Wildlife Refuge Manager.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); Ilwaco (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Washington state seeks a Supervisory Wildlife position to lead planning, policy, and habitat conservation across Refuge operations.

You will oversee a diverse team and collaborate with federal, state, and local partners to advance natural resource goals. The role requires a strong background in wildlife biology, habitat management, and program leadership, with eligibility for advancement and related federal employment conditions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with at least 9 sem hrs in zoology; 6 sem hrs in mammalogy/ornithology/animal ecology; 3 sem hrs in botany; 3 sem hrs in conservation biology.
• Minimum 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-12; hours per week must be shown on resume.
• Education transcripts are required and must show degree conferred.

Responsibilities

• Formulate, develop, and implement long-range plans, strategies, and Refuge policy across operations, fiscal, personnel, and property management.
• Administer land and aquatic conservation activities, habitat development, and restoration projects.
• Identify conflicts with refuge objectives and persuade partners to resolve issues.
• Represent the Service to officials, media, groups, academia, and the public on resource management issues.
• Coordinate with agencies and groups when formulating long-range resource plans.
• Supervise a multifaceted team of professionals, technicians, and administrative staff.

Skills

Leadership

Policy development

Wildlife management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in zoology/wildlife management/biology

Job description

Duties

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Formulate, develop, and implement long-range plans, strategies, and Refuge policy associated with all operations, fiscal requirements, personnel, and property management, etc.
• Administer land and aquatic conservation activities, habitat development, and restoration projects.
• Identify possible conflicts with refuge management objectives, and use skill in persuasion, to influence partners to gain cooperation in the resolution of complex and/or controversial issues/problems to achieve mutual goals.
• Represent the Service as refuge management expert with elected and appointed Federal, state, and local government officials and employees, the media, local and national level environmental and conservation groups, members of academia, Tribal representatives, corporate partners, and the public on issues affecting natural resource management in the geographic area.
• Coordinate with state, local, and other Federal agencies and special interest groups when formulating long-range plans for the management of the Refuges' natural resources.
• Supervise a multifaceted team of professional, technical, analytical, and administrative support staff.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.

This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency confirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

This is a supervisory position that may require completion of a supervisory probationary period.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 09/10/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.

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

Basic Requirement

• Degree: A bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited college or university in zoology, wildlife management, or an appropriate field of biology that included at least 9 semester hours in zoology; 6 semester hours in such wildlife courses as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, or wildlife management; 3 semester hours in botany; and 3 semester hours in conservation biology. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

• A combination of education and experience: A combination of education from an accredited college or university and specialized experience - courses equivalent to a major in one of the fields described in A above that included at least 9 semester hours in zoology; 6 semester hours in wildlife courses such as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, or wildlife management; 3 semester hours in botany; and 3 semester hours in conservation biology plus appropriate experience or additional education. You must include hours worked per week and transcripts.
• AND-

Minimum Qualification [GS-13]

At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience that may include: Developing wildlife biology, ecology, and/or habitat management procedures and policies to be implemented and conducted in field station operations; reviewing and ensuring effectiveness of natural resource agency/organization management programs, i.e., public use, law enforcement, facilities and administration; reviewing wildlife management and conservation plans to ensure management and biological soundness; and supervising staff conducting habitat conservation, maintenance, law enforcement or public use programs.

You must include hours per week worked.

Volunteer Experience:

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

This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

This position has a mandatory education requirement.

You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

Foreign Education:

To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been 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. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit:

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

PCS Information:

Relocation expenses will be paid; discretionary entitlements will not be paid.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit:

DUE WEIGHT:

Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, you must submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.

Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP).

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.

As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.