You will serve as a Biologist within the USDA, APHIS, WS and performs assignments involving project and program delivery, management, and administration with minimal supervision. The work is primarily concerned with wildlife damage management operations relating to the assessment, reduction, and/or elimination of problems associated with wild and/or feral animal species in urban, suburban, and rural environments.

Duties

The duties may include, but are not limited to: May perform a variety of technical procedures including capture, restraint, chemical immobilization, marking, transport, euthanasia, and/or necropsy of wildlife. May be required to take extensive training and recurrent training on wildlife damage, disease, recognition, control methods, and techniques, monitoring and surveillance procedures, emergency response. Modifies or adapts established damage or disease control techniques as necessary to meet local conditions and address specific environmental, economic, or political considerations. Monitors and ensures compliance with program directives, and local, State, and Federal laws and regulations in wildlife damage management activities. Through supervisor and with assistance from the WS National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) staff, develops and maintains categorical exclusions, environmental assessments, and monitoring reports. Prepares required scientific and administrative program reports. Assists cooperators and the public with obtaining migratory bird depredation permits and compliance with Depredation Orders. Gathers, compiles, evaluates, and presents data on damage or hazards caused by various wildlife species to cooperators, stakeholders, and colleagues through project or program reports. May assist with research projects to increase knowledge of wildlife ecology and to develop or improve methods to reduce the risks of damage to resources or disease transmission. May be responsible for procuring equipment and supplies necessary to conduct field activities and may be asked to complete other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit: 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 at https://www.e-verify.gov/
• Successful completion of one-year trial period.
• Testing Designated Position: Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
• Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
• Must be able to travel to and work on Wake Atoll for up to 12 weeks, 2-3 times per year.
• Must have a knowledge of and be capable of using: Working with the public and other cooperating agencies, Communication skills, electronic equipment (GPS, Trimble, computer)
• Must demonstrate a respect for safety in all operations, including the operation of motor vehicles, firearms, control devices, and equipment.
• To perform the essential duties of this position, you must have the legal and physical ability to possess and discharge firearms.
• You must pass a government background check and meet any additional requirements to carry and use firearms.
• A background check will include answering questions about where you’ve lived, worked, went to school, and any military history or police records.
• Selection and retention in this position is contingent on a successfully adjudicated FBI National Criminal History Check (fingerprint check).

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. BASIC REQUIREMENT: 0401: Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting the basic requirement you will also need to meet the following: FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Collaborating with outside agencies in order to secure logistics for multiple wildlife projects. Experience managing cooperative agreements with outside agencies and wildlife permit writing. Experience conducting wildlife technical procedures such as monitoring and surveillance or population surveys in remote locations. Ability to draft operational plans in relation to inter-agency coordination regarding species eradication to include aviation operation management. Experience working with the use of pesticides, traps, repellents, and other devices to deliver wildlife damage management strategies. OR 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in one of the following degree fields: Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Ecology, or Wildlife Management. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required: This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-09 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. 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 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

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Contacts

• Address Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service USDA APHIS MRPBS 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55401 US
• Name: MRP Human Resources
• Phone: 612-336-3227
• Email: [email protected]