This position is a Fish and Wildlife Biologist, GS- 0401-9/11 working in Annapolis, MD for the R5-Chesapeake Bay Ecological Services Field Office. This position is also open to the public under announcement R5-25-12635371-AW-DE. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Duties

As a Fish and Wildlife Biologist your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Participates in all aspects of habitat restoration projects on private lands including conducting landowner contacts and feasibility determinations, planning and design, securing permits and funding, developing and submitting Private Landowner Agreements, interacting with contractors, providing construction oversight, and monitoring habitat improvements. Provides technical and habitat restoration assistance to local, state and Federal cooperators in the restoration and enhancement of habitats utilized by Federal Trust Resources on privately owned lands. Serves as the primary Service contact for the private lands program implementation for the assigned geographic area for all agencies and programs associated with Farm Bill implementation. This includes, but is not limited to, the Wetlands Reserve, Conservation Reserve, Wildlife Habitat Incentives, and Environmental Quality Incentives programs; Farm Service Agency conservation easement, fee title transfer, and debt for nature programs; Swampbuster and Sodbuster field checks; serving as Service representative on local working groups and subcommittees of the State Technical Committee; and serving as the Service team member in development of wetland functional assessment criteria.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
• 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 the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 12/26/2024 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification. Basic Requirement: A bachelor's degree or higher in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. I will submit my transcripts with my application that verifies this. OR A combination of education and experience that included coursework equivalent to a major (i.e. 24 semester/36 quarter hours or school equivalent) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines as shown in A above, PLUS appropriate experience or additional education, and in combination equals 100% of the basic requirements. Minimum Qualification [GS-09] One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). 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 Two (2) years of progressively higher level graduate education, in a discipline directly related to the position, leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree, in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or closely related field. 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 specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). 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) developing or evaluating habitat protection or enhancement planning documents and biological reports; (3) leading habitat conservation and recovery for a wide variety of ecosystems; and (4) mentoring and coordinating the activities of lower-graded biologists. NOTE: Your resume must provide sufficient detail proving you have this experience. OR Three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent degree -OR- have earned a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in the biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or closely related field which provided the knowledge skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position. A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement. 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. Time In Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically, i. Area of Consideration. ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502. iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions or for Federal Wage System (FWS), wage grade positions, applicants are evaluated using the OPM Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations and the job element examining method Your SF-50 will be used to confirm you meet all requirements The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA),P.L. 114-47, allows certain individuals who currently or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies to compete under merit promotion procedures. For Eligibility Information click here: USAJOBS Help Center | Land Management Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority: Served as a qualified youth on an appropriate conservation project completing a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service that included at least 120 hours through the PLC and received a certificate of non-competitive eligibility. Completed most recent Corps service, for which a certificate of non-competitive eligibility was issued, within the last 2 years. Appointment must be effected within the 2 year period. Notification to Applicant: Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.

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]