Summary This position is located in Grand Canyon National Park, in the Resource Management Division. Responsibilities The wildlife biologist serves as the project manager for the Grand Canyon bison reduction project. In cooperation with appropriate staff, researchers, and partners, the wildlife biologist designs, develops, tests, and implements protocols to identify, evaluate, and do long-term monitoring of the bison reduction project. The wildlife biologist coordinates the park's bison management strategies and programs with those on adjacent lands for the purposes of achieving broad ecosystem protection strategies. The wildlife biologist resolves most problems that arise and coordinates the work both within the work unit and with other park divisions. Independent judgement is required on a regular basis in developing, testing, and refining bison reduction procedures and methods, and in the application of these methods in the field. The wildlife biologist develops and carries out statistically valid data collection protocols for the monitoring of bison populations and the results of bison reduction, including mitigation and resource restoration programs. Organizes, schedules, and executes the Parks Threatened and Endangered species monitoring projects (Mexican Spotted Owl, California Condor, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Ridgways Rail) by selecting site locations, sampling techniques, appropriate equipment, logistics, etc. Manages seasonal staff, interns, and VIPs working on the above-mentioned projects. Assists the Wildlife Program Manager in the preparation of the Wildlife sections of planning documents as assigned. Provides written comments on environmental assessments, resource management plan reviews, and park planning documents. The wildlife biologist carries out quality control checks on data collection and entry performed by others, conducts analysis of complex data to determine the significance of findings, and reports those findings to park management and other agencies. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service); with few exceptions as outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal civilian employees applying for reinstatement who have had a break in service of less than one year, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointments. Time-in-grade does not apply to new excepted service appointments. Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. This position is subject to drug testing based on the collateral duty requiring firearms in the back-country or other locations for non-law enforcement reasons such as protection from animals. You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. If you are a new employee in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period. You may be required to travel overnight away from home a few nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Qualifications All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-04/29/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying 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 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. 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. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position has basic requirements required by the Office of Personnel Management. Candidates who do not meet this requirement by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position. It is recommended to upload any and all transcripts you have to justify this requirement (under grad, grad, etc). Applicants must meet one of the following before the close of the announcement: EDUCATION: Successfully completed a biological science degree 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- Combination of education and experience that includes courses 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 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must possess one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, which has equipped me with the knowledge, skill and ability to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: assisting in the planning and implementation of wildlife censuses and monitoring surveys; working as a field crew leader for a wildlife project or study where field decisions were made independently, and activities included gathering, recording, and analyzing resource information, and preparing summary field reports for inclusion in a final report; or working in a professional or academic position that included working on portions of a research project to include choosing methodology and implementation of data gathering, analysis of wildlife data, and preparation of portions of a final report. You must provide hours worked per week. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of three years of progressively higher level of graduate education (54 semester hours) leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree. (Coursework directly related to position being filled). You must provide transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience. For example: I have an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.). You must provide transcripts and hours worked per week. 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 To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your 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. Additional Information Salary Range: A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. Additional Selections: This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. Physical Demands: The position may require strenuous physical activity including periods of standing, walking, climbing, and lifting and carrying heavy objects. Some activities will occur in physically dangerous areas or settings. Documentary research and report writing work is sedentary, which entails the ability to concentrate and write for long periods of time. Working Conditions: Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in all types of weather. Assignments may be performed in potentially hazardous areas including steep slopes, rocky terrain, firelines, deserts, and forests. Flying in fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters is possible. Telework: The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. Area Information: This position is stationed at Grand Canyon National Park at the South Rim located in Northern Arizona. The South Rim is located approximately 60 miles north of Williams and 82 miles Northwest of Flagstaff at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Temperatures range from approximately 90 degrees in the summer to 0 degrees in the winter. Annual precipitation averages around 13 inches. Grand Canyon Village has schools K-12, a daycare center, post office, general store, churches, a recreation center with gym, a public library, a clinic with resident physicians, and several restaurants. The park community consists of some 2,500 people, including employees of the NPS and concessionaires and their family members. There are often employment opportunities for family members in the park and surrounding areas. The park community is small enough that many employees choose to walk or bike from their homes to work. Complete shopping, educational, medical, and professional services are available in Williams and Flagstaff. Flagstaff has a population of about 75,000 and has multiple K-12 public and private schools, Northern Arizona University, and diverse community, medical and other support services. Recreational opportunities include hiking, backpacking, fishing, cross-country and downhill skiing, and golfing in nearby communities. South Rim Housing: Permanent and Term employees with a Full Performance Level (FPL) of a GS-09 and above will be provided the option of accepting assigned housing, participating in the normal bid system, or accepting shared housing. Permanent and Term employees with an FPL of GS-08 and below may be provided the option of participating in the normal bid system or accepting shared housing. Any employee assigned to shared housing may continue to bid into non-shared housing.