Wildlife Refuge Manager

U.S.-Fish-; Soldotna (AK); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska seeks a Wildlife Refuge Manager with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. You will guide conservation and management of diverse resources, oversee refuge operations, and lead staff while partnering with external organizations to sustain habitat and public use.

The position requires meeting basic and specialized qualifications, with experience in coordinating teams, policy implementation, and long-term program planning. Applications close 11/16/2026.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in zoology, wildlife management or biology with required coursework.
• Combination of education and experience may be accepted.

Responsibilities

• Guide conservation and management of fish, wildlife, and plant resources.
• Oversee refuge operations and lead staff.
• Collaborate with partners across large landscapes to support habitat protection.
• Support public use and long-term stewardship.

Education

Bachelor's degree in zoology/wildlife management/biology

Job description

You will serve as a Wildlife Refuge Manager with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge System, Region 7, located at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. In this role, you will guide the conservation and management of diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, while overseeing refuge operations, leading staff, and working with partners across large landscapes to support habitat protection, public use, and long-term stewardship.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/16/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

To receive credit for experience, 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. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Basic Educational Requirement AND Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.

Basic Educational Requirements

In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following:

• A. Degree: have completed a 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree with major 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 submit transcripts. -OR-
• B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

-AND-

To qualify for this position at the GS-14 grade level:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: coordinating, supervising or leading a branch, field station, or team focused on the management/conservation of natural resources; identifying and solving challenging and complex issues related to natural resource management/conservation, visitor services, outreach, or other natural resource programs; serving as a natural resource or conservation organization manager or coordinator representing a federal entity in negotiating with diverse individuals or groups; exercising direct responsibility for developing or implementing policies, plans, standards or procedures to carry out fish and/or wildlife management/conservation; managing teams focused on the planning, directing, or executing of short and long term activities in fish and/or wildlife management/conservation that affect a diverse group of stakeholders/partners.. 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.