Natural Resources Management Biologist

This position is a Natural Resources Management Biologist, GS- 0401-11/12 working in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, for the R9-NCTC-Division of Facility Operations.

Promotion Potential: This position involves a multi-grade career ladder.

The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-12. At lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence.As a Natural Resources Management Biologist your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

• Manages NCTC's land base to achieve the following goals: restore, conserve, and protect the ecological integrity of the native biological communities occurring on the property; provide opportunities for conservation education that enhance the public's understanding of fish and wildlife conservation and the role of society in the natural environment; demonstrate exemplary land stewardship practices; and foster and cultivate partnerships that support an ecosystem approach to land stewardship. Oversees the NCTC Land Management Committee.
  
  Schedules, coordinates, and directs meetings, and engages committee members in various aspects of the NCTC land management program. Serves as the point of contact for reviewing, coordinating, and monitoring all research and other land management projects. Verifies that research and management studies conducted on the property by other agencies do not conflict with or unnecessarily duplicate efforts. Maintains records on the progress and completion of all research and field studies and ensures they are in accordance with the goals and objectives of the NCTC Land Management Plan.

• Serves as a technical expert on natural resources, including fish and wildlife resources, and advises NCTC managers on actions required to achieve land management objectives. Develops techniques as appropriate for surveying and monitoring wildlife populations and habitats.
  
  Coordinates and conducts ecological inventories and surveys to determine wildlife and plant species composition and distribution. Analyzes data to prepare an ecological profile of the land base and develops and maintains species' listings and land use maps of the NCTC property. This information is used to develop strategies for NCTC's land management program and where appropriate, wildlife-oriented recreation such as hunting, angling, and photography.

• Plans, conducts, and/or reviews biological studies needed to develop land management programs and to evaluate the effects of these programs on wildlife and habitat. Designs and evaluates both short-and long-range management plans to provide a diversity of habitats for wildlife and plant species.
  
  Prepares, implements, and revises, as needed, the NCTC Land Management, Grassland, and Woods Restoration Plans. Formulates annual work plans, coordinates and prepares agreements, identifies funding and staffing needs, and creates timelines to accomplish tasks and meet objectives outlined in the plan. In addition, the incumbent makes recommendations to the NCTC Directorate as to future options and opportunities in land management at the NCTC.
  
  Designs, plans, and conducts conventional investigations, assessments or inspections involving a full range of biological, chemical, and physical processes. Examples include impacts of point and non-point source pollution, land management, land and water resource development projects, studies to determine the status of populations of rare species, the development of comprehensive fish and/or wildlife mitigation or management plans, the review and assessment of proposals and/or license applications/renewals to determine their impact upon fish and/or wildlife resources and habitats, or the development and implementation of conventional strategies to conserve and protect habitats and populations.

• Coordinates, collects and processes field data for analysis according to established procedures, as methods and techniques. Gathers, organizes, and interprets a wide variety of biological, ecological, pathological, public use data or other information pertinent to scientific studies.
  
  Conducts field experiments using a wide variety of data-collection systems and extracts and analyzes data from these systems. Deploys remote data-collection systems and manipulates and analyzes data from these systems. Modifies and adapts conventional techniques, processes and procedures; assesses, selects and applies precedents; and recommends strategies and plans to overcome significant resource problems.

• Maintains contact and communication with biologists throughout the assigned organization and the Service, as needed, and with other agencies (federal, tribal, and state) with similar programs. Provides technical biological guidance for the program area of the assigned organization.
  
  Represents the Service at professional meetings and other meetings pertaining to individual assignments and attends public meetings and hearings to discuss proposed or existing development projects. Cultivates relationships with local and state representatives and interacts with other federal agencies, university professionals, Native American officials, and state government officials for the purpose of disseminating scientific and resource information.

Only experience and education obtained by 05/03/2024 will be considered.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.

Basic Requirement:

• Successfully completed a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study 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 in "A" above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours (or equivalent) earned towards your degree and divide by 120 semester hours (or equivalent). To determine the percentage of qualifying experience, divide the total number of months of acceptable specialized experience by 12 months.
  
  Add your percentages of education and experience together. The two percentages must total at least 100%.

Minimum Qualification [GS-11]

• One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-09 in the Federal service. Experience may include: (1) assisting in the review, coordination, and monitoring of land management projects; (2) identifying habitat requirements for the diversity of flora and fauna; (3) monitoring, documenting, and evaluating changes in habitat and wildlife resulting from specific management activities and natural events, including forest and grassland management, herbicide applications, and fire; and 4) identifying techniques as appropriate for surveying and monitoring wildlife populations and habitats. OR
• Possess 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in closely related field which clearly provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position. OR
• A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement

Minimum Qualification [GS-12]: Possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level or higher in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Experience must include: (1) leading the review, coordination, and monitoring of land management projects; (2) developing and overseeing landscape restoration projects to maintain and restore the ecological integrity of the landbase; (3) providing technical advice on habitat and population management and serving as a technical expert on endangered, threatened, or sensitive species; and 4) resolving complex problems involving matters such as developing and implementing multiple-use resource management plans or covering diverse resource management issues.

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.