This position is a BIOLOGIST, GS- 0401-11/12 working in Cookeville, TN for the R4-Tennessee Ecological Services Field Office.

Duties

As a BIOLOGIST your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Coordinates and facilitates wide ranging initiatives involving other federal and state agencies, organizations, and the public in fully implementing Endangered Species Act programs. Participates in diverse, complex, and multi-disciplinary planning efforts with public and private groups and federal, tribal, state, and local agencies to achieve USFWS policies, objectives, and goals. Negotiates mitigation of project impacts with project proponents and regulatory agencies, and develops reasonable and prudent alternatives and conservation recommendations or measures. Plans, investigates, conducts, and reviews on-site ecological investigations on a wide variety of complex and diverse federal land and water resource development proposals to determine their effects on fish and wildlife resources, with special emphasis on rare, candidate, proposed, federally listed threatened and endangered species habitat, riparian habitat, wetland ecology and management, and other habitats of concern in the affected area. Develops and maintains computer databases; and gathers, analyzes, synthesizes, and summarizes scientific, programmatic, and/or budgetary data. Uses a wide variety of data visualization methods and techniques to communicate data and findings to various audiences including USFWS management and staff, partnering agencies and organizations, and interested parties. Prepares objective and complete written reports and other documents and delivers oral presentations to USFWS management and staff, other agencies, professional organizations, and public groups based on investigations conducted, analyzing present and future impacts of various complex project alternatives on fish and wildlife resources and economic and recreational uses thereof.

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.
• 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 06/20/2024 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification. Basic Requirement: Possess a degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Possess a combination of education and experience that includes courses equivalent to a major in the biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position, PLUS appropriate experience or additional education. Minimum Qualification [GS-12] One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-11 in the Federal service. Experience includes (1) Leading analysis and implementation of federal environmental laws, regulations and policies specifically pertaining to the Endangered Species Act section 4, 7, and 10; (2) independently evaluating impacts to fish and wildlife in response to identified threats or stressors; (3) guiding and preparing scientific manuscripts and reports; (4) extensive experience working with native fish, freshwater mussels, and aquatic communities and their conservation and recovery; (5) developing annual and long-range goals and objectives for watersheds, focus areas, and ecosystem priorities; (6) extensive experience compiling data and information using databases (including geospatial databases) to ensure accomplishments and activities are adequately reported and entered into state and national tracking systems; and (7) leading teams and with diverse partnerships. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. Minimum Qualification [GS-11] One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-09 in the Federal service. Experience includes: (1) participation in implementing federal environmental laws specifically pertaining to the Endangered Species Act, Sections 4, 7, and 10; (2) participate or assist in evaluating impacts to fish and wildlife in response to identified threats or stressors; (3) assisting with preparing of scientific reports; (4) some experience working with native fish, freshwater mussels, and aquatic communities and their conservation and recovery; (5) providing technical assistance and delivery of high priority recovery actions for at-risk or federally endangered or threatened species that enhance, restore, or protect their habitats; (6) some experience compiling data and information using databases (including geospatial databases); and (7) working in teams and with diverse partnerships. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. OR Completed 3 years of graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree in a directly related field appropriate to this position. OR Possess an equivalent combination of professional experience and graduate level education beyond the second year which together equals 100% of the requirements. 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
• Email: [email protected]