The Biologist serves as technical specialists or project leaders for refuges or other biological field locations, complexes, on the staff of a regional office performing work in the professional biological sciences or related natural science field or a position of comparable complexity and responsibility. Duties are primarily to lead, develop, coordinate, and implement biological programs for a refuge/complex, or to provide technical support for assignments requiring special or unique attention.

Duties

As a Biologist your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Serves in a technical staff assistance capacity to program or complex management relative to a wide range of topics and policies; develops and/or reviews project study and investigation plans to ensure validity of experimental design, statistical rigor, and scientific merit; and assesses, develops, and analyzes project results, and guides the development of research and information gathering. Examples include impacts of point and non-point source pollution, land and water resource development projects, studies to determine the status of populations of rare species, the development of comprehensive fish and/or wildlife mitigation or management plans, the review and assessment of proposals and/or license applications/renewals to determine their impact upon fish and/or wildlife resources and habitats, or the development and implementation of strategies to conserve and protect habitats and populations. Reviews and/or prepares work plans, budgets, program accomplishment reports, and technical reports of findings, conclusions, and/or recommendations regarding appropriate courses of action such as management approval/disapproval, offering alternative projects or approaches, or taking remedial action. Coordinates, collects and processes field data for analysis according to established procedures, as methods and techniques; and gathers, organizes, and interprets a wide variety of biological, ecological, pathological, public use data or other information pertinent to scientific studies. Represents the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at professional meetings and other meetings pertaining to individual assignments and attends public meetings and hearings to discuss proposed or existing development projects.

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.
• 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 05/21/2024 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification. GS-401 Educational Requirements Degree: major in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. A photo copy of official transcripts MUST be (uploaded) submitted, by the closing date, to document educational accomplishments to receive consideration for this position. OR You must have an appropriate combination of education and experience that included course work equivalent to a major (i.e. 24 semester hours) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a discipline related to this position; PLUS appropriate experience or additional course work. The quality of the combination must demonstrate that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of the position and is comparable to that normally acquired through the completion of a full four year course of study with a major as described above. A photo copy of official transcripts MUST be (uploaded) submitted, by the closing date, to document educational accomplishments to receive consideration for this position. Minimum Qualification GS-11 one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade-level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience may include: 1) Preparing species status summaries and assessments, conservation plans, environmental assessments, or other scientific documents related to management of endangered, threatened or at risk species; 2) Conducting site visits and studies as necessary to document pre-and post-restoration conditions; 3) Applying the principles and regulations which govern the management of natural resources and at risk species; 4) Applying the principles and regulations which govern the Endangered Species Act (ESA); 5) Communicating with staff members and members of the public; ??OR Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement. Minimum Qualification GS-12 One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade-level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience may include: 1) Conducting a wide variety of investigations, assessments, inspections, and studies to determine the status of populations of rare species; 2) Designing and managing the development of fish and/or wildlife management plans, to determine their impact upon resources and habitats; 3) Development and implementation of strategies to conserve and protect habitats and populations; 4) Conducting field experiments using a wide variety of data-collection systems, and extracting and analyzing data; 5) Applying the principles and regulations which govern the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and other pertinent natural resources management statutes; 6) Communicating with staff biologists and with officials from federal, tribal, state, and private sector, in disseminating scientific and resource information. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. 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.

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]