This position is a Land Management Law Enforcement Officer, GS-1801-12/13 working in Falls Church, Virginia, for the Division of Refuge Law Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. This position is also open to status candidates at the GS-11 grade level under announcement R9-24-12369406-ALM-MP. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered at the GS-11 grade level.

Duties

As a Land Management Law Enforcement Officer your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Developmental career opportunity. Duties at the GS-12 level are performed in a more limited scope and responsibility. Duties at the GS-13 full performance level include, but are not limited to the following: Serves as a senior advisor and staff technical expert on the refuge law enforcement program and all law enforcement related issues for Headquarters Law Enforcement management. Coordinates with the Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Attorneys, and other judicial systems and staff members. Serves as a senior level liaison between Headquarters management and other law enforcement entities including the Service's Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), other land management bureaus/agencies. Develops and provides long-range planning, coordination, and evaluation for the refuge law enforcement program at the national level. Reviews, edit, and assists in developing refuge law enforcement operational plans and implementation strategies at the national level. Ensures operational program is consistent with and conforms to all applicable policies, regulations, and legal guidelines. Provides expertise in preparing briefing statements, draft policies, training curriculum, serious incident reports, and other applicable law enforcement case reports. Researches and recommends revisions to law enforcement standards, policies, and procedures. Develops working relationships, exchanges information, and coordinates law enforcement activities with other Service law enforcement staff along with other Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Prepares specialized, national budgets allocated for operation al costs and continuously evaluates and revises program activities to conform to approved and available funds. Coordinates the implementation of policy with other NWRS LE staff. Ensures national program consistency and conformance with all applicable policies, regulations, and legal guidelines to advance and accomplish the Service's primary mission. As needed, independently investigates a wide variety of criminal activity affecting the Fish and Wildlife Service trust resources. Participates in emergency response activities as needed.

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.
• Drug testing position: Selectees tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Medical Requirements: Selectees must pass a pre-employment medical examination and may be subject to post-employment medical examinations to determine if they are maintaining the fitness standards for this position.
• Driver’s License: Selectees MAY be required to possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during their tenure.
• Firearm: Selectees will be required to carry a firearm in the performance of your duties.
• Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform may be required.
• Notice of Financial Disclosure Report Requirement: This position is subject to a financial disclosure requirement and you will be required to complete either OGE Form 278e or OGE Form 450 as applicable within 30 days of your appointment
• Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
• Probationary Period: Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 04/18/2024 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification. Minimum Qualifications GS-12: 1. One (1) year of full-time specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to grade GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience must meet three (3) or more of the following: 1) Work performed investigating violations of laws and regulations on a wildlife refuge, including laws pertaining to poaching, illegal hunting, or similar wildlife-related activities; 2) Preparing investigative case files according to standard operating procedures to ensure they meet legal requirements; 3) Reviewing law enforcement regulations, policies or procedures to recommend improvements or clarifications; 4) Delivering presentations or informal talks to the public about the laws, regulations and policies of a wildlife refuge; 5) Investigation, apprehension, and/or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of the United States; 6) Representing the refuge law enforcement program as a team member on Department, Service, and interagency task force and working groups; collecting, summarizing, or reporting law enforcement data regarding serious incidents drug cases, annual crime reports, etc. and/or ensuring data quality and system integrity is maintained; or 7) Management and administration and support; or data collection, analysis and reporting for the Refuge law enforcement program. Minimum Qualifications GS-13: 1. One (1) year of full-time specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to grade GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience must meet four (4) or more of the following: 1) Conducting investigation apprehension, and/or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of the United States; 2) Representing the refuge law enforcement program as a team member on Department, Service, and interagency task force and working groups; program planning and administration for a law enforcement program; 3) Data collection analysis and reporting for the Refuge LE program; 4) Drafting issue and periodic briefing papers on law enforcement issues, critical incidents, operational activities, policy implementation, etc.; 5) Changing refuge system needs, emerging national priorities and developing critical issues; 6) Work in the development and implementation of policy related to protection, conservation, and management of the Refuge Law Enforcement program; or 7) Analyzing cost effectiveness of differing approaches and recommending program changes to increase cost efficiency. NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 or GS-13 grade levels. 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. Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP 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, 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 visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/" 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. Note: You must submit ALL SF-50s and performance information for each period of temporary/term employment that qualifies for LMWFA. Performance documentation can be obtained by contacting the supervisors for the positions you served in during your 24 months. If they did not complete performance appraisals ask them to provide a statement of performance for each period of service. The statement must specify the dates for each employment period and your level of performance (dates should match the dates on the SF-50s). Current appointees: Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency; Must have served under 1 or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; AND Must have performed at an acceptable level. Former appointees: Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency; Must have served under 1 or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; Must apply for position within 2 years after separation; Must have been separated for reasons other than misconduct or performance; AND Must have performed at an acceptable level.

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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

Contacts

• Address
• Name: Human Resources Staffing Division
• Phone: 000-000-0000
• Email: [email protected]