NRES Career Information

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Job Title:Wildlife Biologist

Department:Department Of The Interior

Agency:Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Service

Job Announcement Number:R3-15-1480772-MT

JOB SUMMARY:

You too can make a difference in our world. The work of the US Fish and Wildlife Service is meaningful and varied. Want to know more about what it is like to work for us? Click here to watch short podcasts called Meet Your New Boss! and Diversity is our Strength.

This announcement is being advertised under delegated examining procedures and is open to all U.S. citizens.  The vacancy announcement is concurrently advertised under merit promotion procedures under announcement number R3-15-1477115-MT  Candidates who wish to be considered under both procedures MUST apply and submit complete application packages to both vacancies.

This position is located at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird and State Programs Division of Bird Habitat Conservation in Bloomington, MN.

Assistant Joint Venture Coordinator will work directly the Joint Venture Coordinator with the detailed planning, organization and implementation of Joint Venture programs. Duties will focus on the technical aspects of the programs, including providing expert advice to partners, complying with Federal requirements and regulations, and database management. 

TRAVEL REQUIRED

• Occasional Travel
• Meetings, training, etc

RELOCATION AUTHORIZED

• No

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply to this position.
• A background investigation is required.
• Valid State Drivers License is required.
• A probation period may be required.

DUTIES:

Duties include, but are not limited to:

* Work directly with the Joint Venture Coordinator to plan, guide, and coordinate the efforts of a team of professionals including Federal, State, Tribal and non-governmental organizations and individuals called a Joint Venture Board.  This Board works to preserve needed habitat by implementing programs which protect, restore and/or enhance wetlands and uplands of importance to migratory birds.

* Provides expert advice to all external partners on the North American Wetlands Conservation (NAWCA) grants programs.

* Provides direction and leadership to groups addressing specific resource problems or issues, advising them on potential courses of action or directing them to funding programs.

*Completes all Federal technical requirements for NAWCA projects which are tentatively approved for funding, including providing acquisition support information and completing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews prior to Migratory Bird Conservation meetings.

*Assists partners with projects funded through NAWCA grants or Joint Venture funds in seeing their projects through to completion by tracking accomplishments, ensuring appraisal reviews for land acquisitions are completed, and providing assistance when necessary on completing annual reports.

* Attends meetings of State Steering Committees, Bird Conservation Initiatives, and other Regional partnerships to provide joint Joint Venture program information, offer technical assistance and assist with implementation of migratory bird conservation.    

*Tracks the accomplishments of the Joint Venture Program through the management of project and partner databases, and reports those accomplishments through the regional Accomplishment Reporting System, staff meetings and Joint Venture products.

*Acts for the Region 3 Joint Venture Coordinator in his/her absence, and maintains close coordination and contact with the Division of Bird Habitat Conservation and other joint venture coordinators accross the country to exchange information, report conflicts and develop solutions.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

By the closing date of this announcement, you must meet the minimum qualification requirements as outlined in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook and as identified in this announcement below. 

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

1. 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
   B.  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 in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: In addition to meeting the basic qualification requirements above, applicants must also possess specialized experience or graduate level education in the amount indicated below.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR GS-11 GRADE LEVEL:

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of specialized professional wildlife experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level (GS-9) in the Federal service.  This specialized experience is typically in or related to the work of the position being filled.  Examples of specialized experience include: Providing project direction, technical expertise, or coordination of varied activities covering waterfowl, and other migratory bird conservation procedures;  implementing conservation plans for the protection of various bird species; collecting, analyzing, and evaluating data to make recommendations for the management activities; maintaining positive working relationships with key stakeholders; and using technology to collect, analyze, and evaluate biological data.

OR
Education: Have completed at least three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree in wildlife biology or a field of science directly related to the position.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience are qualifying for this position. Only graduate education in excess of the first 2 years may be combined with experience.  Education must include courses directly related to the work of the position.  Determine your total qualifying education as a percentage of the education required; then determine your experience as a percentage of the experience required.  Add the two percentages.  The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for the position.  Please submit transcript.

You must submit a copy of your college transcripts for this professional position.  Unless otherwise stated, unofficial transcripts are acceptable.  If selected, you will be required to produce official transcripts.

When submitting copies of college transcripts, you may have to supplement the transcript with course descriptions and/or supporting statements from the school or faculty if the course title is not sufficiently descriptive of course content. If the supporting documentation is required to determine qualifications and is not submitted, you may be determined not qualified for the position. Only college transcripts along with such supporting documentation will be accepted when required to evaluate your college course work.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States.  It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Temperature and weather extremes may be encountered in the performance of outdoor work. 

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. Do not overstate or understate your level of experience and capability. You should be aware that your ratings are subject to evaluation and verification.

Applicants are expected to possess the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) listed below to qualify for this position. These KSAs are addressed in the self-assessment questionnaire that you will complete for this announcement. You do not need to respond separately to the KSAs listed below. Your answers to the on-line experience questions will serve as responses to the KSAs. Your application will be evaluated based on your ability to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities/competencies (KSAs):

Knowledge of the theories, principles, and methods of wildlife habitat conservation, including migratory bird biology,wetland management, ecosystem management, and bird conservation initiatives. 

Skill in developing and leading complex partnerships for bird habitat conservation and federal habitat grant programs.

Ability to research, interpret and carry out Federal policies and regulations relating to grant programs, land acquisitions, and National Environmental Policy Act requirements.

Ability to effectively communicate technical information to numerous and diverse audiences.

Skill with computer programs for word processing, data management and visual presentations development, including Word, Excel, and Power Point.

Qualified candidates will then be placed in one of three categories:

• BEST QUALIFIED
• WELL QUALIFIED
• QUALIFIED

Please make sure that your responses to the assessment questionnaire are supported in your resume.  Follow all instructions carefully as errors or omissions may affect your score.  Please note that if a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher in the self assessment than is apparent in your description of experience and/or education OR your application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible, not qualified, or your score may be lowered.

APPLICATION OF VETERAN'S PREFERENCE:  The Category Rating method does not add veteran's preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category.  Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade lever or higher.  An agency may not select a non-preference eligible over a preference eligible in the same category unless the agency receives approval to pass over the preference eligible in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3318.

To preview the Occupational Assessment Questionnaire, click here View Assessment Questions

BENEFITS:

The Federal Government offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.

The following link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to most Federal employees: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Pay_and_Benefits

OTHER INFORMATION:

The duties of this position are suitable for telework, and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

1. If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) you may apply for special selection over other candidates for this position. For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible see http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp#ictap. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP.  This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location.  Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible.
2. Category rating procedures will be used to rate and rank candidates. Under category rating, applicants who meet basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position and whose job-related competencies or knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) have been assessed are ranked by being placed in one of three predefined quality categories instead of being ranked in numeric score order. The Category Rating method does not add veteran's preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category.  Preference eligibles that meet minimum qualification requirements and have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade lever or higher.
3. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
   

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review in our office, in other Federal agency personnel offices, and on OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications. 

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Friday, August 28, 2015 to receive consideration.
* To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
* Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
* It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. 
* To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login , select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application.  Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
* To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement.  You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Faxing Applications or Supporting Documents:

You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.
NOTE:  If you applied online and your application is complete, do not fax the paper application (1203FX) as this will overwrite your prior online responses and may result in you being found ineligible.

If you completed the occupational questionnaire online and are unable to upload supporting document(s):
1. To fax your documents, you must use the following cover page http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdfand provide the required information. The Vacancy ID is 1480772.
2. Fax your documents to 1-478-757-3144.

If you cannot complete the Application Package online, you may fax all of your materials. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Friday, August 28, 2015 to receive consideration. Keep a copy of your fax confirmation in the event verification is needed.

To complete the occupational questionnaire and submit via fax:
 
1. Click the following link to view and print the occupational questionnaire View Occupational Questionnaire.
2. Print the 1203FX form, follow the instructions and provide your responses to the occupational questionnaire items http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdfimage/opm1203fx.pdf.
3. Fax the completed 1203FX form along with any supporting documents to 1-478-757-3144. Your 1203FX will serve as a cover page for your fax transmission.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

In addition to your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire, the following documents are required:

• Resume (required)
• All transcripts
• The documents listed below must be submitted, if applicable, as they will be used to verify your stated eligibility to apply to this vacancy. 

• Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP):  Must submit a copy of the agency notice; a copy of his/her last Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50 noting current position, grade levels, and duty location; and their most recent annual performance appraisal.

• Veterans Preference documentation: A copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility, such such as an SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, plus the proof required by that form.

If you fail to submit all of the required materials, we will not be able to fully process your application, and you may lose consideration for this position.

Your resume, curriculum vitae, the Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF 612), or any other written format you choose to describe your job-related qualifications can be submitted electronically using the document upload process or by fax. Please be sure to include all of the following information in your resume:

• Your full name, mailing address (with zip code) and day/evening telephone numbers; Country of Citizenship.  If ever employed by the Federal Government, please show the highest Federal civilian grade held, job series, and dates of employment in grade.
• Education - High school name, city, state, and zip code, date of diploma or GED.  For any colleges and/or universities attended, include city, state, and zip code; major field(s) of study; type and year of degree(s) received.  If no degree was received, show total credit hours received in semester or quarter hours.
• Work Experience - List each paid or non-paid position held related to the job for which you are applying (do not provide copies of job descriptions).  Include job title; duties and accomplishments; number of hours worked per week; employer's name and address; supervisor's name and phone number; starting and ending dates of employment (month and year); and salary.  For seasonal employment, list starting and ending dates for each period of work.  Indicate if your current supervisor may be contacted.
• Other Qualifications - Job-related training courses (title and year); job-related skills (e.g., other languages, computer software/hardware, tools, machinery, typing speed, etc.); job-related certificates and licenses; and job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments (e.g., publications, memberships in professional or honor societies, leadership activities, public speaking, performance awards, etc.).  Do not send copies of documents unless specifically requested.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

Michael F. Townley
Phone: (612)713-5230
TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: MICHAEL_TOWNLEY@FWS.GOV

Agency Information:
US Fish and Wildlife Service Minnesota
Division of Human Resources
5600 American Blvd West
Bloomington, MN
55437-1458

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted.