Deadline: Fri, 08/30/2024 - 12:00pm Employer: USDA Job Field: Wildlife Job Type: Full Time Location: Virginia Location Detail: Christiansburg, VA Job Description: SUMMARY: This position is a wildlife biologist with the primary responsibility of conducting surveillance in wild birds and mammals for highly pathogenic avian influenza. Responding to disease outbreaks within the state and across the country will be required. Incumbent will also serve as the liaison among other federal and state agencies, universities, and diagnostic laboratories concerned with wildlife disease issues, and coordinate disease surveillance programs within the state. 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, 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; populations census and survey; and surveillance and monitoring; gathering, compiling, and analyzing data to facilitate statistical analysis. 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. Modifies or adapts established damage or disease control techniques as necessary to meet local conditions and address specific environmental, economic, or political considerations. Monitors and ensures compliance with program directives, and local, State, and Federal laws and regulations in wildlife damage management activities. Assists cooperators in understanding of and compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Endangered Species Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and other wildlife-related laws. Prepares required scientific and administrative program reports. Assists cooperators and the public with obtaining migratory bird depredations permits and compliance with Depredation Orders. 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. 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, 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. Provides technical assistance to a variety of cooperators, along with conducting site visits or assessments to identify wildlife damage issues or threats. May develop and deliver training for cooperators, stakeholders, partner agencies and organizations, or other entities. Communicates safe and effective damage management techniques through outreach and other channels to the general public. Information may be disseminated by radio and television news releases, interviews, bulletins, presentations, workshops, outreach events, and other methods. 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. Supports the WS safety program and procedures through participation in meetings, inspections, and implementation of safety requirements and protocols. Identifies safety-related opportunities and challenges to the supervisor. 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. Assist other WS employees as requested and may assist in training new WS personnel. May be asked to provide technical direction and/or guidance to lower graded employees. May be responsible for procuring equipment and supplies necessary to conduct field activities and may be asked to complete other duties as assigned. Qualifications: 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 at 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. MINIMUM ELIGIBLITY REQUIREMENTS: To qualify, applicants MUST meet all minimum qualification requirements, except Medical Requirements, by the closing date of the announcement. QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including the following specialized experience and/or education, as identified by grade level. BASIC REQUIREMENT: 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 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 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement you must all meet the following requirements for each grade level. FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 level) that demonstrates: • Dealing with human-wildlife conflicts and principles of wildlife damage management. • Selecting appropriate wildlife damage management strategies, techniques, and tools and apply them to specific situations. • The Skilled use of firearms, traps, snares, pesticides, pyrotechnics, electronic harassment devices, and other non-lethal control tools. OR 1 year of graduate-level education (18 semester hours) in Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Ecology, 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. For more details click: Superior Academic Achievement 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: All requirements of the GS-07 level and the following: Interpreting and applying policies, regulations, laws, and ordinances that affect wildlife damage management operations and working within those guidelines. Collecting scientific data, managing database, and interpreting results Create new damage control techniques to meet local conditions and address specific environmental, economic or political considerations. Preparation of presentations and reports to cooperators and other entities to ensure program success. 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. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & 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. OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Must obtain or have a valid state driver’s license. Operation of Government-owned or leased vehicles is required. 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. 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. Occasional Travel may be required. 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. 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). Salary: $49,025 - $77,955 per year How to Apply: REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Resume that includes: 1) Personal information such as name, address, contact information2) Education3) Detailed work experience related to this position as described in the announcement including Work schedule including hours per week Dates of employment; Title, series, grade (if applicable) 4) All supervisors' phone numbers and if they may be contacted 5) Other qualifications• Transcripts (if qualifying on education, education must have been obtained from an accredited institution. Education completed in a foreign institution must include an evaluation by an organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs that it was deemed equivalent to an accredited U.S. education program, see: Foreign Education Evaluation. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.) DD-214 (Member 4 copy) if applicable for Veteran’s Preference VA letter required if claiming disabled Veteran’s Preference Current active duty members must submit a certification that they are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. 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: SUMMARY: CONTACT OFFICE: Chad Fox, District Supervisor 105 Ponderosa Dr Christiansburg, VA 24073 540-381-7387 Chad.J.Fox@usda.gov
