This position is located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in the Resource Management and Science Division. Open to the first 100 applicants or until 06/21/2024 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

Duties

SUMMARY: This position serves as a Wildlife Biologist in the Wildlife Branch of the Resource Management and Science Division at Great Smoky Mountains National Park and performs assignments associated with managing/mitigating/monitoring human/wildlife conflicts, controlling non-native wild hogs, and wildlife research/monitoring (e.g., endangered bats, etc.). Most duties are performed independently and without immediate supervisory guidance. The Wildlife Biologist leads field crews, frequently using seasoned judgement to promptly select the appropriate course of action in dynamic and unpredictable situations. MAJOR DUTIES: The duties may include, but are not limited to: Spontaneously respond to human-wildlife encounters (e.g., roadside wildlife jams, bear attacks, etc.) and decide a course of action in the interest of public safety and animal welfare. Organizes, schedules, and executes the parks long-term threatened and endangered bat monitoring by collaborating with appropriate staff, researchers, and partners on site locations, techniques, appropriate equipment, logistics, etc. Lethally removes non-native wild hogs utilizing a variety of complex firearms (e.g., revolvers, semi-automatic shotguns, AR-10 semi-automatic rifles, etc.), traps (e.g., box traps, drop nets, corral traps, etc.) and specialized equipment (e.g., electronic thermal imaging scopes, night vision units, firearm sound suppressors, cell phone activated camera and trap technology, etc.). Performs population census and survey; and surveillance and monitoring; gathering compiling and analyzing data to facilitate statistical analyses. Performs a variety of technical procedures including capture, restraint, chemical immobilization, marking, transport, euthanasia, and/or necropsy of wildlife. May assist with research projects to increase knowledge of wildlife ecology and/or to develop or improve wildlife management and monitoring. Utilizes computer programs to compile, store, retrieve, analyze, and report data on wildlife management and monitoring activities. Interprets and documents findings by preparing information to be included in manuscripts or preparing reports for other park staff summarizing progress or results. Operates motor vehicles, including two and four-wheel drive, passenger cars, vans, UTV's, trucks up to one ton and tows trailers. Manages lower grade technicians, seasonal employees, and volunteers working on the above-mentioned projects. Assist the Supervisory Wildlife Biologist in the preparation of the Wildlife branch planning documents as assigned. AREA/DUTY STATION INFORMATION: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located in the states of North Carolina and Tennessee and encompasses 800 square miles of which 95 percent are forested. The duty station for this position is located near the city of Cherokee, North Carolina. There are 16 peaks over 6,000' in elevation and up to 90" of rainfall spread throughout the year. The Park has 10 campgrounds, 800 miles of horse and hiking trails, and 750 miles of fishable streams. The Smokies is within one day's drive for about 1/3 of the U.S. population and thus attracts over 12 million visitors annually making it the most visited, national park in the system. Climate is moderate with average lows in the summer in the 60's and highs in the 80's and 90's and average lows in winter between 20 and 30 with highs in the 50's. Snowfall averages range from 5" in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, to 11" in Bryson City, North Carolina.

Requirements

Qualifications

Additional Requirements: Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service); with few exceptions as outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal civilian employees applying for reinstatement who have had a break in service of less than one year, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointments. Time-in-grade does not apply to new excepted service appointments and must be met by the closing date of this announcement. All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-06/21/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess basic requirements of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST GS-0486-09: 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. You must include transcripts. -OR- 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 in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. You must include transcripts. In addition to the above criteria, to qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: 1) Wildlife research and monitoring; 2) Non-native/invasive wildlife management; and 3) Human/wildlife conflict management. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. You must include transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, first take educational percentage. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts. Volunteer Experience: 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. Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Contacts

• Address Great Smoky Mountains National Park DO NOT SEND MAIL TO THIS ADDRESS 107 Park Headquarters Road Gatlinburg, TN 37738 US
• Name: Andres Del Rio
• Phone: 0000000000
• Email: [email protected]