Wildlife Refuge Manager

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service•Suffolk, VA

About The Position

The Wildlife Refuge Manager serves with Great Dismal Swamp and Nansemond National Wildlife Refuges and supervises refuge operations and staff. The role oversees habitat management, conservation programs, public use, and administrative functions, applying expert resource-management knowledge and working with diverse partners to address complex environmental issues and advance agency goals. The manager administers refuge land, wildlife, and wetland conservation activities; leads professional, technical, analytical, and administrative staff; and develops and implements short- and long-range plans and policies for refuge operations, projects, fiscal requirements, personnel, and property. The role also represents the refuges and communicates management objectives, conservation initiatives, and Service policies to internal and external audiences through presentations, meetings, training, tours, and public and partner events. The position requires a qualifying education background in zoology, wildlife management, or biology, along with at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level. Work is performed in both an office and outdoors, including marshy terrain and settings where biting insects and large animals may be present.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
Must pass a background investigation and receive favorable adjudication.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
Participation in Direct Deposit is required.
Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
A financial disclosure report is required within 30 days of appointment.
May be required to complete a one-year probationary period; this is a supervisory position that may also require a supervisory probationary period.
Must meet applicable Time-in-Grade requirements if a current Federal employee.
Must meet the basic education requirement: a degree in zoology, wildlife management, or an appropriate biology field with specified coursework (at least 9 semester hours in zoology, 6 in wildlife courses, 3 in botany, and 3 in conservation biology); or the specified coursework combined with appropriate experience or additional education.
Must submit transcripts to document claimed qualifying education; foreign education must be evaluated as equivalent to U.S. education.
Must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service, including experience planning, administering, evaluating, managing, or operating fish or wildlife conservation programs on public or private lands; applying wildlife biology, ecology, or habitat-management procedures and policies in field operations; assisting with development of long- and short-term management plans; leading professional and nonprofessional personnel; and delivering presentations, conducting training, leading meetings, facilitating tours, or representing an organization before partners, community groups, or the public.
Resume must state hours worked per week; current Federal employees may need to submit a non-award SF-50 to validate work schedule, and non-Federal applicants must state full-time (or 40 hours a week) or part-time hours.

Responsibilities

Oversee and administer refuge land, wildlife, and wetland conservation activities.
Apply refuge-use and planning principles and policies, including community and outdoor recreation, environmental, and land-use planning.
Supervise professional, technical, analytical, and administrative support staff, promoting high professional standards and accurate, high-quality compliance-related work.
Formulate, develop, communicate, and implement short- and long-range plans, strategies, and refuge policies for operations, projects, fiscal requirements, personnel, and property management.
Communicate with internal and external audiences through presentations, meetings, training, refuge tours, and representation at public and partner events.
Explain refuge management objectives, conservation initiatives, and Service policies to the public and partners.