- Position Title
- Wildlife Biologist
- Agency
- Forest Service
- Announcement Number
- 25-0516-12669743-F-NT Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Friday, January 17, 2025 to Thursday, January 23, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS CAREFULLY. Your answers will be used to determine your eligibility to apply to this job opportunity announcement. You will be considered under the eligibility option(s) to which you answer YES. Select YES to all eligibility options for which you want to be considered. If you respond NO to meeting the criteria for all the eligibilities, you will not be considered for the position(s) under this announcement.
NOTE: You must submit the required supporting documentation to receive consideration for EACH selected eligibility. Failure to provide the required documents will result in an ineligible rating and your application will be excluded from consideration.
NOTE: You must submit the required supporting documentation to receive consideration for EACH selected eligibility. Failure to provide the required documents will result in an ineligible rating and your application will be excluded from consideration.
1.
Are you a current Forest Service employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment?
2.
Are you a Forest Service employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment AND you have held or currently hold a position on a permanent basis in the competitive service with the same or higher promotion potential of the position being advertised?
3.
Are you a current USDA employee who meets the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee, in which received official notice that your job is no longer needed or that you will lose your job by Reduction-in-Force (RIF)? If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
• you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
4.
Are you a current or former employee of the US Forest Service who is claiming eligibility under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act and:
- was originally hired to a time-limited position under a competitive appointment; and,
- served one or more time-limited appointments at a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and,
- most recent period of qualifying service was with the US Forest Service; and,
- performed at an acceptable level of service during each period of service; and,if you are no longer employed by the US Forest Service, have been separated for no more than two years, and whose most recent separation was for reasons other than misconduct or performance?
5.
Have you registered for reemployment consideration AND meet one of the below:
• Are you a current or former competitive service USDA employee who will be or was separated by Reduction-In-Force (RIF) and received a rating of satisfactory or above as your last annual performance rating?
OR
• Are you a former USDA competitive service employee who separated due to a compensable injury or disability?
• Are you a current or former competitive service USDA employee who will be or was separated by Reduction-In-Force (RIF) and received a rating of satisfactory or above as your last annual performance rating?
OR
• Are you a former USDA competitive service employee who separated due to a compensable injury or disability?
Preferences
1.
Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.
2.
Are you a current or former Political appointee, Presidential appointee, and/or non-career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointee?
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in this Wildlife Biologist GS-0486-09/11 position with the USDA Forest Service. Your resume and the responses you provide to this assessment questionnaire will be used to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position.
This section will be used to determine if you possess the education and experience needed to qualify for this position.
Basic Requirement for the 0486 series -
1.
From the description below, select the response that best describes how your background meets the basic requirements for a Wildlife Biologist position GS-0486. If you do not meet the basic education requirements, you will not receive consideration for this position. NOTE: You must document your course work and/or degree completed in your resume or other application materials you submit. You must submit a copy of your transcripts that identifies for each course the college or university, semester or quarter hours earned, grade received, and date completed. If you are qualifying based on education and you do not submit specific course work information described below, your application will be rated not qualified for consideration.
Specialized Qualifications
This section will be used to determine if you possess the education and/or experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of a Wildlife Biologist, GS-0486-09/11. Please note that your answers will be verified against the information you provide in your resume or application and information provided by your references. FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THESE QUESTIONS WILL RESULT IN AN INELIGIBLE RATING. PLEASE PROVIDE A COPY OF YOUR OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS.
2.
Select the one statement below that best describes the education and/or experience that you possess that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of a GS-09 Wildlife Biologist.
3.
Select the one statement below that best describes the education and/or experience that you possess that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of a GS-11 Wildlife Biologist.
For each of the following tasks, choose the statement from the list below that best describe your experience and/or training. Do not overstate or understate your level of experience and demonstrated capability. Your ratings are subject to evaluation and verification based on the resume and other relevant documents you submit.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
4.
Determine need for wildlife habitat restoration, enhancement, or improvement projects.
5.
Provide input into the annual program of work determining budget and staffing needs to meet the objectives and targets of the unit.
6.
Recommend habitat management and improvement plans for technical soundness and adequacy in meeting overall wildlife management objectives.
7.
Provide functional assistance for the unit personnel to determine current progress in meeting planned programs and objectives, training needs and opportunities for cooperative work.
8.
Coordinate wildlife management activities with other resources in order to recognize problems and recommend preventative or mitigation actions.
9.
Gather information for wildlife management plans, surveys of game and nongame occurrence, mapping key game for suitability, determination of annual browse utilization and/or amount of soil disturbance, joint recommendations for the need for wildlife habitat development or restoration.
10.
Inspect habitat improvement projects for compliance with approved plans and recommend improvements.
11.
Compile data to determine wildlife habitat requirements and management needs, assessing habitat quality and quantity, interpreting biological requirements for all wildlife species and their habitat.
12.
Execute administrative studies and surveys to obtain information on the effects of forest management on wildlife populations, harvest, and movements.
13.
Document the analysis of the effects of management activities on Fish, Wildlife, and Plant Resources in an environmental Assessment.
14.
Draft biological evaluations for review by journey-level biologists.
15.
Prepare wildlife management input for the unit land management planning team.
16.
Develop plans for information and education activities in wildlife conservation.
17.
Review documents from contributing agencies' reports and request information pertinent to the wildlife resources in order to prepare recommendations or reports.
18.
Contribute to the evaluation of alternatives and the development of final recommendations for environmental impact to wildlife resources.
19.
Prepare reports on wildlife program activities measuring responses to management activities; including annual surveys to determine the status of endangered, threatened, sensitive, and other wildlife species and animal damage surveys.
20.
Provide technical advice and leadership for wildlife management program by gathering, compiling, and analyzing data to determine wildlife habitat requirements and management needs.
21.
Inventory and monitor habitat and populations.
22.
Document field procedures and office methodologies produced by Integrated Resource Inventory (IRI) Team to develop information on IRI data layers.
23.
Evaluate habitat conditions and needs for unique, threatened, and endangered species to document findings and recommendations.
24.
Provide analysis to assess the effects of management activities on Fish, Wildlife, and Plant resources to document in Environmental Assessments.
25.
Plan wildlife habitat management programs with emphasis on maintaining and enhancing biodiversity.
26.
Plan the work to be accomplished by assigning work to employees and establishing production or quality standards for the unit's work.
27.
Establish and communicate guidelines and performance requirements to employees, including conducting formal performance reviews and identifying developmental and training needs of employees.
28.
Perform administrative and human resources management functions for the unit such as providing advice, counsel, or instruction on both administrative and work matters.
29.
Promote and support a positive work environment to create a climate of mutual respect and integrity.
30.
Your responses to the Announcement and Assessment Questionnaires, along with your resume and all supporting documentation are subject to evaluation and verification to ensure accuracy. Submitting false information or attempts to falsify information may be grounds for disqualifying you or for terminating you after you have been hired. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
31.
I certify, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all the information submitted by me with my application for employment is true, complete, and made in good faith, and that I have truthfully and accurately represented my work experience, knowledge, skills, abilities and education (degrees, accomplishments, etc.). I understand that the information provided may be investigated. I understand that misrepresenting my experience or education or providing false or fraudulent information in or with my application may be grounds for not hiring me or for terminating me after I begin work. I also understand that false or fraudulent statements may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001).