This position serves as a Wildlife 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: Conducts integrated wildlife damage management activities where there is a demonstrated need, consistent with the planned use of any given area to protect human health and safety. Performs a variety of technical procedures including capture, restraint, chemical immobilization, marking, transport, euthanasia, and/or necropsy of wildlife. Performs collection, storage, and safe transport of biological data and samples; also, telemetry; GIS; GPS; population census and survey. 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. Assists cooperators in understanding of and compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Endangered Species Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and other wildlife-related laws. 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. Performs population census and survey; and surveillance and monitoring; gathering, compiling, and analyzing data to facilitate statistical analyses. May assist with research projects to increase knowledge of wildlife ecology and to develop or improve methods to reduce damage to resources or disease transmission to domestic animals and humans.

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.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• 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 possess and maintain a valid State-issued driver’s license in order to operate a Government-owned or leased vehicle.
• Extended travel or temporary duty may be required of the position. This may involve irregular working hours, including overtime. Occasional weekend and/or holiday work may be required.
• Incumbents must be able to comply with both Federal and State statutory requirements to possess and use firearms in the performance of their duties and must maintain state-mandated firearm use certification requirements.
• To fulfill field or laboratory requirements in this position, proof of specific vaccinations and boosters, may be required as a condition of employment to prevent contracting preventable diseases.
• The ability to obtain and maintain all requirements/certifications to independently work in Biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) with viruses in wildlife.
• The ability to obtain and maintain the following: Rock/cannon net certification; Chemical mobilization/euthanasia certification; Federal firearms certification.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. BASIC REQUIREMENT: A. Degree: 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 B. 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. 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: Worked in biocontainment with wildlife and pathogens. Administration of anesthesia of wildlife, such as deer, raccoons, skunks, mice, and rats. Assisted with the planning of research studies (field and laboratory) by reviewing and editing protocols, procuring equipment, and handling the logistics of wildlife disease research studies on live wildlife. Capture, handling, and maintenance of live vertebrate wildlife, such as: mice, passerines, waterfowl, skunks, deer, and raccoons. Conducted complete necropsies of wildlife in field and captive settings. OR 2 Years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in a major directly related to the position. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered an academic year of graduate study. 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. 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]