Wildlife Biologist

US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Fort Collins (CO); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's APHIS is seeking candidates for a GS-09 level wildlife biology position in Fort Collins, CO.

The role involves managing wildlife damage research, including capture, restraint, data collection, and data analysis using GPS and GIS tools. Applicants must demonstrate experience with field operations, data management, and lead teams in remote settings while evaluating risks from wildlife-related diseases and

Qualifications

• Requires degree in biological science with wildlife, zoology, and botany coursework.
• Combination of education and experience acceptable as described for GS-09.
• Specialized experience in wildlife biology procedures and data analysis is required.

Responsibilities

• Work with wildlife biology procedures including capture, restraint, marking, transport, and necropsy.
• Gather, organize, and analyze data using telemetry, GPS, GIS and data-entry systems.
• Lead field data collection teams in remote or challenging environments.

Skills

Wildlife data analysis

Field data collection

Team leadership in field settings

Animal handling

Education

Bachelor's degree in biological science

Tools

GPS

GIS

Web-based data entry systems

Job description

This position is with the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), Management of Ungulate Damage and Disease (MUDD) Project located in Fort Collins, CO. The work is primarily concerned with wildlife damage management (WDM) research relating to the assessment, reduction, and/or elimination of problems associated with wild and/or feral swine in urban, suburban, and rural environments.

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

BASIC REQUIREMENT:

1. 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

2. 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.

In addition to the basic requirement applicants must also possess:

FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL:

Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-9 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Working knowledge and experience related to a variety of technical procedures used in wildlife biology including animal capture, restraint, marking, and transport; collection and preservation of biological data and samples; chemical immobilization; and animal euthanasia and necropsy.
• Ability to gather, organize, and analyze data using techniques and technologies such as telemetry, GPS, GIS, web-based systems for data entry, app development for data entry, and administrative processes, wildlife population census and surveys, and wildlife monitoring and surveillance.
• Good Laboratory Practices training and experience for evaluating new pesticides for feral ungulates.
• Experience leading research teams in remote, sometimes dangerous, field settings for data collection activities.
• Proficiency in evaluating the risks of foreign animal diseases from feral ungulates to domestic livestock.
• Background in handling feral swine and deer, attaching GPS collars and ear tags, and monitoring their movements.

OR

2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in one of the following degree fields: Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Ecology, or Wildlife Management or closely related field.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

TRANSCRIPTS

are required if:

• This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified.
• You are qualifying for the position based on education.
• You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.
• This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university.

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-09 GRADE LEVEL:

Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level.

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.