Wildlife Biologist (Vulture Research Coordinator)

This is a pre-announcement. Interested applicants should send application materials to Dr. Bryan Kluever at bryan.kluever@usda.gov

Start Date is negotiable, but must occur before July 1, 

TYPE OF POSITION: Term Appointment with possibility for Benefits, Excepted Service; Not to Exceed 13 months (may be extended up to 4 years)

WORK SCHEDULE: Full-Time

SERIES/GRADE: GS-0486-11

FULL PERFORMANCE LEVEL: GS-0486-12

LOCATION: Remote with geological restrictions to Arkansas or Missouri (Relocation expenses will not be paid)

SALARY: $72,553-96,586 per year   

WHO MAY APPLY:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must be 18 years old
• If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 and are at least 18 years of age, civil service employment law (5 U.S.C. 3328) requires that you must be registered with the Selective Service System, unless you meet certain exemptions (proof of registration and/or exemption required).  Website: http://www.sss.gov.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

• Resume (include days/months/years worked, work schedule, and grade level if federal)
• Transcripts if you are qualifying for the position based on education or a combination of experience and education.
• DD-214 (Member 4 copy) and/or VA letter required for applicable Veteran preference.
• Current active duty members must submit a certification that they are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted.

HOW TO APPLY: 

Additional materials not listed above (i.e. position descriptions, training certificates, etc.) may not be considered.  Applicants who do not submit the required items listed above may not be considered.  Applications with all supporting documents must be submitted to the contact office and must be RECEIVED by the CLOSING DATE of this announcement.

Interested individuals should send a resume, transcripts (if applicable), veteran documentation (if applicable) to the address listed here:

CONTACT OFFICE:

Bryan Kluever, PhD
Supervisory Research Biologist
APHIS Wildlife Services (WS)
WS National Wildlife Research Center
Florida Field Station
2820 East University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32641
P:   352-448-2130 
C:   352-317-7279
bryan.kluever@usda.gov

SUMMARY:

The position is with the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), Florida Field Station located in Gainesville, FL. The program is multi-faceted and is directed at the reduction of wildlife damage as it relates to agriculture, human health and safety, public and private property, and natural resources. The incumbent will design, coordinate, conduct, and assist in field, computer modeling, and laboratory studies emphasized by the mission and strategic goals of USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, and NWRC.

DUTIES:

• Planning and implementing field, computer modeling, and laboratory studies with limited input from the Supervisor.
• Manage work meant to develop tools and methods applicable to solving problems inflicted by vertebrates, with an emphasis on birds.
• Developing investigations and participate in the research process, including field work, data analysis, writing reports of results for peer-reviewed publication, and presentations at events.
• Designing and conducting studies to determine biological and behavioral attributes and characteristics of wildlife species, including feeding ecology, movements, ranges, population densities/dynamics.
• Designing complex computer modeling studies will be conducted using statistical software and Geographic Information Systems.
• Designing studies that quantify the economic impacts of avian-human wildlife conflict.
• Reviews relevant scientific and semi-technical literature and current understandings of the ecology, behavior, and management of birds.
• Uses traditional and new techniques in resolving wildlife damage to resources, particularly in regard to birds.
• Works independently, sets priorities within assigned duties, completes work assignments, meets goals.

MINIMUM ELIGIBLITY REQUIREMENTS:

To qualify, applicants MUST meet all minimum qualification requirements, except Medical Requirements, by the closing date of the announcement.

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 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to the basic requirement applicants must also possess:

FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Within the past five years, authored at least three first-author publications in wildlife based peer reviewed scientific journals.
• Field experience in avian ecology, to include handling and capturing birds.
• Planning, organizing, executing and finalizing wildlife data sets, and performing statistical and computer modeling analysis on data related to wildlife (birds, mammals, herps) ecology.

OR

3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in one of the following: Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Ecology, or Wildlife Management.