Biologist/Geographer

Clarification from the agency

Open to all U.S. Citizens. ICTAP/CTAP eligibles.

Duties

As a Biologist/Geographer your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

Serving as technical expert in specialized Geographic Information Systems (GIS)/Remote Sensing (RS) systems in support of wildlife management and evaluation activities within and outside of a Refuge System lands and waters, and with Federal, State, and other partners. Providing operating support to habitat and population evaluation team (HAPET) members, and other staff using GIS and related computer programs. Assists with interpreting results, and with integrating results into HAPET products. Applying innovative solutions to novel GIS problems, issues, and projects, and designing new methods where established methods and procedures are inapplicable or are unavailable. Using data management tools to identify, compile, analyze, and review information related to specific service activities, (e.g., conducting HAPET surveys, evaluating, planning, appraising, acquiring, mapping, and managing federal lands which are habitats of ecological significance). Facilitating the planning, coordination, development, and integration of complex database models and information systems used by HAPET staff across multiple field stations. Designing and implementing application interfaces for landscape scale, high visibility projects to support the National and Regional program staff as well as multiple refuges within the incumbent's zone. Providing system analysis support to meet data management and analysis requirements by conducting needs analysis and interviewing users in order to develop overall functional and system requirements and specifications. ??????

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 Selective Service. To verify registration, visit SSS.gov.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 05/20/2024 will be considered.

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

Basic Requirement Geography Series, GS-0150:
A. Degree: geography; or related physical or social science such as geology, meteorology, economics, statistics, sociology, anthropology, political science, history, cartography, computer science, urban studies, or planning that included at least 24 semester hours in geography or related fields.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in geography, or related field that included at least 24 semester hours in geography or related fields, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Basic Requirement General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series, GS-0401:
A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field. NOTE: You must submit copies of all transcripts that included hours and grade from an accredited U.S. college/university and your resume must contain sufficient detail, e.g., begin/end dates, hours worked per week, duties performed, etc. for each timeframe for consideration.

In addition to meeting the positive education requirement applicants must meet following specialized experience requirements in order to be rated as qualified for this position (this information must be clearly supported in the resume).

Minimum Qualification GS-11:
A. One (1) year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-9 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience may include: 1) Generating and analyzing multiple formats of spatial and tabular data (i.e., vector, raster, and tabular); 2) Using computational software and programming languages for data organization, data management, including authoring meta data, and analyses; 3) Supporting conservation planning or implementation through the use of tools including GIS; and 4) Participating in technical collaborative teams.
OR
B. Three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree with a major study that is directly related to the position to filled and that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position.
OR
C. A combination of education and experience as described in A and B above which together equals 100% of the requirement.

Minimum Qualification GS-12:
A. One (1) year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-11 level in Federal service. Specialized experience may include: Generating and analyzing multiple formats of spatial and tabular data (i.e., vector, raster, and tabular); 2) Using computational software and programming language for data organization, data management, including authoring metadata, and analysis; 3) Supporting conservation planning or implementation through the use of tools including GIS; 4) Applying statistical models to understand spatial distributions of species or systems; and 5) Leading technical collaborative teams.

NOTE: There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 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, 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.

Promotion Potential: Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds. Selectee may be promoted without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

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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