VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Open Date: August 7, 2023
Closing Date: August 21, 2023
Position Title: Wildlife Biologist
Number of Vacancies: 1
Type of Position: Term Appointment with possibility for Benefits, Excepted Service; not to exceed 13 months (may be extended up to 4 years)
Work Schedule: Full-time
Announcement Number: ILWS 08-2023-2
Series/Grade: GS-0486-7/9
Full Performance Level: GS-486-9
Location: Peoria, IL (Relocation expenses will not be paid)
Salary: $46,696 - $74,250 per year
Who May Apply
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
- Must be 18 years old
- If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 and are a t least 18 years of age, civil service employment law (5 U.S.C. 3328) requires that you must be registered with the Selective Service System, unless you meet certain exemptions (proof of registration and/or exemption required). Website: http://www.sss.gov.
Required Documents
How to Apply
Additional materials not listed above (i.e., position descriptions, training certificates, etc.) may not be considered. Applicants who do not submit the required items listed above may not be considered. Applications with all supporting documents must be submitted to the contact office and must be RECEIVED by the CLOSING DATE of this announcement. Interested individuals should send a resume, transcripts, veteran documentation (if applicable) to the address listed here:
CONTACT OFFICE:
Craig Bloomquist, District Supervisor
USDA Wildlife Services
3430 Constitution Dr., Suite 121
Springfield, IL 62711
craig.k.bloomquist@usda.gov (preferred method)
Important Note: If you should need the forms identified in above paragraph or have questions feel free to contact Craig Bloomquist via email.
The incumbent serves as a Wildlife Biologist within the Wildlife Services (WS) Program of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), responsible for developing and implementing a Wildlife Hazard Management Program to minimize wildlife hazards and enhance human safety. The incumbent coordinates project activities and performs assignments involving project management. The wildlife biologist assists with other wildlife damage management projects and spends much of their time working independently and with other state/federal wildlife personnel.
Salary Information: First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected.
Responsibilities: 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.
Duties
- The incumbent conducts integrated wildlife damage management activities where there is a demonstrated need, consistent with the planned use of any given area to prevent or reduce losses to property, agriculture, and natural resources, or to protect human health and safety. Management techniques and/or methods include the recommendation or use of pesticides, controlled substances, pyrotechnics, firearms, binary explosives, aversive agents, auditory devices, exclusion, habitat modification, trapping, and other mechanical or environmental controls.
- May perform a variety of technical procedures including capture, restraint, chemical immobilization, marking, transport, euthanasia, and/or necropsy of wildlife; collection, storage, and safe transport of biological data and samples; telemetry; GIS; GPS; population census and survey; and surveillance and monitoring; gathering, compiling, and analyzing data to facilitate statistical analyses.
- Establishes and maintains cooperative relationships with other Federal, State, county and city government agencies, Tribes, corporations, educational or research institutions, and individuals in meeting program needs and goals. Represents the WS program on committees and task forces, and at meetings, conferences, and workshops with these groups. May negotiate or participate in the negotiation, development, and monitoring of agreements, such as cooperative service agreements with work/financial plans, to initiate or maintain cooperative wildlife damage management projects.
- Modifies or adapts established damage control techniques as necessary to meet local conditions and address specific environmental, economic, or political considerations.
- May be required to take extensive training and recurrent training on wildlife damage or disease recognition, control methods, and techniques; monitoring and surveillance procedures; emergency response; coalition building; risk communications; and other training related to technical or administrative aspects of the job.
- Provides technical assistance to a variety of cooperators, along with conducting site visits or assessments to identify wildlife damage issues of threats. May develop and deliver training for cooperators, stakeholders, partner agencies and organizations, or other entities.
- Recommends, to supervisor, areas for potential research or developmental study. May assist with research projects to increase knowledge of wildlife ecology and to develop or improve methods to reduce the risks of damage to resources or disease transmission to domestic animals and humans.
- Obtains and maintains pesticide applicator licenses, permits, or other authorizations, and may be required to assist with pesticide or other use/certification training in cooperation with State agencies and land grant universities. Complete pesticide use reports and documents reported and known pesticide impacts on other resources.
Gathers, compiles, evaluates, and presents data on damage or hazards caused by various wildlife species to cooperators, stakeholders, and colleagues through project or program reports and presentations at cooperator, stakeholder, and public meetings and professional conferences.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, applicants MUST meet all minimum qualification requirements, except Medical Requirements, by the closing date of the announcement.
Qualification Required
- Degree: Biological Science that includes:
- 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 in the first bullet point above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
For the GS-07 Level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 level) that demonstrates:
- Dealing with the principles of wildlife ecology and management
- Identifying North American wildlife species and assess their abundance, behavior, and habitats
- Dealing with human-wildlife conflicts, principles of wildlife damage management
- Selecting appropriate wildlife damage management strategies, techniques, and tools and applying them to specific situations
- The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Endangered Species Act, and National Environmental Policy Act
- The Skilled use of firearms, traps, snares, pesticides, immobilizing drugs, pyrotechnics, electronic harassment devices, and other non-lethal control tools
- Using computers for word processing, spreadsheets, and database applications
OR
1 year of graduate-level education (18 semester hours) in Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Ecology, or Wildlife Management
OR
Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND must meet certain GPA requirements.
Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.
For the GS-09 Level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 level) that demonstrates:
- Designing a wildlife survey program that detects spatial and temporal differences in wildlife abundance and provides a suitable index of conflicts with wildlife
- Interpreting and applying policies, regulations, laws, and ordinances that affect wildlife damage management operations and working within those guidelines
- Using GPS, GIS technologies, and web-based systems for data entry and administrative processes
OR
2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree in wildlife biology, wildlife management, wildlife ecology, or masters or equivalent graduate degree in one of the above-mentioned 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
- You are qualifying for this position based on a Super Academic Achievement
- This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university.
Combination of Education and Experience at the GS-07/09 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, 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.
How You Will be Evaluated
Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications may be referred to the hiring manager for selection. Qualified candidates eligible for veterans' preference will receive referral and selection priority over non-veterans.
Other Requirements (if applicable to your position):
- Must obtain or have a valid state driver's license. Operation of Government-owned or leased vehicles is required (if this applies)
- subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check
- 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 https://www.e-verify.gov.
- Must demonstrate a respect for safety in all operations, including the operation of motor vehicles, firearms, control devices, and equipment
- Occasional travel may be required
- To perform the essential duties of this position,
- you must have the legal and physical ability to possess and discharge firearms. You must be able to pass a government background check and meet any additional requirements to carry and use firearms. A background check will include answering questions about where you’ve lived, worked, went to school, and any military history or police records. Selection and retention in this position is contingent on a successfully adjudicated FBI National Criminal History Check (fingerprint check)
Emergency Response - APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. It is difficult to predict the frequency with which such emergency situations may occur – and could range from several emergencies in a year to none over the course of many years. If you are called upon to support an emergency program, this may require irregular working hours, including overtime, and may include duties other than those specified in your official position description. While some emergency program support assignments may be able to be performed at the employee’s current duty station, in other cases employees may be asked to go on-site to a temporary duty state location. In addition, it may be necessary for employees to participate in multiple rotations to an emergency program assignment. Attempts will be made to keep disruption to the employee to a minimum.
See this link: https://www.usajobs.gov//Help/working-in-government/fair-and-transparent/signature-false-statements/
NOTE: Applicants for this position will be required to submit a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Appointment to the position will be contingent upon a negative drug test result. Incumbents of this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use = on an ongoing basis after appointment, as directed.
Carrying a firearm is a condition of employment - In the passing of the Lautenberg Amendment, Congress passed legislation which prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from possessing a firearm or ammunition. If selected you will be required to sign the form, “Inquiry for Positions Requiring Possession of Firearms,” certifying that you meet this criteria.
The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
Reasonable Accommodation Policy - Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a Case-by-Case basis.
A reasonable accommodation is any change in the workplace or the way things are customarily done that provides an equal employment opportunity to an individual with a disability. Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) must provide reasonable accommodations:
- An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job
- an employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace
- An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events
Relocation costs will not be paid for this position.
More than one position may be selected from this announcement.
