Wildlife Refuge Specialist

Summary

You will serve as a Wildlife Refuge Specialistwith US Fish and Wildlife Service. This position is located in the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Duties

• Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Manages and leads the biological work of an extensive National Wildlife Refuge that spans coastal, estuarine, salt marsh and upland habitats. Develops wildlife habitat and species monitoring, protection and management plans, and grant proposals, and secures funding for these efforts, and coordinates all facets of these programs in the field and administratively. Works with partners to coordinate and leverage support and funding for complex wildlife and habitat projects, manages and monitors work on and off refuge, and works as a member of local, regional, or national teams. Plans, manages, evaluates, and carries out the maintenance and biological program at assigned Refuge. Coordinates with other Federal and state agencies and interest groups in the formulation of long-range plans for management of the Refuge. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 11/19/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: Basic Educational Requirement AND Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying. Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following: A. Degree: Bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited college or university in zoology, wildlife management, or an appropriate field of biology that included at least 9 semester hours in zoology; 6 semester hours in such wildlife courses as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, or wildlife management; 3 semester hours in botany; and 3 semester hours in conservation biology. You must submit transcripts. -OR- B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) Managing the biological program at a national wildlife refuge or other protected area by analyzing, evaluating, and selecting the appropriate techniques in the collection of biological data with an emphasis on wildlife population assessment, habitat management, or conservation plans; 2) Identifying and making recommendations to resolve wildlife management problems; 3) Providing technical advice relating to wildlife habitat management or conservation plans, wildlife species; 4) Preparing reports and making presentations on findings and recommendations concerning wildlife management issues. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in the biological sciences, natural resource management, or a closely related field which provided me with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience as listed above. Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) Leading and managing the biological program at a national wildlife refuge or other protected area by monitoring, protecting, managing, restoring, and enhancing wildlife and wildlife habitat; 2) Planning, implementing, and using quantitative means to assess the results of research, habitat managem…

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience at the GS-12 level. This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications