Wildlife Refuge Specialist

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service•Huron, SD

About The Position

The Wildlife Refuge Specialist serves with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Huron Wetland Management District, assisting with development and administration of the operating program and related activities. Duties may be developmental below the full performance level. The selected employee may be required to travel overnight away from home for up to 10 nights per month and must obtain a government charge card for travel. The position requires a valid driver’s license and wearing a uniform; a uniform allowance is provided. Work is performed in both office and outdoor settings, with telework potentially available with supervisor approval. Frequent travel by surface and air transportation is required for meetings and field work. Pay depends on the grade level selected, and first-time federal hires normally start at step 1. Advancement to the full performance level is not guaranteed.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
Must meet the basic educational requirement: a degree in zoology, wildlife management, or an appropriate field of biology including specified coursework, or the specified combination of coursework with experience or additional education.
For GS-09, must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07, qualifying graduate education, or an allowed combination of education and experience. Specialized experience includes assisting with wildlife conservation, habitat or natural resource management; developing plans, reports, or environmental compliance documents; and coordinating facilities maintenance, equipment, or operations.
For GS-11, must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09, qualifying doctoral-level graduate education, or an allowed combination of education and experience. Specialized experience includes planning or implementing wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, or natural resource projects; evaluating biological or environmental data; contributing to management plans or environmental compliance documents; and participating in planning, budgeting, or coordinating facilities, equipment, and operational resources.
Must meet applicable federal time-in-grade requirements if a current federal employee.
Must provide transcripts to substantiate education used to qualify; foreign education must be evaluated as equivalent to U.S. education.
Must maintain a valid driver’s license throughout employment.
Must wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards.
Must pass a background investigation and favorable adjudication.
Must participate in Direct Deposit and successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
May be required to serve a probationary period; continued employment after that period requires written agency certification.
Must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
Applicants must document hours worked per week for experience to be credited.

Responsibilities

Apply engineering and construction techniques to refuge and wetland management district infrastructure, and support heavy-equipment training and operation and reporting requirements.
Assist the Wildlife Refuge Manager and senior management with long-range plans, annual work plans, budgets, and work schedules.
Prepare administrative reports, annual narrative reports, and other documents related to wildlife management and administrative programs.
Participate in designing outreach and educational programs for the community.
Participate in developing National Environmental Policy Act documentation, including Environmental Assessments, Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultations, archeological clearances, and similar actions.
Travel for meetings and field work, including overnight travel of up to 10 nights per month.
Perform duties that may be developmental when appointed below the full performance level.