Land Management Law Enforcement Officer Job in Soldotna, AK

Vacancy No. R7-25-12729544-ALM-IMP Department U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Salary $83,603.00 to $108,678.00 Grade 11 to 11
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 5/2/2025 Close Date 5/12/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Soldotna, AK


Summary

This position is a Land Management Law Enforcement Officer, GS-1801-11, working in Soldotna, Alaska, for the R7-Division of Refuge Law Enforcement.

Duties

As a Land Management Law Enforcement Officer your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

  • Serves as a commissioned law enforcement officer performing law enforcement duties that have been enacted to insure the protection and safe use of National Wildlife Refuge System resources.
  • Familiarizes other law enforcement personnel with Federal and state laws governing management of natural resources and maintains liaisons, exchanges information, and coordinates ongoing law enforcement activities.
  • In direct coordination with the Patrol Captain, provides liaison and coordinates prosecution of cases with the state and local courts.
  • Coordinates activities with the Patrol Captain on all multi-jurisdictional law enforcement operations and investigations with other Federal, state, and local agencies, including all civil and criminal case investigations.
  • Provides assistance to local law enforcement agencies, including occasional emergency assistance.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation.
  • Drug testing position: Selectees tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
  • Medical Requirements: Selectees must pass a pre-employment medical examination and may be subject to post-employment medical examinations to determine if they are maintaining the fitness standards for this position.
  • Driver’s License: This position requires the incumbent to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of their official duties. Selectee must hold and maintain a valid state driver’s license throughout their employment in this position.
  • Firearm: Selectees will be required to carry a firearm in the performance of your duties.
  • Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform is required.
  • Probationary Period: Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
  • Notice of Financial Disclosure Report Requirement: This position is subject to a financial disclosure requirement and you will be required to complete either OGE Form 278e or OGE Form 450 as applicable within 30 days of your appointment
  • 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 05/12/2025 will be considered.

In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualification.

Minimum Qualification GS-11:
  1. One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS/GL-09 level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience may include: 1) work performed in law enforcement investigating violations of laws and regulations which may include laws pertaining to poaching, illegal hunting, or similar wildlife-related activities; 2) preparing investigative case files according to standard operating procedures to ensure they meet legal requirements; 3) reviewing law enforcement regulations, policies, or procedures to recommend improvements or clarifications; and 4) delivering presentations or informal talks to the public about the laws, regulations, and policies. OR
  2. Three (3) full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education, a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or a LL.M., in a directly related field of study in natural resource management, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, museum sciences, business administration, public administration, behavioral sciences, sociology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources. OR
  3. A combination of specialized experience and graduate level education, as described in 1 and 2 above, which together equals 100% of the requirements.
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.

Time In Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically,
i. Area of Consideration.
ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502.
iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions or for Federal Wage System (FWS), wage grade positions, applicants are evaluated using the OPM Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations and the job element examining method. Your SF-50 will be used to confirm you meet all requirements.

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

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

Telework: This position is not suitable for telework.

Alaska Return Rights (excluding Anchorage and Fairbanks): If you are a current U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee and you are transferring from a Region outside of Alaska, you will be eligible to return to a position in your home Region upon completion of a minimum 3-year tour of duty in Alaska. If you exercise this option, your home Region will place you in a position of equivalent grade in the same general occupational classification series that you occupied in Alaska. For the professional series at the GS-5 level or above.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP):Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/"

The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA), P.L. 114-47, allows certain individuals who currently or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies to compete under merit promotion procedures.

Note: You must submit ALL SF-50s and performance information for each period of temporary/term employment that qualifies for LMWFA. Performance documentation can be obtained by contacting the supervisors for the positions you served in during your 24 months. If they did not complete performance appraisals, ask them to provide a statement of performance for each period of service. The statement must specify the dates for each employment period and your level of performance (dates should match the dates on the SF-50s).

Current appointees:

  • Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency;
  • Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; AND
  • Must have performed at an acceptable level.

Former appointees:

  • Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency;
  • Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years;
  • Must apply for position within 2 years after separation;
  • Must have been separated for reasons other than misconduct or performance; AND
  • Must have performed at an acceptable 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 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Additional information

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
Testing Designated Position: All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
Medical Requirements: You must pass a pre-employment medical examination. Also, you may be subject to post-employment medical examinations and psychological screening to determine if you are maintaining the fitness standards for this position.
Driver's License: Must possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's license in order to operates motor vehicles, or special purpose law enforcement vehicles of various types including four-wheel drives, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, and small watercraft.
Required to obtain and wear an official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform.
Required to submit an OF-178, Certificate of Medical Examination, if the form is not already on file.
Required to accept, maintain, and exercise law enforcement authority.
Must be certified in providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid or emergency medical services (EMS).
Must qualify with and maintain (annual/semiannual) firearms qualification and must safely utilize firearms, nonlethal weapons, and defensive tactics in the conduct of daily activities.
This position sensitivity level has been designated as non-critical sensitive. The selectee must maintain favorable background investigation.
Lautenberg Amendment: This position authorized the incumbent to carry a firearm. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (Title 18, U.S.C. Section 922(g)(9). Candidates under consideration will be required to certify whether they have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
37th Birthday: The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian law enforcement (or firefighter, if applicable) experience, or you are a preference eligible veteran.
Law Enforcement Retirement: The incumbent of this position performs primary law enforcement work and is eligible for coverage under the law enforcement retirement provisions of Title 5. U.S.C. Part 841 or 842.Must successfully complete Land Management Police Training Program (FLTEC) or equivalent, Federal Wildlife Officer Basic Training (FWOBT), and Field Training and Evaluation Program (FWS-FTEP).
Positions that require the use of a Firearm: Applicants are ineligible for this position if ANY time they have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence, unless such conviction was expunged, set aside or the applicant receives a pardon.

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 including contractor-provided home sale.

Cost of Living Allowance: In addition to the yearly salary, this position is entitled to a 3% cost-of-living allowance (COLA)as determined by https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/nonforeign-areas/#url=COLA-Rates. This allowance is subject to annual review, adjustment, and rate decrease.

Benefits

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 must be performing at a fully successful level or higher in order to be considered for this position. Applicants must provide a finalized EPAP dated within the past 18 months at the fully successful or higher level. Applicants who do not have a finalized Employee Performance Appraisal Plan (EPAP) from within the last 18 months available must provide a reason and certify that their performance is acceptable, and they have not been advised that their performance is currently at an unacceptable level.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications for this position. This vacancy utilizes a multiple hurdle assessment process to determine the qualifications of applicants. The first hurdle consists of applicants completing an online occupational questionnaire related to the major duties and competencies of the position. The second hurdle consists of verification that your performance in your current position is acceptable, and you have not been advised that your performance is currently at an unacceptable level.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

  • Skill in enforcing federal, state, and local laws, regulations, relevant court decisions that relate to public lands.
  • Knowledge of methods of investigation, obtaining and maintaining a chain of custody, interviewing and interrogation techniques.
  • Skill in applying law enforcement patrol techniques and practices.
  • Ability to detect, prevent, or curtail illegal and prohibited activities of a potentially destructive nature to public lands and their resources.
  • Ability to interact with others in a professional manner to address a variety of client groups on law enforcement program objectives.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials may result in your removal from consideration.

Performance rating of record review: All applicants must provide a copy of their last final EPAP dated within the past 18 months verifying their performance is at a fully successful level or higher. Applicants who do not have a finalized EPAP within the last 18 months available must provide a reason and certify that their performance is acceptable, and they have not been advised that their performance is currently at an unacceptable level. Applicants who have an unsuccessful performance rating, or who have certified that their performance is not at an acceptable level will not be eligible for hiring consideration.

Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are highly qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Candidates who apply under Noncompetitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Required Documents

You must submit a complete application package. We will not make assumptions about your experience and/or education.

Required Documents:
1. Resume: Your resume must describe your job-related qualifications (paid and non-paid work experience) that includes job title, beginning and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and description of job duties. You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included. If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form, you must ensure this information is provided. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.

  • Do not include the following types of information in your resume:
    • Classified or government sensitive information
    • Social Security Number (SSN)
    • Photos of yourself
    • Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
    • Encrypted and digitally signed documents.

2. SF-50: (non-award), or equivalent Notification of Personnel Action if you are a current or former Federal employee. Your SF-50 (non-award) must show tenure code 1 or 2 in block 24, and position occupied code 1 (competitive service) in block 34. If you have previously held a higher grade than the grade/position you currently occupy, you must submit a copy of the last non-award SF-50 you received for that position.

If you have any questions regarding which SF-50's to submit, it is highly recommended that you contact the person listed on this vacancy announcement before the closing date.

Note: You must submit ALL SF-50s and performance information for each period of temporary/term employment if you are requesting to be considered Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act eligibility. For Public Land Corp eligibility, a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Compliance Hiring Based for Public Land Corps Service is required for verification of eligibility.

3. Performance Appraisal: Submit a copy of your most recent completed Employee Performance Appraisal Plan (EPAP) dated within the past 18 months. If you do not have a current rating of record available, you must provide a reason and certify that your performance is acceptable, and that you have not been advised that your performance is currently at an unacceptable level.

Additional Documentation if applicable:
1. Cover Letter

2. Veterans' Preference Documentation: 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 Member Copy 2 or 4 showing you were honorably discharged. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. (i.e., VA letter). You may not be awarded preference if you do not attach the correct Veteran Documentation as specified above.

3. College Transcripts: Please refer to the education section above for additional information. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. A copy of your official transcripts may be required if you are selected.

4. CTAP Documentation: If you are applying under CTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility under 5 CFR 330.602(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP eligible.

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

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.

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. You may qualify for more than one eligibility, so please choose carefully. If you respond that you do not meet any of the eligibility criteria, you will not be considered for this position under this announcement.

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/12729544.
  2. Please ensure you check the acknowledgement checkbox then click the Submit Application button to submit your application.
  3. Applications must be received by 05/12/2025, 11:59 pm EST, 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.

Agency contact information

Human Resources Staffing Division

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.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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