Clarification from the agency

This is a Direct Hire Public Notice. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.

As a Biologist, you will:

• Conducts formal and informal Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultations with the Fish and Wildlife Service on plant and wildlife, preparing environmental documents like biological assessments, and developing and implementing mitigation measures for regional construction and maintenance activities, all while ensuring compliance with NEPA and other environmental protection legislation.
• Develops and negotiates mitigation requirements and memoranda of understanding, and monitoring activities to ensure that these environmental protections are upheld.
• Prepares or reviews Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), Environmental Assessments (EA), and Categorical Exclusions (CX), biological and threatened and endangered species sections of NEPA documents, and biological assessments (BA).
• Provides technical expertise/review in the areas of biological resources, threatened and endangered species, migratory bird issues, wildlife and avian interactions with transmission facilities and general environmental planning to other offices within the region.
• Serve as a project manager for biological assessments and environmental planning activities and as a Contracting Officer's Representative for environmental planning and compliance contracts.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• This position requires the ability to operate a government vehicle. The incumbent must be at least 18 years of age, able to obtain and maintain Defensive Drivers certification and have a valid state driver's license. Defensive Driver's training will be completed upon employment.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic requirement for the General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series 0401:

A. Degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
*OR*
B. Combination of education and experience--courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above (24 semester hours or the equivalent in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position), plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in "A" above.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidates application and 2-pg resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Specialized experience for this position is defined as:

For the GS-11: Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience equivalent to the GS-9 level in 2 of the 4 items listed below. This experience must be clearly documented in your resume:

• Evaluating biological resources impacts and taking appropriate action for compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Clean Water Act and other environmental laws, regulations, policies, or procedures.
• Conducting formal and informal consultations for protected species and developing mitigation requirements to resolve agency and public concern.
• Communicating and coordinating effectively with internal and external customers, other agencies, and the public.
• Conducting biological resources surveys/monitoring and preparing reports and mitigation plans.

• Evaluating biological resources impacts and taking appropriate action for compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Clean Water Act and other environmental laws, regulations, policies, or procedures.
• Conducting formal and informal consultations for protected species and negotiating mitigation requirements to resolve agency and public concern.
• Communicating and coordinating effectively with internal and external customers, other agencies, and the public.
• Conducting biological resources surveys/monitoring and preparing reports and mitigation plans.
• Proposing studies to determine populations status, trends, and adaptive management strategies for plants and wildlife.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

Time-in-Grade: Current career or career-conditional GS employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional GS employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current career or career-conditional federal employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

How you will be evaluated

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

This position is announced under a government-wide Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) for Biological Science positions in the 0401 series. Under the DHA, applicants who meet the Education and Qualification requirements listed in this announcement will be referred for consideration. Veteran's Preference, category rating, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply under the DHA process.

Appointments made under the DHA are processed as "new" appointments. Current Federal employees may be required to serve a new probationary period (5 CFR 315.802(b).

• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Contracting/Procurement
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Risk Management
• Vulnerabilities Assessment
• Wildlife Biology
• Written Communication

To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes:

• Your RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
• TRANSCRIPTS,Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements.
• 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.) For more information see the OPM Guide to Career Transition.

Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Next steps

Additional locations