Research Ecologist/Wildlife Biologist (Unit Leader)

What General Information Do I Need to Know About This Position?

Salary: The selectee will be entitled to a cost-of-living allowance of 2.01% in addition to the basic salary. First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.

GS-13: $111,026 (Step 01) to $144,331 (Step 10)
GS-14: $131,199 (Step 01) to $170,556 (Step 10)

Open to USGS-DEN-23-12005024-ST-CK

Qualifications:

This position is interdisciplinary and may be filled in either of the occupational job series listed. You must meet the educational requirements of at least one of these occupational series, in additional to the Minimum Requirement listed below, in order to be found qualified and referred for consideration.

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:

Basic Education for Ecologist, GS-0408: Applicants must meet the following to satisfy the basic education requirement for Ecologist, all grade levels. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in biology or a related field of science underlying ecological research that included at least 30 semester hours or the equivalent in basic and applied biological sciences. These hours must have included at least 9 semester hours or the equivalent in ecology, and 12 semester hours or the equivalent in physical and mathematical sciences.

*OR*

Basic Education for Research Wildlife Biologist, GS-0486: Applicants must meet the following to satisfy the basic education requirement for Research Wildlife Biologist, all grade levels. Research positions: Degree with major in wildlife biology, zoology, or botany that included at least 30 semester hours of course work in biological science and 15 semester hours in the physical, mathematical, and earth sciences. This course work must have included:

• At least 9 semester hours of training applicable to wildlife biology in such subjects as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, wildlife management, principles of population dynamics, or related course work in the field of wildlife biology; and
• At least 12 semester hours in zoological subjects such as invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy of the vertebrates, embryology, animal physiology, entomology, herpetology, parasitology, and genetics; and
• At least 9 semester hours in the field of botany and related plant science; and
• At least 15 semester hours of training in any combination of two or more of the following: chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, soils, and/or geology.

Ph.D. Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic education requirements described above, in order to receive consideration for this position, you must also possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in wildlife science or a closely related field of study appropriate for this position.

To verify the Ph.D. requirement, transcripts or verification from the university registrar must be submitted that clearly state: Ph.D. awarded, major, and date of conferral. Failure to provide this information will result in your application receiving no further consideration.

For GS-13: In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must have one year of appropriate professional experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience at the GS-12 level includes: build and manage an applied, field-based research program focused on wildlife and terrestrial habitats at local to landscape scales, and that is relevant to wildlife conservation agencies and stakeholders locally, nationally, and internationally; conduct research that provides a scientific basis for decisions on management and conservation of wildlife; serve as subject matter expert in wildlife ecology, providing leadership and guidance to agencies, organizations, and university representatives through participation in meetings, conferences, and work groups; teach and apply modern quantitative analyses and tools for spatial analysis, species interactions, population dynamics, or habitat dynamics; effectively communicate scientific information to a diverse audience of managers, policy makers, students, and the public through final reports, peer reviewed scientific journals, book chapters, presentations, and other outlets; serve as a graduate faculty member, contributing to the research, student advising (graduate and post-doctorate) and mentorship, and teaching mission of the university.

For GS-14:In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must have one year of appropriate professional experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience at the GS-13 level includes, in addition to those described above: build an applied, field-based research program focused on biological and/or ecological patterns and processes at local to landscape scales relevant to management, conservation, and restoration of Alaska wildlife populations and habitats. Specific expertise may include organismal biology, population ecology and demographics of wildlife species, terrestrial community ecology, and/or human dimensions of wildlife and an ability to develop innovative approaches to assess and address the vulnerability and resilience of Alaska habitats and species to stressors and inform decisions on conservation and management of wildlife, their habitats, and ecosystems. Experience must include strong quantitative skills to support spatial analysis, species interactions, or population, community, and habitat dynamics modeling and be proficient in designing and managing statistically valid survey designs for natural resources.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Responsibilities:

As a Research Ecologist/Wildlife Biologist (Unit Leader) within the Alaska Cooperative Research Unit, some of your specific duties will include:

• Plans, conducts, and directs research related to wildlife or ecological resources, with application to contemporary science, policy and management needs.
• Conducts research that is cooperator driven and provides scientific basis for management and policy decisions.
• Serves as subject matter expert in wildlife ecology, providing leadership and guidance to government and private agencies and university representatives through participation in meetings, conferences and work groups.
• Disseminates research results via final reports, peer-reviewed print scientific journals, online scientific journals, books, book chapters or other outlets. Make presentations on findings to scientific and conservation organizations.
• Serves as graduate faculty member, contributing to both the research, graduate student mentorship, and teaching mission of the university.
• Operates a government vehicle as an incidental driver.

Advertised for those with a Fish Ecologist Background:

• Open to all U.S. citizens under: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/732665900
• Open to current or former Federal employees: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/732666000