This position is a Biologist, GS- 0401-9/11 working in Bloomington, Minnesota for the R3-Minnesota State Private Lands Office. This position is also open to status candidates under announcement R3-25-12620924-AA-MP. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Duties

As a Biologist your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following: Habitat Restoration: Participates in all aspects of habitat restoration projects including conducting landowner contacts and feasibility determinations, planning and design, securing permits and funding, developing and submitting Private Landowner Agreements (PLAs), interacting with contractors, providing construction oversight, and monitoring habitat improvements. Participates and assists with development of strategic planning documents and efforts to identify focal areas and species within geographic areas of responsibility. Utilizes socioeconomic information to identify and understand social and economic aspects of geographic area to better target landowners and to develop new landowner relationships and projects. Develops, analyzes, and evaluates methods to restore and enhance habitats on private lands for fish, wildlife, and plant resources and prepares reports and recommendations on habitat restoration techniques and accomplishments. Monitors projects to understand best restoration techniques and use by trust resources. Builds and maintains trust and working relationships with an array of partners in geographic areas of responsibility.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation.
• Driver’s License: This position requires the incumbent to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of their official duties. Selectee must hold and maintain a valid state driver’s license throughout their employment in this position.
• 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 Selective Service. To verify registration, visit SSS.gov.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by the closing date 12/06/2024 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification. Basic Requirement: Successful completion of all requirements for a full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a discipline closely related to fish and wildlife biology. OR An appropriate combination of education and experience. Education must include successful completion of course work equivalent to a major (at least 24 semester or school equivalent) in an accredited college or university in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a discipline closely related to fish and wildlife biology; PLUS experience directly related to the position being filled and/or additional related education. The quality of the combination of education and experience must demonstrate that the applicant possesses the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of the position to be filled and equal 100% of the requirement when combined. Minimum Qualification [GS-09] One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-07 in the Federal service, to meet this requirement, you must have experience performing ALL of the following duties: (1) developing and maintaining effective working relationships and liaison with private landowners, tribes, other federal, state, and local agencies, and the public regarding habitat restoration; (2) assisting in developing or evaluating habitat protection or enhancement planning documents and biological reports; AND (3) participating in habitat or conservation and recovery for a wide variety of ecosystems. NOTE: Your resume must provide sufficient detail proving you have this experience. OR Successful completion of two full years of progressively higher level graduate education (i.e., 36 semesters or school equivalent) or master's or equivalent graduate degree in a discipline closely related to fish and wildlife biology. This education must have provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position to be filled. OR An equivalent combination of appropriate level work experience and graduate education as described above that when combined meet the qualification requirements. Note: only graduate education in excess of 18 semester or school equivalent is creditable toward this grade level when combining. The quality of the combination of education and experience must demonstrate that the applicant possesses the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of the position to be filled. OR A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement Minimum Qualification [GS-11] One year of full-time equivalent specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal service (GS-9), to meet this requirement, you must have experience performing ALL of the following duties: (1) developing and maintaining effective working relationships and liaison with private landowners, tribes, other federal, state, and local agencies, and the public regarding habitat restoration; AND (2) developing or evaluating habitat protection or enhancement planning documents and biological reports; AND (3) coordinating efforts of multiple personnel involved in habitat or conservation for a wide variety of ecosystems; AND (4) preparing briefing statements, reports, correspondence, presentations, etc. NOTE: Your resume must provide sufficient detail proving you have this experience. OR Successful completion of 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education (i.e., 54 semester hours or school equivalent) or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a discipline directly related to fish and wildlife biology. The quality of the education must demonstrate that the applicant possesses the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of the position to be filled. OR An equivalent combination of appropriate level work experience and graduate education as described above that when combined meet the qualification requirements. Note: only graduate education in excess of 36 semester hours or school equivalent is creditable toward this grade level when combining. The quality of the combination of education and experience must demonstrate that the applicant possesses the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of the position to be filled. All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. The category ratings for this position are: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of Veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher). 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 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. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Contacts

• Address
• Name: Human Resources Staffing Division
• Email: [email protected]