Wildlife Refuge Specialist (GS 485-11)

Salary: $66,662 - $86,665 per year (Eligible to receive 4.42% cost of living allowance for County of Hawaii, Hawaii (subject to annual review)

Pay scale & grade: GS 11

Duties

As a Wildlife Refuge Specialist your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Responsible for the day-to-day operational aspects of coordinating, planning, and carrying out various duties involved with the effective and efficient running of Refuge/WMD biological programs and services. Oversees and reviews land and aquatic conservation activities, habitat development, clean-up, contaminant and restoration projects, research studies, population studies, wildlife inventory, and monitoring activities to include species lifecycle requirements and management.
• Ensures all projects comply with national, regional, and Refuge/WMD policies, regulations and mandates. Develops and fosters partnerships with other Federal, state and local agencies, and private organizations to protect lands around the Refuge/WMD. Participates in the review of projects proposed by other agencies, stakeholders/partners (i.e., U.S. Forest Service, state fish and wildlife agencies, Tribal representatives), identifying possible conflicts with refuge management objectives, and develops comments and recommendations for the Wildlife Refuge Manager and senior management approval.
• Provides the Wildlife Refuge Manager and other senior management input for, and assists in, the preparation of interagency cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and subsequent modifications, and assists in the administration of these agreements.
• Develops and carries out active stewardship of natural resources beyond Refuge/WMD boundaries to improve or safeguard the Refuge/WMD, and to enhance or protect trust resources over large geographic areas. Implements land and wetland use programs or management techniques designed to improve wildlife habitat such as invasive species control, weed control, seeding, haying, and any other practices resulting in increased benefits to migratory birds and other wildlife using the Refuge/WMD.
• May participate in the management and administration of Refuge/WMD interests in land acquisition and/or easement activities that would require working cooperatively with realty specialists and landowners in land acquisition activities and issues.
• Prepares Comprehensive Conservation Plans, Habitat Management Plans, Land Acquisition and Protection Plans.
• Assists with the planning and directing of the Refuge/WMD's comprehensive public relations/public use program - including off-refuge programs, interpretive and educational programs, wildlife dependent recreation (hunting, fishing, wildlife observation), and other recreational management activities - to maximize use of the Refuge/WMD.
• Routinely responds to information requests from individuals, local groups, and organizations.
• Plans, schedules, attends, and/or conducts a variety of formal and informal meetings (i.e., presenting specific information to targeted audiences on Refuge/WMD projects or on the potential impact to the Refuge/WMD, educational presentations, facility tours, open forum meetings to gather public opinion on current and proposed projects/programs) with elected officials (local, county, state legislators, and Congressional staff), individuals at varying levels of government (local, state, and Federal), private landowners, country/state farm bureaus, the media, local and national environmental/conservation groups, academia, Tribal representatives, and the general public. Provides information, discusses issues, resolves problems, and receives public interest on the status of existing, developing, or proposed refuges.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 12/27/2021 will be considered.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.

Basic Requirement:

1. Bachelor's or higher degree in zoology, wildlife management, or an appropriate field of biology that included at least 9 semester hours in zoology; 6 semester hours in such wildlife courses as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, or wildlife management; 3 semester hours in botany, and 3 semester hours in conservation biology. NOTE: To be found qualified under this option, ALL applicants must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) that verifies EACH OF THESE unit amounts and this education. OR
2. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in one of the fields described in A above that included at least 9 semester hours in zoology; 6 semester hours in such wildlife courses as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, or wildlife management; 3 semester hours in botany, and 3 semester hours in conservation biology, PLUS appropriate experience or additional course work comparable to a full four-year course of study with a major as described above. The quality of the combination demonstrates that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of the position. NOTE: To qualify under this option, ALL applicants must submit transcripts to verify their education and EACH OF THESE unit amounts, and include proof of their experience in the texts of their resumes.

Minimum Qualification GS-11

1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-09 in the Federal service. Experience include: Utilizing applicable laws, policies, objectives, planning, and management activities related to land management (knowledge of invasive species and knowledge of invasive species management methods, etc) and knowledge of State, local, and Tribal laws, customs, and economic interests including the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and their requirements to perform duties with the legal boundaries and identify improper or illegal activities; Interacting with staff, the general public, non-governmental organizations, and other local, state, and Federal agencies to work cooperatively with diverse individuals and groups to solve problems, promote cooperation, and inform the public of issues; Participating in development of long-range plan, annual work plans, and associated budgeting. OR
2. Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OR
3. 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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

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

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications which resulted in you being listed in the highest quality category, you may lose consideration, or be assigned to a lower quality category for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

• Knowledge of applicable laws, policies, objectives, planning, and management activities related to land management (knowledge of invasive species and knowledge of invasive species management methods, etc) and knowledge of State, local, and Tribal laws, customs, and economic interests including the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and their requirements
• Knowledge of planning and budgeting processes
• Skill to effectively interact with staff, the general public, non-governmental organizations, and other local, state, and Federal agencies
• Knowledge and skill in applying a wide range of theories, principles and concepts of population and wildlife and aquatic biology, wildlife management, species lifecycle requirements/ management, and conservation biology
• Knowledge of wildland recreation management
• Oral communication skills sufficient to interact with a variety of individuals, to present material(s), to conduct tours, to respond to verbal inquiries
• Knowledge of the operation and maintenance assets and equipment
• Knowledge of, and skill to recruit, train, supervise, and motivate employee(s)

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 protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the 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).