About this role
Job Summary
You will serve as a Wildlife Refuge Specialist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Huron Wetland Management District. You will assist in the development and administration of the operating program and other activities. Pay will vary based on grade level for which you're selected. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.
Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 11/03/2026-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: zoology, wildlife management, or an appropriate field of biology that included at least nine (9) semester hours in zoology; six (6) semester hours in such wildlife courses as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, or wildlife management; and three (3) semester hours in botany, and three (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-09 grade level: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: assisting with the planning, coordination, or implementation of wildlife conservation, habitat management, or natural resource management decisions; assisting with the development of management plans, project reports, or environmental compliance documents; and assisting with the coordination of facilities maintenance, equipment, or other operational activities associated with wildlife refuges or natural resource management areas.
You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience as listed above. 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: planning, coordinating, or implementing wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, or natural resource management projects and activities; evaluating biological or environmental data to develop recommendations for wildlife and habitat management; preparing or contributing to resource management plans, environmental assessments, or other environmental compliance documents; and participating in the planning, budgeting, or coordination or facilities maintenance, equipment, and operational resources to support wildlife refuge or natural resource management programs.
You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. Volunteer Experience: 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.
Major Duties
- Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Utilizing engineering and construction techniques as applied to Refuge/WMD infrastructure, training and operation of heavy equipment, reporting requirements Assisting Wildlife Refuge Manager and other senior management in the development of long-range plans, annual work plans, budgets and work schedules. Preparing administrative reports, annual narrative reports, and other documents associated with wildlife management and administrative programs. Participating in the design of outreach and educational programs for the community. Participating in the development of required National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation (or portions thereof) including Environmental Assessments (EAs), Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 consultations, archeological clearances, and similar actions. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 10 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
Requirements
Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service.
In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized.
In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.