Supervisory Biologist

Summary

This position is a Supervisory Biologist, GS- 0401-13 working in Brookings, SD for the South Dakota Partners for Fish and Wildlife.

Position can be filled anywhere within SD, but Brookings, SD is preferred.

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Duties

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

• Coordinates with state natural resource agencies and represents the Service in matters involving Service fish and wildlife management activities on private lands in order to grow and leverage these partnerships to further conservation objectives.
• Represents the Service at state hearings concerning Farm Bill, Swampbuster and Sodsaver, and Wetland Reserve issues that are highly controversial, and that have significant impact on resources; agricultural or business or have strong political involvement.
• Works to develop a highly professional and culturally diverse workforce. Recruits, develops, trains, and supports all staff assigned to this station, and mentors other private lands staff in the state.
• Serves as the Service’s primary representative to the state offices of the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, the Farm Service Agency and other similar organizations. Coordinates with the State Conservationist and State Director, respectively, to develop operating policies for implementation of conservation provisions of the Farm Bill. Facilitates resolution of controversial issues for Project Leads at the state level. Provides recommendations to Service Leadership regarding conservation provisions of the Farm Bill.
• Works with other Service programs to guide and coordinate activities on private lands that will benefit threatened and endangered species and migratory birds. Works with National Wildlife Refuge Offices to guide and coordinate activities on private lands that complement activities on Service lands or contribute to the resolution of problems on refuges that are caused by off-refuge land use activities.

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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.
• Selectees may be required to possess and maintain a valid State driver’s license at all times during their tenure.
• Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform MAY be required.
• Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Selectees who have not previously completed a supervisory probationary period, will be required to serve a one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period for this position.
• Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 08/28/2024 will be considered.

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

Basic Requirement:

1. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
2. OR
3. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education

Minimum Qualification GS-13

1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-12 in the Federal service. Experience must include at least 4 out of 6 requirements. 1. Completing habitat restoration directly or managing a restoration program. 2. Identifying, defining, and resolving complex, controversial, or unique aspects of habitat restoration. 3. Applying Farm Bill provisions specifically Swampbuster and Highly Erodible Land (HEL) to produce appropriate program work products within organizational goals for conserving wetlands and grasslands. 4. Coordinating and completing conservation projects within diverse collaborative conservation partnerships that involve private landowners, conservation organizations, state and federal agencies, or Tribes. 5. Assisting in managing a program including, setting priorities, budget, strategic planning, and staff oversight. And 6. Giving presentations to interested parties and writing briefing papers summarizing scientific findings, policy, and field of practice to make habitat management recommendations.

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.

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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications jobsnear.org International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

Additional information

PCS INFORMATION:

• Yes, entitlements for payment of basic moving expenses, as required and to the extent allowed by the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) 302-3.101, are authorized for eligible applicants changing duty station when the change meets the distance tests as provided in FTR 302-1.1 and 302-2.6. All moving expenses are taxable.
• In addition, relocation discretionary entitlements May be authorized for this position excluding contractor-provided home sale.

Telework: This position is suitable for telework and may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.

Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP):Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP or ICTAP applicants must be determined to be well-qualified for this position in order to receive special selection priority. To be well-qualified, a CTAP or ICTAP applicant must meet the following: OPM qualification requirements for the position, all selective factors, where applicable; special OPM approved qualifying conditions for the position; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate, to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and receives a rating of at least 85 on the questionnaire. For more information visit: OPM’s Employee Guide to Career Transition

Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center jobsnear.org Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.

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• Benefits
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• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
• Review our benefits
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

All applicants who submit a complete and legible application by the closing date of this vacancy announcement (or cut-off) will have their qualifications reviewed to determine if they possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the work of this position.

• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies governing decisions and responsibilities such as the USDA Farm Bill, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Refuge Improvement Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Clean Water Act, and other associated laws, regulations and policies.
• Ability to manage a high-volume, time-sensitive workload involving both short-term and long-term projects and assignments to ensure timely coordination with other affected entities and meet multiple deadlines.
• Ability to establish positive working relationships/partnerships and exercise tact and diplomacy in coordinating activities with co-workers, and as needed, including conflict resolution, negotiation, and facilitation with representatives of other Federal agencies, state, tribal and local organizations ,conservation organizations, private entities, and the general public.
• Skill in developing and executing large and complex budgets from multiple appropriated fund sources, including timely expenditures, financial contractual obligations, and conducting reviews and internal audits, as needed.
• Skill in applying supervisory/managerial principles and methods to supervise the work of others, including assigning work; managing workloads; providing guidance and mentoring; identifying opportunities for employee development; motivating staff and teams, and evaluating work products.
• Ability to communicate using various mediums.

Applicants eligible for priority consideration under DOI’s Career Transition Assistance Program/Plan, employees eligible under the Interagency Career Transition Plan (ICTAP). Eligible candidates on the Reemployment Placement List (RPL). A qualified and eligible permanent DOI employee may be selected before an ICTAP eligible.

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How to Apply

Review the appointment eligibility criteria in the application preview linked below: The eligibility section of the application allows you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement. 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 or the application text.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents section.

Click ‘Apply’ to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.

1. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents. To preview the assessment questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12502790.
2. Please ensure you check the acknowledgement checkbox then click the Submit Application button to submit your application.
3. Applications must be received by 08/28/2024, 11:59pm ET to receive consideration.
4. Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, in Applications tab, click the position title you applied to for the status. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact the Human Resources Office via email at fwshiring@fws.gov.

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Agency contact information

Human Resources Staffing Division Human Resources Staffing Division

Email

fwshiring@fws.gov

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Next steps

Once you submit all the required documents and the online application in USAJOBS, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the evaluation process is complete, you will be notified of your status and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted by the hiring official.

You will be notified if this job is filled or canceled. Timelines for this process vary widely.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account as we will not be responding to inquiries about the status of applications as long as the system has been updated.

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