze data to assess the effects of management activities on fish, wildlife and plant resources for documentation in Environmental Assessments (EAs).
  • Conduct and monitor special studies on the habitat of unique, rare, threatened and endangered species and make recommendations for habitat protections.
  • Inspect habitat improvement projects for compliance with approved plans and recommend improvements.
  • Provide assistance in preparing and reviewing environmental assessments and environmental impact statements affecting wildlife resources.
  • Coordinate wildlife management activities with other resources, recognize problems and recommend preventative or mitigation actions.
  • Prepare project work plans and coordinate project work with other unit personnel considering wildlife habitat requirements in relation to other multiple-use management of forest and range activities.
  • Develop or provide input into the annual program of work determining budgeting and staffing needs.
  • Participate on interdisciplinary teams to evaluate impact of Service or non-Service activities on National Forest lands.
  • Provide leadership in inventories and evaluation of habitat conditions and needs for upland game, small game, big game, waterfowl, fur-bearers, and non-game species.
  • Provide functional assistance to other unit personnel to determine current progress in meeting planned programs and objectives, effectiveness of training, and opportunities for cooperative work.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered 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.gov
  • Positions may be filled as career ladders (GS-07/09/11) or (09/11), or may be filled at a single GS level only (07), (09) or at the full performance level (GS-11) only, dependent upon the individual unit's needs.

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-07:You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 in the Federal service. Examples are: Assisting with the collection of field data on wildlife habitats and vegetation; Interpreting aerial photos to determine vegetation types; Assembling biological and vegetation use data from records to determine past wildlife and livestock use; Assisting with the classification and evaluation of vegetations and soil to determine suitable habitats and ranges for wildlife. OR one full year of graduate level education. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work; OR an appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above; OR Superior Academic Achievement (to determine if you are eligible, go to: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp).

For the GS-09: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 in the Federal service. Examples are: Serving as an advanced trainee specializing in wildlife biology and performing common qualitative and quantitative analyses of wildlife resources; Conducting surveys and drafting tentative professional opinions to assist in determining wildlife resource needs and remedies; Assisting in carrying out a range of analytical/scientific assignments in the wildlife biology profession that included researching and analyzing data, issues, and information that support wildlife project recommendations; OR a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related; The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and education as described above (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level).

For the GS-11: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 level in the federal service. Examples are: Providing input in the wildlife management program by gathering, compiling, and analyzing data to determine environmental conditions, characteristics, and values, and the interrelationship of wildlife resources with other resources; Analyzing data and recommending solutions to problems involving a limited section of wildlife resources issues, e.g., interpreting the effect and impact of changes on wildlife habitat as a result of specific resource activities; Providing input in the preparation, maintenance, and revision of wildlife plans that involved interpretation of data obtained from studies and field surveys: OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (coursework directly related to position being filled) from an accredited college or university; OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.) as described above.

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: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Education is required for this position. See Qualifications section.

Additional information

THIS IS AN OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. This type of announcement provides the Forest Service with a readily available source of applicants when vacancies occur. Eligibility and qualifications will be verified when there is a vacancy for the location and grade for which you applied. Information on specific locations where jobs are being filled and the dates when applications are due for these locations can be found at https://fsoutreach.gdcii.com/Outreach.

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 candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).

Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Refer to PUBLIC LAW 114-47-AUG. 7, 2015 for more information.

Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.

For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the Veteran's Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website.

PROMOTION POTENTIAL: 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 neither implied or guaranteed.


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/

Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.

Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.

Government Housing may be available.

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 your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the competencies listed below:

  • Administration and Management
  • Information Management
  • Oral Communication
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Technical Competence
  • Wildlife Biology
  • Writing


Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

If you meet the qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities must meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. 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.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11457579

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