Wildlife Biologist
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Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a US Citizen or US National.
- Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
- Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
- Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
- Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
- Testing Designated Position: Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
- Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
- The work requires moderately strenuous physical exertion. Physical exertion includes lifting moderate weights, walking over wet, rough, uneven, muddy, or rocky surfaces, bending, crouching, stooping, stretching or similar activities.
- The job also requires a flexible schedule, working odd hours, frequent weekend work, and must be conducted at the affected site.
- Operation of Government-owned or leased vehicles and ATV's/UTV's is required.
- The legal and physical ability to possess and discharge firearms is required.
- Travel for temporary program assignments and training is required.
- For work locations where driving back to the official duty station each day is not reasonable, overnight camping in a government owned sheep camp or camp trailer may be required.
- Incumbent will be required to successfully obtain and maintain the appropriate pesticide applicator license(s), by completing the necessary Certified Applicators courses and/or examinations within set deadlines after appointment to the position.
- APHIS is an emergency response agency. All agency staff members may be requested or allocated to take part in alternating temporary duty assignments away from their designated duty station in support of emergency initiatives.
Basic 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.
In addition to meeting the basic requirement you will also need to meet the following:
FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
- Experience with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and Federal Air Regulations.
- Experience using firearms, capture devices, cable devices, pesticides, immobilizing drugs, pyrotechnics, electronic harassment devices, and other nonlethal control tools.
- Experience identifying North American wildlife species and assess their abundance, behavior, and habitats.
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.
FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 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/or airport wildlife hazard management.
- Experience selecting appropriate wildlife damage management strategies, techniques, tools and applying them to specific situations.
- Experience monitoring wildlife behavior and abundance and evaluates hazards posed by various species of wildlife on airports and surrounding properties.
- Experience collecting, analyzing, and presenting ecological data on wildlife hazards to airport staff and appropriate regulatory agencies through regular program reports and at stakeholder meetings.
Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.
TRANSCRIPTS Are Required If
- 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.
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.
Additional information
- Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
- First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected.
- Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee.
- Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
- Worksite Information: This position is located at the duty station(s) listed in this vacancy announcement and is not eligible for telework or remote work.
- 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.