Clarification from the agency

This position will be filled under the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority and is open to all United States citizens and U.S. nationals. Veteran's preference and traditional rating and ranking of applications do not apply. All qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration for this position.

Duties

As a Fish and Wildlife Biologist your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

Participates in all aspects of habitat restoration projects including providing techanical assistance,conducting landowner contacts and feasibility determinations, planning and design, securing permits and may include funding, developing and submitting Private Landowner Agreements (PLAs), interacting with contractors, providing construction oversight, and monitoring habitat improvements. Participates and promotes the various NRCS programs and conservation practices for private landowners. This includes providing technical assistance and review of potential projects and compilation of data and information from lower graded and volunteer personnel and cooperating organization staff working in the incumbent's geographic area of responsibility. Participates and assists with development of strategic planning documents and efforts to identify focal areas and species within geographic areas of responsibility. Utilizes socioeconomic information to identify and understand social and economic aspects of geographic area to better target landowners and to develop new landowner relationships and projects. Develops annual and long-range goals, objectives, plans, and budgets for watersheds, focus areas, and ecosystem priorities within the assigned geographic area. Prepares annual work plans and program schedules to maximize efficient use of financial resources leading to accomplishment of approved goals and objectives. Develops complete financial assistance packages and works with the state coordinator and various internal and external partners to manage and/or obligate funding. Compiles data and information for, and assists in the preparation of, reports and other documents required by the PFW program and for input in state and national tracking systems. This includes providing assistance and review of potential PFW projects and compilation of data and information from lower graded and volunteer personnel and cooperating organization staff working in the incumbent's geographic area of responsibility. Prepares management plans adequate to ensure preservation, protection, and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat on project sites. This requires coordination with other experts and review of plans that may encompass any and all programs that affect fishery and wildlife resources. These include, but are not limited to, fire management, moist soil management, grazing management, wetland restoration and management, water quality and quantity concerns, forest management, or grassland restoration and management.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Resume (See "Required Documents"). Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is provided on resume. Eligibility and Supporting documents - You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to AND submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section. Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation. Driver’s License: Selectees may be required to possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during their tenure. Probationary Period: Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period. Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 10/11/2024 will be considered.

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

Basic Requirement: Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Minimum Qualification [GS-11] One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-09 in the Federal service. Examples of this experience must include: 1) developing and maintaining effective working relationships and liaison with private landowners, tribes, other federal, state, and local agencies, and the public regarding habitat restoration; 2) participating in the development of annual and long-range goals, objectives, plans, and budgets for watersheds, focus areas, and ecosystem priorities within an assigned geographic area; and 3) identifying, design, and conduct habitat improvement projects on privately-owned lands with emphasis on stream, wetland, riparian and upland restoration and enhancement. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information proving you have this experience. OR Possess 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a discipline that clearly demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR A combination of education (beyond second year) 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.

Education

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit:

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