Wildlife Refuge Manager.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); Virginia (IL); On-site; USD 133,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking a supervisory leader to formulate and implement the Refuge's policies and programs. You will oversee the biological program, manage habitat projects, and coordinate with partners on complex wildlife issues.

You will supervise a diverse team, manage budgets and agreements, and ensure compliance with federal requirements, including training and uniform standards. The role may require probationary oversight and potential telework with approval.

Qualifications

• Basic Edu: degree in zoology, wildlife management, or biology with specified coursework; transcripts required.
• Specialized Experience: 1 year at GS-12 level or equivalent.
• Education substitution rules explained; must meet both educational and experience requirements.

Responsibilities

• Formulates, develops and implements Refuge policies and programs.
• Oversees and administers the biological program, habitat development, restoration, research, population studies, inventory and monitoring.
• Identifies conflicts and persuades partners to resolve issues and achieve mutual goals.
• Manages interagency agreements and MOUs with stakeholders/partners.
• Ensures use of permits for activities like harvesting, research, and other special uses.
• Oversees budget tracking systems (RONS, MMS/SAMMS) and performance plan submissions.
• Supervises a multifaceted team, planning work, setting priorities, delegating and evaluating performance.

Education

Degree: zoology, wildlife management, or biology with 9+ hrs zoology, 6+ hrs wildlife, 3+ hrs botany + 3+ hrs conservation biology

Combination of education and experience per A/B above

Job description

Duties

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

• Formulates, develops and implements the Refuge's policies and programs.
• Oversees and administers the biological program at assigned Refuge, administering land and aquatic conservation activities, habitat development, restoration projects, research programs, population studies, wildlife inventory, and monitoring activities.
• Identifies possible conflicts with refuge management objectives, and using skill in persuasion, may influence partners to gain cooperation in the resolution of complex and/or controversial issues/problems to achieve mutual goals.
• Oversees the preparation and administration of interagency cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and subsequent modifications with stakeholders/partners.
• Ensures preparation and approves Special Use Permits, as needed, for activities such as harvesting, wildlife and ecological research, specialized uses (rights-of-way, telecommunication sites, military installations, etc.).
• Ensures appropriate Refuge/WMD staff manage and utilize automated systems for budget tracking, procurement, time and attendance, asset inventories/maintenance, etc. (e.g., Refuge Operation Needs (RONS) and Maintenance Management System (MMS)/Service Asset Maintenance Management System (SAMMS) project entries and Refuge Annual Performance Plan (RAPP) submissions).
• Supervises a multifaceted team of professional, technical, analytical and administrative support staff. Overall direct supervisory responsibilities include, but are not limited to, planning work to be accomplished by subordinates, setting and adjusting short-term priorities, and preparing schedules for completion of work; assigns work to subordinates; evaluates work performance of subordinates; gives advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters.

Salary

GS-13 Salary: $106,437 (step 1) – $138,370 (step 10)

First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Post Differential

In addition to the yearly salary, this position is entitled to a 25% post differential as determined by

This allowance is subject to annual review, adjustment, and rate decrease.

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
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

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;
• 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 affirmatively 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 period 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-08/31/2026-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: 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; and 3 semester hours in botany, and 3 semester hours in conservation biology. You must submit transcripts. -OR-
• B. Combination of education and 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 such wildlife courses as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, or wildlife management; and 3 semester hours in botany, and 3 semester hours in conservation biology, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

-AND-

Specialized Experience Requirement

To qualify for this position at the GS-13 grade level:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess 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 planning, administering, evaluating, managing, and/or operating programs, activities, and projects associated with conserving and managing fish and/or wildlife resources on public or private land for the purpose of providing critical habitat for fish and wildlife; overseeing budgets; collaborating with internal and/or external groups on natural resource issues, such as Federal and/or State agencies, elected officials and their staff, and/or tribal governments, environmental groups, recreation groups, or the public to gain understanding on controversial or technical issues and respond to concerns; supervising a team to accomplish tasks and projects; make recommendations on conservation matters. Your resume must include hours 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. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education.

Additional Information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

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:

All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here,

The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

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.