Duties

Summary

This position is part of the R9-Assistant Director-Migratory Birds. As a Ecologist you will be responsible for the overall direction and coordination of the national migratory bird management program.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Conducts quantitative biological assessments, including the creation and management of relational databases, application of advance statistical analyses, and development of system models. Prepares technical reports, scientific manuscripts, issue papers, briefing documents, and presentations summarizing the methods and results of biological assessments in support of regulatory decision making. Provides verbal briefings to upper management regarding issues that could affect the conservation and ecological integrity of migratory
bird resources within Service jurisdiction.

Conducts decision analyses including facilitation, problem identification and definition, modeling and analysis of trade-offs and optimal decisions, and prepares technical reports, scientific manuscripts, issue papers, briefing documents and presentations in support of regulatory decision making. Provides verbal briefings to decision makers, stakeholders, and upper management regarding decisions that could affect the conservation of migratory bird resources within Service jurisdiction and other social desires.

Maintains liaison with research and management biologists from conservation agencies, non-government organizations, and universities with expertise in migratory bird management and conservation in order to exchange information and develop techniques and methods related to population and habitat management, monitoring, and evaluation. Works with internal and external partners to develop assessment frameworks that recommendations for strategies to conserve and protect habitat and populations.

Represents the Division of Migratory Bird Management as a senior staff biologist at flyway meetings, Service Regulations Committee meetings, scientific conferences, symposia, working groups, and public meetings.

Stays abreast of current and emerging methods and techniques for natural resource inventory and monitoring, predictive system modeling, statistical techniques, and decision analysis techniques. Maintains a working knowledge of emerging and current international, national, and regional natural resource conservation and management issues, activities, policies, research and legal issues.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
• Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/ecology-series-0408/

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Degree: biology, or a related field of science underlying ecological research that included at least 30 semester hours in basic and applied biological sciences. these hours must have included at least 9 semester hours in ecology, and 12 semester hours in physical and mathematical sciences.

You may qualify at the GS-12 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates your ability for applying the concepts, principles, and practices of fish and wildlife biology, conservation biology, and statistics to work programs and projects; serving as general advisory on issues related to conservation science including but not limited to wildlife population ecology, ecological statistics and other related areas; advising on the integration, standardization, and use of best available conservation science into management plans; and negotiating complex, controversial or sensitive issues of national scope.

You may qualify at the GS-13 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates your ability applying the concepts, principles, and practices of fish and wildlife biology, conservation biology, statistics and adaptive resource management to work programs and projects; serving as general advisor on issues related to convservation science including but not limited to, wildlife population ecology, ecological statistics, decision analysis (structure decision making) and other related areas; advising on the integration, standardization, and use of best available conservation science into management plans; and negotiating complex, controversial or sensitive issues of nation scope.

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-12/13. 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-12/13. 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. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been or may be involuntarily separated (e.g. reduction in force, declining to relocate/transfer outside their local commuting area) from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal or Removal Notice; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; or Removal and most recent performance appraisal.). For more information visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System at https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx

TELEWORK: FWS has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of 07/25/2019; OR More than one position may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.

RELOCATION EXPENSES: A PCS move is authorized as follows: travel and relocation expenses including reimbursable real estate expenses will be authorized in accordance with the Federal travel regulations excluding contractor-provided home sale. All moving expenses are taxable.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information .

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the basic qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the basic qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience which resulted in you being listed in the highest quality category, you may lose consideration, or be assigned to a lower quality category for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. The category ratings for this position are:

BEST QUALIFIED
WELL QUALIFIED
QUALIFIED

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' 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. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the basic qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 showing you were honorably discharged. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must attach an SF-15," Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" in addition to the proof required by that form.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Credentialing

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

Resume or Application. At a minimum, your resume MUST contain job title (include job series and grade, if federal), duties, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and salary. USAJOBS has a template to ensure a complete resume. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk

Other supporting documents:

• Cover Letter, optional
• Official or unofficial College Transcript(s), if the position has education requirements, or if you are using your education to qualify. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. A copy of your official transcripts will be required if you are selected. 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 programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http:// http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
• Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
• If applicable, documentation/proof that you are eligible Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
GS-12
1. Knowledge of advanced theories, principles, concepts, and practices of population ecology and wildlife biology and policy related to management of migratory bird populations, sufficient to integrate information in databases, analyze data, and prepare reports on the effects of current and proposed actions for migratory bird management.
2. Knowledge of the principles of statistical analysis, including survey and biological sampling techniques, contemporary statistical analytical methodology, and interpretation of model outputs to perform sound scientific assessments.
GS-12/13
1. Skill in applying advanced theories, principles, concepts, and practices of population ecology and wildlife biology and policy related to the management of migratory bird or other fish and wildlife populations, sufficient to integrate information in databases, analyze data, and prepare reports on the effects of current and proposed actions for migratory bird management.
2. Skill in applying the principles of statistical analysis, including survey and biological sampling techniques, contemporary statistical analytical methodology, and interpretation of model outputs to perform sound scientific assessments.
3. Knowledge of relational database creation and management and data warehousing techniques, and organizational skills sufficient to coordinate the collection and management of national migratory bird survey data.
4. Skill in applying the principles of decision analysis, including facilitation, problem identification and definition, modeling and analysis of trade-offs and optimal decisions, and ability to communicate the process and results to decision makers.
5. Ability to communicate in writing and orally to convey complex socio-biological issues, concepts, terms, and procedures to professional scientists and wildlife managers as well as the general public.
6. Represents the Division of Migratory Bird Management as a senior staff biologist at flyway meetings, Service Regulations Committee meetings, scientific conferences, symposia, working groups, and public meetings.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.