Job Title: Fish and Wildlife Administrator (MPP)

Department: Department Of The InteriorAgency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Job Announcement Number: R8-11-499255-MG

Job Summary:

You too can make a difference in our world. The work of the US Fish and Wildlife Service is meaningful and varied. Want to know more about what it is like to work for us? Click here to watch short podcasts called Meet Your New Boss! and Diversity is our Strength

 

This position is within the Region 8, Regional Office, Assistant Regional Director for Science Applications. The official duty station is in Reno, Nevada. 

The incumbent will serve as the Science Coordinator for the Great Basin Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC), a collaborative science-management partnership among public and private organizations to support natural and cultural resource conservation in the Great Basin.

For more information about the Pacific Southwest Region, visit:  http://www.fws.gov/cno/.

Concurrent Recruitment/Dual Consideration:  This position is also being advertised concurrently under open competitive procedures, open to all U.S. citizens, under delegated examining unit authority (DEU) procedures.  See announcement #R8-11-500004-MG.  If you want to be considered on that recruitment, you must apply directly to that vacancy number and submit a complete application package according to those instructions.

Key Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship and Background Investigation
• Completion of Initial Probationary Period
• Federal employment status - see "Who May Be Considered".
• Documentation verifying your eligibility status MUST be submitted with your
• Valid driver's license

Major Duties:

Major duties include (at the full performance level), but are not limited to: 

• Serve as a senior staff biologist and expert advisor on landscape-scale conservation and climate change science.

• Under the supervision of the LCC Coordinator work with natural and cultural resource agency staffs and partners in the conservation community to facilitate, coordinate, and communicate the LCC’s activities addressing landscape-scale ecological processes and their effects on habitat conservation. LCC activities include biological planning, conservation design, conservation delivery, assumption-driven research, monitoring/evaluation, and assessment of organizational performance. 

• Ensure landscape conservation efforts are coordinated across organizational, geographic, and other other boundaries and collaborate with others in establishing a seamless national network of LCCs.  Represent the interests of the Great Basin LCC in various working groups associated with the implementation of landscape-scale conservation and other national efforts associated with specific fish and wildlife conservation issues.

• Act as a liaison and provide a forum for private, state, and federal entities interested in a sustainable landscape to exchange ideas, information, and technology; and to actively engage in leveraging and targeting their collective assets to achieve desired landscape conditions.

If selected at the GS-13 grade level, you will perform the same kind of duties as described above, but under closer supervision and training will be provided for progression towards the full performance level.

Qualifications:

You must meet all qualification requirements outlined in this vacancy by 11:59 PM (ET); 08:59 pm PACIFIC TIME on Tuesday, July 26, 2011.  Applicable regulatory requirements, such as time-in-grade, must also be met by the closing date. 

BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS– Experience/Education (entry level minimum)-applicants must meet one of the following:

A. Successful completion of all requirements for a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a discipline closely related to fish and wildlife biology;

(OR)

B. An appropriate combination of education and experience.  Education must include successful completion of course work equivalent to a major (at least 24 semester/36 quarter hours, or the school’s equivalent) in an accredited college or university in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a discipline closely related to fish and wildlife biology and which included other coursework typically required for a bachelor’s degree, such as analysis, writing, critical thinking, research, etc; PLUS experience directly related to the position being filled and/or additional education.  The quality of the combination of education and experience must demonstrate that the applicant possesses the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of the position to be filled and equal 100% of the requirement when combined.

(OR)

C. Four years experience that demonstrated knowledge and understanding of one or more of the biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, or a discipline closely related to fish and wildlife biology that is equivalent to that which would have been acquired through completion of a 4-year course of study in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a discipline closely related to fish and wildlife biology appropriate to this position.

NOTE:  Applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to meet qualifications must submit transcripts with their applicationthat include the name of the school, program major, credit hours and grades earned, and grade point average or class ranking.  Current and former Federal employees are also required to submit transcripts with their application whether or not they have held the same series/grade. Unofficial transcripts or copies are acceptable with application packages; however, if selected, complete official, original transcripts from the college or university are required to be on file before starting work.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS – Experience (minimum)-in addition to meeting the Basic Qualification Requirements applicants must also satisfy -

To qualify for grade 13 applicants must possess at least: One year of equivalent full-time specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal service (GS-12) that included such activities as: directing policy and staffing functions in an earth science discipline, partnerships and/or habitat conservation program areas; developing short- and long-range plans, objectives, and priorities; budgeting; establishing priorities, resolving problems and implementing courses of action, coordinating work with other projects; providing staff direction or supervision; promoting and demonstrating a strong commitment to workforce diversity; resolving conflicts that arose, and interpreting and applying program policy, including adapting methods and procedures to new situations to resolve problems in terms of established objectives.

To qualify for grade 14 applicants must possess at least:  One year of equivalent full-time specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal service (GS-13) that included those defined above for grade 13 in addition to performing a full range of supervisory/managerial duties and responsibilities over assigned staff and organization elements; formulating and implementing policies, standards, and procedures; coordinating region-wide program issues; exercising managerial and leadership skill in integrating multiple aspects of science or habitat management and conservation; and policy development and analysis, and representing a regional earth science, partnerships, or habitat conservation program on national and international committees and at conferences during which controversial issues may be discussed.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.  WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.  If your resume does not adequately describe the specific function(s) that support your qualifications claims and your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for that experience.

This is not a developmental position.  To fully meet the qualifications requirements for this position, you must have performed the required specialized work functions to a measurable extent at the defined level of complexity and responsibility and for the minimum length of time as stated in this vacancy, evidenced in your work history.  If you have not held this occupational series/grade before in the federal government, it is recommended you include in your job history on your resume the percentages of time you spent performing specialized duties for each work period.  

Example of combination of education and experience to meet the Basic Qualification Requirements:  Applicant has completed 60 undergraduate semester hours, that included all the required core coursework stated in the qualifications minimum standard, and also has 2 full-time years of appropriate experience (equivalent to at least GS4 full-time) that demonstrates the applicant possesses the necessary knowledge’s, skills and abilities needed to perform the work of the position at the entry level (GS-5).  The applicant would meet the Basic Qualification Requirements (qualify for GS-5), since the 60 semester hours (equivalent to 2 years of undergraduate education) is 50 percent of the total requirement, and is supplemented by 2 additional years of appropriate experience that provides the remaining 50 percent of the total required education and experience.

All qualifying education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. You can verify accreditation at http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.

Foreign Education: You can receive credit for education earned outside the United States if you provide evidence that it is comparable to an accredited educational institution, or that full credit has been given by an accredited institution in the United States. For more information, see http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html



It is your responsibility to provide evidence that educational provisions are met when applying.

OTHER KEY REQUIREMENTS (conditions of employment):

Disclosure of Financial Interests (OGE Form 450)

Direct deposit of salary payment.

Must apply for Government travel charge card if expected to travel on official business.



How You Will Be Evaluated:

We will review your resume to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. Applicants meeting the basic qualification requirements will be further evaluated on the information provided in the Occupational Questionnaire. The experience you describe in your resume must be sufficiently detailed to support your responses to the tasks in the Questionnaire or your score may be lowered, you may be rated not eligible, or found not qualified.



The Questionnaire collects information on your education, training, and experience related to the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this job, which are:

• Skill to apply advanced theories, principles, concepts, practices, standards, and methods of fish biology, wildlife biology, plants, and their habitats, and landscape ecology to natural resources management.
• Knowledge of the goals and objectives of state, national, and international fish and wildlife conservation plans to develop and integrate science-based, eco-regionally specific conservation objectives and strategies.
• Knowledge of natural resource program management principles as applied to large landscape scales.
• Ability to conduct and coordinate conservation efforts in a multi-organization environment and to negotiate collective resource management decisions to sustain fish and wildlife populations.
• Ability to coordinate the capabilities of partner conservation programs to establish monitoring strategies that span large temporal and spatial scales.
• Knowledge of the theory and methods of wildlife research and their applicability to the testing of biological assumptions and hypotheses to organize and facilitate multi-agency research projects.
• Skill in oral communications.
• Skill in written communications.

Please make sure that your responses to the questionnaire are supported in your resume. Also, follow all instructions carefully as errors and omissions may affect your score.  Assessment Questions preview:  View Assessment Questions



Benefits:

The Federal government offers a number of exceptional benefits to its employees. For more information about these benefits, please visit http://www.usajobs.gov/EI/benefits.asp

Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses for this position will be authorized for current Federal employees in accordance with P.L. 89-516 and appropriate Federal regulations. Eligibility for specific relocation services will be determined at the time of selection.

How To Apply:

You must submit a complete Application Package by 11:59 PM (ET); 08:59 pm PACIFIC TIME on Tuesday, July 26, 2011.

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.

Note: To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.

To fax supporting documents you are unable to upload, complete this cover page using the following link http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf   The vacancy ID for this job is 499255.  Fax your documents to 1-478-757-3144.

If you cannot apply online:

1. Click the following link to view and print the Occupational Questionnaire View Occupational Questionnaire, and

2. Print this OPM Form 1203-FX to provide your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire, and

3. Fax the completed 1203-FX form along with any supporting documents to 1-478-757-3144. Your 1203-FX will serve as a cover page for your fax transmission.

DO NOT SUBMIT APPLICATION MATERIALS DIRECTLY TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE. 



Required Documents:

For this job announcement the following documents are required: 

1. Resume or Application. Your resume must contain job titles (include series and grades if Federal), starting and ending dates (month and year), average hours worked per week, salary rates, and duties performed (the same basic information outlined in the Optional Application for Employment, OF-612. www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/of612.)
2. Responses to the Occupational Questionnaire.  Online Questionnaire
3. Transcripts, when education is required to meet qualifications. Copies or unofficial transcripts are acceptable with application packages.
4. Document(s) verifying your eligibility for this job. You must submit at least one document listed below:
5. SF-50, or equivalent Notification of Personnel Action if you are a current or former Federal employee applying for transfer, reassignment, change to lower grade, or reinstatement. Must show tenure code 1 or 2 in block 24, and position occupied code 1 (competitive service) in block 34;
6. Veteran’s documentation (DD-214 or equivalent, SF-15 and VA letter, as appropriate);
7. Returning Peace Corps/VISTA volunteer’s statement of service, including dates;
8. Schedule A (Federal Employment of People with Disabilities)- proof of disability and certification of job readiness. See   https://www.opm.gov/disability/PeopleWithDisabilities.asp
9. Proof of eligibility under an Interchange Agreement, or other appointing authority;
10. Proof of eligibility for priority placement as a surplus or displaced Federal employee under the Career Transition Assistance Program / Interagency Career Transition Program, if applicable. To be considered “well-qualified,” you must be rated at 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position. See http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp#ictap.

If you do not submit all required materials/information, we will not be able to fully process your application and you may lose consideration for this position. No additional information will be solicited or accepted after the closing date.

If you have any problems submitting your application, contact the online help at ApplicationManagerHelpDesk@opm.gov

If you have questions about the vacancy, contact Human Resources at the phone number or email address listed below and reference 499255.

 

Contact Information:

What To Expect Next:

Once you submit the online Occupational Questionnaire successfully, you will receive an automated email acknowledging its receipt.



After the vacancy closes, a review of your application will be made. Within approximately 20 business days, we will notify you of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.



REMINDERS:  It is your responsibility to maintain access to your e-mail account; undelivered e-mails may cause you to lose consideration or not receive information about your application. Be sure to include on any correspondence your full name and vacancy number (499255) in any communication regarding this job. Please inform us of any changes in your contact information. If you decide you do not wish to be considered for the position, please notify us to withdraw your name. If we're not able to contact you, or you do not respond to requests for information, it may be grounds for not selecting you.