Job Description

Summary

If selected, you will be responsible for assisting in the planning, developing, organizing, and administering of complex operational and technical assistance programs designed to efficiently, effectively, and safely reduce wildlife damage that adversely impacts agricultural interests, human health and safety, property, and natural resources. The programs are of major economic and public health significance and are conducted in both rural and urban areas

Duties

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• The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Responsible for efficiently, effectively, and safely reducing adverse wildlife-related impacts to agriculture, property, natural resources, and to reduce wildlife impacts on human health and safety.
• Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, establishes and adjusts short-term and long-term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work.
• Assists with the development and implementation of conventional strategic plans based on Wildlife Services Directives and program needs.
• In accordance with established criteria and direction, implements new or revised WS policies and protocols in response to annual levels of appropriations or changes in national policy or legislation.
• Ensures compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), parallel State environmental laws, and other applicable Federal and State laws and regulations.
• Coordinates and meets with Federal, State/Territorial, county, and municipal agency personnel, organizations, institutions, associations, and private industry groups to identify WDM needs.
• Cultivates positive community and media relations, participates in community meetings, gives presentations before groups, and prepares articles for local news media.
• Negotiates, establishes, maintains, monitors, and reports on conventional and standard reimbursable agreements such as Cooperative Service, Field, and Interagency Agreements.
• In coordination with supervisor, tracks budgets and funds provided for wildlife damage management (WDM) operations of the work unit.

Requirements

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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.
• Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• 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
• 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.
• 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.
• Extended travel or temporary duty may be required of the position. This may involve irregular working hours, including overtime.
• Legal and physical ability to possess and discharge firearms appropriately and safely is required.
• Incumbents must be able to comply with both Federal and State statutory requirements to possess and use firearms in the performance of their duties and must maintain state-mandated firearm use certification requirements.
• The incumbent of this position must maintain the required background investigation or security clearance level and any applicable secure access credentials sufficient to perform the essential functions of the position.
• To fulfill field or laboratory requirements in this position, proof of specific vaccinations and boosters, may be required as a condition of employment to prevent contracting preventable diseases.

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.

OR

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.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement you will also need to meet the following:

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 in leading a team in cooperative wildlife damage management projects.
• Experience negotiating, developing, and implementing Cooperative Service Agreements.
• Experience communicating safe and effective damage management techniques through outreach and other channels to the general public.
• Providing technical assistance to a variety of cooperators or conducting site visits or assessments to identify wildlife damage issues.

OR

2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in one of the following degree fields: Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Ecology, or Wildlife Management or closely related field.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

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:

• Experience assisting senior employees in human resources management and supervisory techniques in order to plan, develop, and administer a wildlife damage management program.
• Experience in identifying anomalies, drawing conclusions, and developing appropriate courses of action to direct or manage work flow and personnel in a district.
• Experience planning, coordinating, and complying with the National Environmental Policy Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Endangered Species Act, State statutes, State Administrative Rules, and Federal Aviation Regulations for wildlife damage management activities conducted within the State.
• Experience in contracting and agreement procedures to provide oversight sufficient to assist in administration of these contracts and agreements.

OR

3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree in Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Ecology, Wildlife Management or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in one of the mentioned or closely related fields.

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-9/11 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.
• Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection.
• 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.
• There are 9 vacancies. The locations for these vacancies are as follows:
  • 1 - West Valley City, UT
  • 1 - San Diego, CA
  • 1 - Lihue, HI
  • 1 - West Boylston, MA
  • 1 - Lincoln County, OK
  • 1 - to be filled in either Santa Clara or Alameda or Modesto, CA
  • 1 - to be filled in either Bannock or Clark or Minidoka counties, ID
  • 1 - to be filled in either Monroe or Prairie or White or Woodruff counties, AR
  • 1 - to be filled in either Dauphin or Lebanon or Berks or Perry or Lancaster counties, PA

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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.

Benefits

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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.

Job Tags

Full time, Temporary work, Part time, Local area, Relocation,

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