Entomologist

Defense Logistics Agency; Fort Belvoir (VA); Hybrid; USD 144,000 - 187,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework eligible

Job summary

Defense Logistics Agency seeks an Entomologist to serve as the Pest Management Program Manager, acting as the agency's technical authority on IPM, medical entomology, and Force Health Protection.

You will provide program oversight, advise senior leaders, certify pesticide applicators, and coordinate with DoD and AFPMB on pest management initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in entomology with relevant coursework in biology and related sciences.
• Specialized experience in IPM, vector surveillance, and FHP across installations or locations.
• Experience certifying pesticide applicators and managing regulatory records.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the agency's pest management program manager and technical authority for IPM, medical entomology, and FHP.
• Provide comprehensive program oversight, develop long-range strategic plans, and advise senior leaders on IPM methods.
• Certify pesticide applicators and coordinate pesticide use plans to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Oversee data collection, reporting, and archiving of pesticide application records per FIFRA/NEPA policies.
• Develop and disseminate technical guidance and operational guidelines for pest control.
• Coordinate with DoD and other agencies on shared FHP initiatives and assist local authorities.

Skills

IPM program management

Entomology expertise

Strategic planning

Technical authority

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in entomology

Job description

Telework Eligible

Yes

Major Duties

• Serves as the DLA Pest Management Program Manager , acting as the agency's point of contact (POC) and technical authority on all matters related to integrated pest management (IPM), medical entomology, and Force Health Protection (FHP).
• Provides comprehensive program oversight, develops long-range strategic plans, and advises Agency Senior Leaders on IPM methods to prevent critical economic and health losses.
• Serves as the certifying official for all DoD Pesticide Applicator Certifications held by the DLA workforce. Represents the Agency as a voting member of the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB).
• Conducts in-depth investigations and special studies (e.g., population evaluations, contractual evaluations) to resolve issues not susceptible to standard methods.
• Develops plans to prevent and control medical and economic issues caused by pests, disease vectors, and Invasive Alien Species (IAS).
• Develops and disseminates technical guidance, communication materials, and operational guidelines for novel situations.
• Monitors DLA installation compliance with all DoD, Federal (e.g., EPA), and international regulations, coordinating with other government agencies on shared FHP initiatives and providing expert assistance to local medical authorities and commands.
• Serves as the budget officer for DLA’s Safety and Occupational Health (SOH) Office including the management of the Fiscal Year (FY) Annual Operating Budget (AOB) for Defense Working Capital Fund (DWCF) and Appropriated funds as required.

Qualification Summary

To qualify for an Entomologist, your resume and supporting documentation must support: A. Basic Requirement: A Bachelor's Degree or higher in entomology; or a related discipline of the biological or physical sciences that included at least 16 semester hours in entomology. Applicants with major fields of study in biology, zoology, or invertebrate zoology may fully meet the basic educational requirements if their academic preparation included substantive instruction (including appropriate laboratory and field work) in basic general entomology, taxonomy, physiology, ecology, general and organic chemistry, general physics, and mathematics or statistics that provided some training in the analysis of variables. OR Combination of education and experience - Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A. above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate fields. In addition to courses in the major and related fields, a typical college degree would have included courses that involved analysis, writing, critical thinking, research, etc. These courses would have provided an applicant with skills and abilities sufficient to perform progressively more responsible work in the occupation. Therefore, creditable experience should have demonstrated similarly appropriate skills or abilities needed to perform the work of the occupation. Education must be from an accredited college recognized by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education. If using education completed outside the U.S., it must be submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. YOU MUST SUBMIT TRANSCRIPTS. Failure to submit transcripts will result in a rating of ineligible. AND B. Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position and is directly in or related to this position. To qualify at the GS-14 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service, military, or private sector. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements including time-in-grade (General Schedule (GS) positions only), time-after-competitive appointment, minimum qualifications, and any other regulatory requirements by the cut-off/closing date of the announcement. Creditable specialized experience includes: Serving as the designated agency technical authority for medical entomology, vector borne disease surveillance, biosecurity, and Force Health Protection (FHP) across multiple installations or contingency locations to resolve vector-borne disease threats, conduct population evaluations, and advise on facility pest mitigation. Certifying pesticide applicators and coordinating/approving pesticide use plans ensuring compliance with applicator certification requirements. Overseeing the collection, reporting, and permanent archiving of pesticide application records in accordance with federal regulations (FIFRA, NEPA) and DoW records management policies. Designing, directing, and executing agency or enterprise-wide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. 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. Physical Demands: Some travel (10-25%) is involved conducting field surveys to obtain samples and assess conditions. There may be some walking, standing, bending and climbing, including the potential for travel to austere environments and/or lifting of moderately heavy objects. Work Environment: The work is usually performed in an office environment. However, during field visits there is the potential for exposure to toxic chemicals and physical stress. Work involves exposure to moderate risks and discomfort. Incumbent may be required for periods of time to work in uncomfortable outdoor climates, such as very hot and humid, and wear uncomfortable protective and safety clothing and equipment when conducting survey and evaluation operations; encounter hostile wildlife; exposure to vectors in areas of endemic arthropod-borne disease transmission; exposure to chemical and physical hazards for which protective precautions are required or mandated by law. Certain immunizations as recommended by the medical authority may be required.

Compensation

$143,913-$187,093 per year