Wildlife Biologist - USDA AHPIS

Position: Wildlife Biologist

Organization: US Dept. of Agriculture Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service

View position decsription & apply at: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/600121000

Deadline: May 12th 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Announcement #: DE-11102008-21-WS

Control #: 600121000

Grade: GS 7

Salary: $45,043 to $58,558

Duties

Summary

If selected, you will be responsible for performing assignments involving project and program delivery, management, and administration with minimal supervision. The work is primarily concerned with wildlife damage management operations relating to the assessment, reduction, and/or elimination of problems associated with wild and/or feral animal species in urban, suburban, and rural environments. Both operational management and information sharing activities are conducted.

Responsibilities

• The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Conducts integrated wildlife damage management activities where needed to prevent or reduce losses to property, agriculture, and natural resources, or to protect human health and safety.
• Performs a variety of technical procedures including capture, restraint, chemical immobilization, marking, transport, euthanasia, and/or necropsy of wildlife.
• Modifies or adapts established damage or disease control techniques as necessary to meet local conditions and environmental, economic, or political considerations.
• Monitors and ensures compliance with program directives, and local, State, and Federal laws and regulations in wildlife damage management activities.
• Develops and maintains categorical exclusions, environmental assessments, monitoring reports, and other documents required by NEPA.
• Gathers, compiles, evaluates, and presents data on damage or hazards caused by various wildlife species to cooperators, stakeholders, and colleagues.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative relationships with other Federal, State, county and city government agencies, Tribes, corporations, etc.
• Communicates safe and effective damage management techniques through outreach and other channels to the general public.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.
BASIC REQUIREMENT:

A) 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:

B) 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-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Experience dealing with human-wildlife conflicts, principles of wildlife damage management and airport wildlife hazard management.
• Experience establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships with other Federal, State, county and city government agencies, Tribes, corporations, educational or research institutions.
• The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and Federal Air Regulations.
• Experience with wildlife mitigation techniques such as: firearms, traps, snares, pesticides, immobilizing drugs, pyrotechnics, electronic harassment devices, and other non-lethal control tools.

OR

1 year (18 Semester Hours) of graduate-level education with Wildlife studies

OR

Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND must meet certain GPA requirements.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

TRANSCRIPTS are required:

• This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified.
• You are qualifying for the position based on education.
• You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.
• You are qualifying for this position based on Superior Academic Achievement.
• This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-07 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level.

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 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

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:

• Spatial Orientation
• Wildlife Biology

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To preview the application questionnaire, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11102008

View position decsription & apply at: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/600121000