Biologist

Summary This position is a Biologist, GS-0401-7/9, working in Sasabe, Arizona, for the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. This position is also open to status candidates under announcement R2-25-12453673-CL-MP. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods. Responsibilities As a Biologist your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following: Assist in a developmental capacity on projects such as animal husbandry, captive breeding facility quality control, animal welfare, sampling for disease in captive avian species populations and provide recommendations to develop standard operating procedures. Maintain and care for captive avian species. Present technical and non-technical project results through verbal presentations and outreach to diverse audiences, including peers, management, partners, and the general public. Assist with investigations of the status, life history requirements, animal husbandry practices, animal welfare practices and conservation/recovery needs for various wildlife including threatened or endangered species, candidate species, and other species of special concern. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Only experience and education obtained by 10/21/2024 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position, you must possess both the Basic Education Requirement and Minimum Qualification: Basic Education Requirement Possess a degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position, OR Possess a combination of education and experience; courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, PLUS appropriate experience or additional education. Minimum Qualification GS-07 Possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes: (1) Assisting with animal husbandry and propagation and troubleshooting issues; (2) Assisting with entering and analyzing scientific data; (3) Assisting with captive animal management; and (4) Cleaning and maintaining captive animal enclosures. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified, OR Completion of at least 1 full year of graduate education from an accredited college or university in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify your education, OR Possess Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.). S.A.A. is based on (1) Class Standing, (2) Grade-Point Average, or (3) Honor Society Membership. (1) Class Standing: Upper one-third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision based on completed courses. (2) Grade-Point Average: A grade point average of (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (B or better) as recorded on the official transcript or as computed based on four years of education, or computed based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum; -or- (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (B or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final two years of the curriculum. (3) Election to Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society: Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies. Freshman scholastic honor societies cannot be used to meet the requirements of this position. Superior academic achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify your education, OR Possess a combination of education and experience as described above that when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify your education. Minimum Qualification GS-09 Possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes: (1) Performing animal husbandry or propagation and troubleshooting issues; (2) Entering and analyzing scientific data; (3) Engaging in captive animal management; and (4) Cleaning and maintaining captive animal enclosures. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified, OR Possess two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a masters degree or masters or equivalent graduate degree in a field directly related to the work of the position. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify your education, OR Possess an equivalent combination of professional experience and graduate level education beyond the first year, as described in A and B above, that when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify your education. 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. 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 institutions 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 schools 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. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov) Additional Information PCS Information: No PCS entitlements authorized. Telework: This position is not suitable for telework. Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP 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/ICTAP, 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 and ICTAP visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/” Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS 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. Shared Certificate: Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.