Wildlife Biologist

Help Help

Duties

• Develops procedures and standards and reviews and interprets program policy.
• Serves as principal staff specialist or advisor to the Renewable Energy Division Branch Chief on wildlife biology program issues.
• Provides advice/guidance on research issues in the field and its application to bureau habitat management, automation of wildlife management programs, policy determination, and interpretation.
• Adheres to bureau policies, manuals, handbooks, and directives relating to biology, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Threatened and Endangered Species Act, and Federal Land Policy, and Management Act (FLPMA).
• Coordinates with government agencies, tribal councils, and interest groups to conserve, develop, and manage public rangelands in preparation of NEPA analysis and FLPMA documents.
• Coordinates with appropriate federal, state, and tribal offices to obtain sensitive species information, habitat delineations, and survey information.
• Serves as representative on interagency committees. Responsible for negotiating cooperative agreements and memorandums of understanding. Develops responses to Congress and requests for information.
• Participates in interdisciplinary teams able to utilize an interdisciplinary approach to assess environmental impacts and multiple use conflicts for integrated resource planning.
• Provides training and orientation on new program initiatives to the State, District and Field office employees.
• Provides technical guidance to Districts and Field offices on planning documents, use authorizations, feasibility studies and other activities within wildlife biology program.
• Evaluates procedures, standards, and compliance of the District/Field offices and reports findings/makes recommendations to remedy identified problems to the Branch Chief of the Renewable Energy Division.
• Follows up on proposed solutions and responses to determine progress toward alleviating program concerns.
• Coordinates with stakeholders, non-government organizations (NGO’s), Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) and Nevada Department of Mines (NDOM).
• Consolidates Field and District office budget submissions including the program year plans, preliminary annual work plan and supplemental project plans for the State’s wildlife program.
  
  

Help Help

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Be sure to read the How to Apply and Required Documents Sections.
• You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
• Direct Deposit Required.
• Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
• Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
• May require a one year probationary period.
  
  

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

This position has a Positive Education Requirement.

Basic Education Requirement

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.

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.

For the GS-12: In addition to meeting the education requirement, you must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: prepare wildlife portions of environmental assessments; analyze surface use proposals on Threatened & Endangered Species; plan & conduct wildlife field inventories & monitoring studies; interpret data & prepare wildlife management plans.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Physical Demands: The individual works in an office setting at this level. There may be some walking standing or bending. The individual would carry light items like books or papers. The individual may have to use an automobile. Occasionally, field work may involve hiking, riding horseback or traveling in rugged terrain.

Work Environment: The work is mostly performed in an office setting. When necessary to complete the work, there may be outdoor exposure. Outdoor exposure requires some discomfort in extremes of temperature or inclement weather.

Education

This position falls under the OPM Standards for Professional and Scientific positions, series 0486, Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR).This position has a positive education requirement. See qualification section for description of the Basic Education Requirement (BER).

There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 level.

You MUST submit a copy of ALL your college transcripts or a list of ALL college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. Upon selection, official transcripts must be received prior to appointment. 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.

All selections and tentative offers of selection are contingent upon submission and verification of 'official' transcripts upon selection.

Additional information

Relocation/Recruitment Incentive: This position is offering a Relocation/Recruitment Incentive, 20% of the annual salary. To be eligible for a Relocation Incentive, you must be a current Federal Employee and the selectee must be employed with the Federal Government and the selectees current duty location is more than 50 miles from the duty location of this position. To be eligible for a Recruitment Incentive, selectee must not be employed by the Federal Government.

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP

Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service

Travel and relocation expenses will be paid consistent with the Federal Travel Regulation, Chapter 302, and Departmental policy. Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Tax Law Impact for PCS: Moving expenses reimbursement is a taxable benefit. However, the Federal Travel Regulation 18-05 issued by General Services Administration has authorized agencies to use the Withholding Tax Allowance and Relocation Income Tax Allowance to pay for "substantially all" of the increased tax liability resulting from the "2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" for certain eligible individuals.

The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis. The selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Certain incentives (such as Recruitment, Relocation or Student Loan Repayment) may be authorized to eligible selectees. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive or Student Loan Repayment.

Read more

• Help Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online questionnaire will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. Qualified applicants will be placed in one of three predefined categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified and Qualified. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Candidates placed in the Best Qualified category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be contacted for an interview.

Your answers to the online questionnaire will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

• Financial Management
• Partnering
• Teaching Others
• Technical Competence
  
  

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of the following additional assessment: Subject Matter Expert Resume Panel Review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.