Summary This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. About the Position: Serves as technical leader for various environmental assessments and environmental impact statements related to civil works water resources projects, ecosystem restoration and protection, and mitigation and monitoring. An incentive, may be offered to highly qualified candidates. Responsibilities Leads and conducts original biological field surveys (conducted by in-house staff and A/E contracts) to determine the extent and degree of suitability. Determines appropriate fact finding and monitoring techniques for the ecological and baseline studies for the respective water resources projects. Independently develops detailed plans of study, budgets and schedules and work breakdown structures. Directs project funding to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and negotiates solutions to controversial scientific and technical problems with State and Federal wildlife agencies. Participates in an outreach information program to increase governmental and public awareness of biological and ecological resources and issues. Assigned tasks in consultation with the supervisor and proceeds with minimal guidance in determining objectives and scope of assignment, interpreting policy, approach, and methodology. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Documenting experience: In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience. Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week, if part time. If you are a current/prior Federal employee, please include your grade level in your resume. If you have held multiple grades, please make sure to separate the dates and duties for each grade. Qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their Federal resume. For a brief video on creating a Federal resume, click here. This is a developmental position. The duties of this position lead to the full performance level of GS-12. Incumbent may be appointed to the GS-11 or GS-12 (depending on qualifications). Promotions are not automatic. If selected at one of the lower grades incumbent may be non-competitively promoted to the next higher grade upon (1) meeting all regulatory requirements; (2) certification by the supervisor of successful performance; (3) completion of all training requirements; and (4) the availability of work at the next higher grade level. Position may be filled under one of the following position titles: Biologist (0401) Ecologist (0408) Fish Biologist (0482) Basic Education Requirement for Biologist (0401): A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR B. Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Basic Education Requirement for Ecologist (0408): Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in biology, or a related field of science underlying ecological research that included at least 30 semester hours in basic and applied biological sciences. These hours must have included at least 9 semester hours in ecology, and 12 semester hours in physical and mathematical sciences. Basic Education Requirement for Fish Biologist (0482): A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in biological science that included at least 6 semester hours in aquatic subjects such as limnology, ichthyology, fishery biology, aquatic botany, aquatic fauna, oceanography, fish culture, or related courses in the field of fishery biology; AND at least 12 semester hours in the animal sciences in such subjects as general zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, entomology, parasitology, ecology, cellular biology, genetics, or research in these fields, or excess course work (beyond the required 6 semester hours) in aquatic subjects. OR B. Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major in biological science (i.e., at least 30 semester hours), of which a minimum of 6 semester hours were in aquatic subjects and 12 semester hours were in the animal sciences, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: Minimum Qualifications for the GS-11: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) preparing environmental studies, investigations, or compliance documents in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act (CWA), or Endangered Species Act (ESA); 2) coordinating with Federal agencies or the public to ensure compliance; AND 3) reviewing project plans dealing with environmental matters. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09). OR Education: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as the fields describe above, or a related discipline appropriate to the position. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. Minimum Qualifications for the GS-12: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) applying environmental regulations that include Clean Water Act (CWA), Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Air Act (CAA), and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA); 2) analyzing environmental impact statements to identify compliance; AND 3) preparing environmental compliance documentation to implement environmental requirements. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11). ???????At the GS-12, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted. Education FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/ Additional Information Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. One year trial/probationary period may be required. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. This is a(n) CP 18 Career Field position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.