This position is a Wildlife Biologist, GS- 0486-9/11 working in Burbank, WA for the Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuge Complex. This position is also open to the public under announcement R1-23-12112782-SG-DE. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Duties

As a Wildlife Biologist your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Plans, organizes and implements biological activities, including habitat manipulation, that affect refuge biological resources. Prepares reports on progress and completion of activities and formulates recommendations that guide future programs and affect improvements in management practices. Develops and reviews comprehensive wildlife management plans and coordinates with other refuge programs that affect biological resources including, but not limited to, fire management, moist soil management, cooperative farming, wetland management, water quantity/quality, timber/forestry, or grassland restoration/management. Reviews and analyzes biological implications of environmental assessments or comprehensive resource planning reports to evaluate environmental consequences of proposed actions on Federal projects. Develops biological study proposals, survey designs, and scopes-of-work and conducts complex biological field investigations involving wildlife species and habitats, including population and harvest surveys, biological sampling, population health studies, animal collecting, food habit studies, population modeling, and other wildlife monitoring activities. Reviews scientific proposals and reports to evaluate hypotheses, study objectives, research design, appropriateness of methods, probability of success, and overall importance to management or science. Prepares issue papers, briefing documents, reports, and portions of management plans, and provides verbal briefings to senior-level management and others regarding issues that could affect the ecological integrity of resources within Service jurisdiction. Physical Demands: The job involves a substantial amount of field work. When engaged in field activities, the work is at times strenuous, requiring exertion such as walking over wet, rough, uneven or rocky surfaces, bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities. The work requires average agility and dexterity. Travel to remote study sites will be required via boats, small aircraft, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and/or on foot. Extended periods of camping in tents or cabins in remote field camps may occur. You must be able to cope with the pressure of short time deadlines, responsibilities of logistics to remote areas, cultural conflicts, and adverse weather conditions. You may be required to lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds. Promotion Potential: This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-11. At lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Resume (See "Required Documents"). Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is provided on resume.
• Eligibility and Supporting documents - You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to AND submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section.
• 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 MAY be required to possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during their tenure.
• Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform MAY be required.
• Probationary Period: Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 09/22/2023 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification. Basic Requirement: A. I meet the Basic Qualification Requirement for the GS-0486 series because I have completed a Bachelors or higher degree 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. NOTE Transcripts required. (OR) B. Although I do not meet the complete requirements of response A, I meet the Basic Qualification Requirement for the GS-0486 series because I have an equivalent 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 in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. NOTE: Transcripts required and your resume must contain sufficient detail of this level of work, i.e., complete begin/end dates, hours worked per week, duties performed, etc. for each timeframe for consideration. Minimum Qualification [GS-11] A. I have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in Federal service that equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience may include: 1) Assisting in the management of public lands or wildlife habitat; 2) independently conducting and/or coordinating ecosystem and wildlife research, which provides management recommendations; 3) assisting in developing guidance and working with external partners in the creation or enhancement wildlife habitat; 4) harvest management; and/or statistical modelling. All of this experience is clearly demonstrated in my resume. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient detail of this level of work, i.e., complete begin/end dates, hours worked per week, duties performed, etc. for each timeframe for consideration. (OR) B. I have completed three academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in wildlife biology or a directly related field. NOTE: Transcripts required. (OR) C. I have an equivalent combination of appropriate work experience (as in A above) and graduate education (as in B above) that, when computed as a percentage of their respective requirements, equal 100 percent when combined. (Only graduate education beyond the second year is creditable to meet this standard.) NOTE: Transcripts required and Your resume must contain sufficient detail of this level of work, i.e., complete begin/end dates, hours worked per week, duties performed, etc. for each timeframe for consideration. Minimum Qualification [GS-9] A. I possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service that equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience may include: 1) performing recurring and standardized collection of biological data with an emphasis on wildlife population assessment or habitat management; 2) conducting biological surveys for the preservation and management of wildlife resources; 3) preparing land management reports and making presentations on findings and recommendations; 4) making recommendations to higher level staff on protocols related to data collection techniques and processes; 5) performing data analysis on natural resource findings. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient detail of this level of work, i.e., complete begin/end dates, hours worked per week, duties performed, etc. for each timeframe for consideration. (OR) B. I possess 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in a discipline related to the position. NOTE: Transcripts required. (OR) C. I possess a combination of qualifying specialized experience and more than one year of graduate education (both as described above) that, when computed as percentages of their respective requirements, equals at least 100% when combined. Only graduate education beyond the first full year (18 semesters) is creditable using this method. NOTE: Transcripts required, and your resume must contain sufficient information, e.g., complete begin/end dates, work schedule, duties performed, etc., for each period of work for consideration to meet this standard. 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

Contacts

• Address Division of Human Resources Division of Human Resources Eastside Federal Complex 911 NE Eleventh Avenue Portland, OR 97232 US
• Name: Human Resources Staffing Division
• Phone: 000-000-0000
• Email: [email protected]