Summary This position is a Fish and Wildlife Biologist, GS- 0401-9, working in Galloway, NJ, for the R5-New Jersey Ecological Services Field Office. This is a term position expected to last 13 months but may be extended up to a total of 10 years at management's discretion. Responsibilities As a Fish and Wildlife Biologist your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following: Providing conservation planning and implementation assistance for wetland and wildlife habitat restoration projects funded through Farm Bill conservation programs. Assisting Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) field offices with landowner outreach, resource inventory, project planning and design, and implementation and implementation oversight of habitat restoration projects. Coordinating with staff in other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS, Service) programs and office to encourage the integration of the private lands program into other programs and projects within the assigned geographic area. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Only experience and education obtained by 10/25/2024 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification. Basic Requirement: Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR A combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in 1, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Minimum Qualification [GS-9] One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience may include: (1) assessing impacts of proposed actions on threatened and endangered species; (2) assisting or participating in investigations/assessments to determine the impact of various land and water development projects upon fish and/or wildlife resources; (3) assisting in developing fish and/or wildlife management plans. OR Two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree -OR- possess a master's or equivalent graduate degree in a discipline directly related to the position. OR A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement. 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. Education PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts. PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov) Additional Information PCS INFORMATION: No PCS entitlements authorized Telework: This position is suitable for telework and may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval. Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Click here for more information on CTAP and ICTAP. Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.