Summary If selected, you will be responsible for assisting in the planning, developing, organizing, and administering complex operational and technical assistance programs designed to efficiently, effectively, and safely reduce wildlife damage that adversely impacts agricultural interests, human health and safety, property, and natural resources. Responsibility primarily spans a State/Territory or a combination of States/Territories, supervising a staff involved in wildlife damage management. Responsibilities The duties may include, but are not limited to: Assists in planning, developing, organizing, and administering complex operational and technical assistance Wildlife Services programs. Works with State Director to conduct continuing reviews and evaluations of projects and activities to determine overall program effectiveness and compliance with required operating procedures. Collaborates with State Director to prepare long-range work plans, work schedules and priorities, formulates budget estimates, and administers fund expenditures for complex, multi-funded programs. Assists with directing and overseeing a large workforce of Federal and, in some cases, cooperative employees (collaborators), including administrative staff, wildlife biologists, technicians. Assists in overseeing the planning, administration, and timely and effective execution of WS programs and projects to meet program goals and objectives. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, establishes and adjusts short-term and long-term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work. Negotiates, establishes, maintains, monitors, and reports on reimbursable agreements such as Cooperative Service and Interagency Agreements. Allocates, tracks, and manages budgets and funds provided for operations of the program. Negotiates with a diverse group of cooperating entities that includes Federal, State/Territorial, county, and municipal governments, Tribes, agricultural organizations, and private companies. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. BASIC REQUIREMENT: Degree: biological science that included: At least 9 semester hours in such wildlife subjects as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, wildlife management, or research courses in the field of wildlife biology; and At least 12 semester hours in zoology in such subjects as general zoology, invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, genetics, ecology, cellular biology, parasitology, entomology, or research courses in such subjects (Excess courses in wildlife biology may be used to meet the zoology requirements where appropriate.); and At least 9 semester hours in botany or the related plant sciences. OR Combination of education and experience: equivalent to a major in biological science (i.e., at least 30 semester hours), with at least 9 semester hours in wildlife subjects, 12 semester hours in zoology, and 9 semester hours in botany or related plant science, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. FOR THE GS-13 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Evaluating and developing staff members, addressing performance problems, managing workforce staffing needs for overtime and TDY assignments. Assisting in the formulation of budget estimates and administering expenditures, for a complex multi-faceted program consisting of federal and cooperatively funded budgets. Managing wildlife damage management program administration, involving large-scale resources, a high degree of logistical planning, and multiple funding sources, monitoring contracts. Gaining cooperation from, exchanging information, applying regulations, and resolving problematic issues with industry representatives relative to wildlife damage management requirements. Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required: This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university 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 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 Please see above for education qualification requirement information. Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP or RPL eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the Veteran's Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website. Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee. Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection.
