Wildlife Biologist

Clarification from the agency

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

Duties

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

Serves as a field biologist with the California Condor Recovery Program and is involved in the planning, analysis, and

operation of this long-term endangered species recovery effort that has local, national and international attention. Helps

plan and implement recovery program field strategies using an adaptive management approach.

Design and conduct studies to gather field data on various aspects of the Condor Recovery Program to include trapping, handling, nest searching, nest entries, radio transmitter and tag replacements, maintaining equipment, etc.

Gathering data requires rappelling and ascent from high-angle environments.

• Perform data entry, maintenance, and analysis using geographic information systems, and summarize data. Prepare technical reports, presentations, outreach documents, and scientific journal articles based on analysis.
• Oversee and instruct others in the capture, handling and application of tag or collar on condors.

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.
• Uniform : Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform may required.
• 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.
• The employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 07 / 03 / 2024 will be considered.

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

Basic Requirement :

• Possess a Bachelor's degree with a major in a biological science that includes the following course work : 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

I have a combination of education and experience that is equivalent to a major in a biological science (i.e., at least 30 semester hours), with at least 9 semester hours in wildlife subjects, 12 semester hours in zoology subjects and 9 semester hours in botany as described in "A" above, plus appropriate specialized experience or additional education.

Minimum Qualification GS-07

• One (1) year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-05 in the Federal service.
• Experience may include : conducting biological surveys, observing and recording a wide variety of basic data on habitat conditions and number and distribution of wildlife species;

leading work crews in conducting surveys; computing, compiling, and summarizing data in tabular, graphic, or narrative form, reporting unusual results in detail, and preparing area maps. OR

• Completed one (1) year of graduate education in wildlife biology or a directly related field. OR
• A combination of graduate education AND qualifying specialized experience as described above, which combined equals at least 100 percent. OR
• Meet the Superior Academic Achievement criteria , completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's

degree in a field of study as described above with either (1) Class Standing, (2) Grade-Point Average, or (3) Honor

Society Membership. (1) Class Standing : Upper one-third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major

subdivision based on completed courses. (2) Grade-Point Average : A grade point average of (a) 3.0 or higher out of a

possible 4.0 (B or better) as recorded on the official transcript or as computed based on four years of education, or

computed based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum; -or- (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible

4.0 0 (B+ or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in

the major field completed during the final two years of the curriculum. (3) Election to Membership in a National Scholastic

Honor Society : Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor

societies. Freshman scholastic honor societies cannot be used to meet the requirements of this position.

Minimum Qualification GS-09

• One (1) year of full time specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 level in the Federal service . Specialized experience may include : assisting in capturing, handling, and observing large raptors or vultures (such as condors, eagles) in the wild in order to identify and resolve recurring biological problems;
• ensuring proper collection and preservation of specimens; performing and monitoring specialized tests and non-routine procedures;

calculating or correlating test results and verifying results; writing analytical reports, plans, and correspondence on specific wildlife related subjects. OR

• Possess two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education or master's or equivalent graduate degree directly related to this position. OR
• A combination of specialized experience and more than one year of graduate education (both as described above) that, when computed as percentages of their respective requirements, equals at least 100% when combined.

Only graduate education beyond the 1st full year (18 semesters or equivalent) is creditable using this method.

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 :

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-9.

At lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-9.

Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds.

The 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.

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