Wildlife Biologist

Summary The Wildlife Biologist serves as a project leader (as assigned) or team member to provide technical, operational, and scientific guidance, updates on program progress, research, proposed actions to meet such challenges. The incumbent provides guidance and supervision for technicians and students supporting the National Feral Swine Damage Management Program. Learn more about this agency Duties Help The duties described are for the full-performance level. The duties may include, but are not limited to: Provides technical expertise, advice and support for Wildlife Services operational control, population and disease monitoring, and research activities with feral swine. Provides program leadership and guidance for GIS and emerging technology supporting the National Feral Swine Damage Management Program Assists in establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships with other agencies, laboratories, organizations, institutions and individuals in meeting program needs and objectives. Responsible for assimilating, organizing, and analyzing feral swine damage data derived from UAS. Compilation and analysis of data is provided in written format to the National Feral Swine Program Coordinator. Participates in developing and conducting training, on-the-job developmental activities, and fills temporary details to support various Wildlife Services activities. Develops and designs procedures then instructs Wildlife Services specialists. Temporary assignments may be located anywhere within the United States or internationally and may require details of several weeks or more away from his/her official duty station. May need to operate 4 wheel drive vehicles over rough terrain and other off-road environments. Requirements Help 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. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information. 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 All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions. There is occasional exposure to moderate risk and discomfort, such as adverse weather conditions, noisy environments and work with the aerial operations crew. Additionally, the incumbent may work with biological specimens that may contain pathogens, and hazardous chemicals such as sedatives and anesthetics. The incumbent may be required to receive pre-exposure and post-exposure vaccinations to prevent contacting preventable diseases. Must possess and maintain a valid State-issued driver's license at the time of application in order to operate a Government-owned or leased vehicle. 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:

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. 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 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Proposing feral swine damage control strategies and evaluating their impact on population and damage. Preparing documents and oral presentations in the form of briefing papers, environmental assessments, scientific publications, and participating in wildlife conferences/workshops. Analyzing operational data collected by APHIS Wildlife Services regarding agriculture, natural resources, property, animal health, or human health and safety. Developing and implementing techniques to determine quantitative/qualitative impacts to agriculture, nature resources, and property caused by feral swine OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Ecology, Wildlife Management. 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. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-11 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. 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. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. 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. 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. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service