Summary This position is a Biologist, GS- 0401-12/13 working in Wood River, Nebraska for the R6-Nebraska Ecological Services Field Office. Responsibilities There is one vacancy located in the Nebraska Ecological Services Field Office. Duty location for this position is the Crane Trust Visitors Center at Wood River, NE. This is not a remote position, and the salary will be based upon duty station and locality pay once selected. Locality tables are available at 2024 OPM Salary Tables. Key duties for this position are: Serve as the Environmental Account Manager and the Service's Science lead for the Platte River Recovery and Implementation Program (PRRIP or Program), applying a strong hydrology background. The PRRIP ( https://platteriverprogram.org/) is designed to provide ESA compliance for existing and certain new water-related activities throughout the Platte River basin in Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming. The three states, Department of Interior, water users, and environmental groups are represented on a Governance Committee which oversee an Executive Directors Office, and technical, land, and water working groups. This position will be integral in evaluating the PRRIP's progress in meeting milestones for water and land acquisitions, and the adaptive management of these resources to meet Program objectives. Apply ecological and hydrologic principles to evaluate, assess, and enhance science products, organize evaluations of PRRIP management actions, and contribute significantly to the NEPA and BO processes for the next increment of the Program. Work with water users, conservation partners, scientists, and PRRIP to determine research needs for target species and the Program, to support an ecologically sustainable Platte River system. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Only experience and education obtained by 09/17/2024 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification. Basic Requirement: Have a Bachelor's or higher degree in the biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience: Have a combination of education and experience that is equivalent to a major in a biological science. The quality ofthe combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field. In addition to courses in the major and related fields, a typical college degree would have included courses that involved analysis, writing, critical thinking, research, etc. These courses would have provided an applicant with skills and abilities sufficient to perform progressively more responsible work in the occupation. Therefore, creditable experience should have demonstrated similarly appropriate skills or abilities needed to perform the work of the occupation. NOTE: You must submit copies of your college transcripts to support educational claims. Minimum Qualification [GS-12]: Possess one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-11 in the Federal service performing all of the following: (1) leading, planning, developing, coordinating, and implementing biological or natural resource projects or studies related to sagebrush ecosystem conservation; (2) providing administrative, scientific, and technical oversight for a scientific program or project, including coordinating the efforts of multiple personnel involved in habitat or conservation and recovery; (3) serving as a technical advisor on the Endangered Species Act for other staff, government agencies, land owners, private interest groups, etc.; and/or (4) coordinating activities with internal and external stakeholders to achieve mission and program conservation objectives; (5) evaluate species habitat conservation plans and develop collaborative solutions for resource management problems. NOTE: This experience must be clearly reflected in your resume. Minimum Qualification [GS-13]: Possess one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-12 in the Federal service performing all of the following: (1) coordinating, overseeing, and/or supervising ecosystem conservation at a statewide, regional, or national level; (2) coordinating collaborative conservation efforts with regional and/or rangewide leaders; (3) providing administrative, scientific, and technical leadership for a scientific program or project, including supervising or managing a staff of biological or natural resource professionals; (4) managing short- and long-term projects and assignments, including development of project timelines and implementation of projects according to schedules; and/or 5) mentor lower-level employees on endangered species listing, recovery, or consultation and species habitat conservation. NOTE: This experience must be clearly reflected in your resume. 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 PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts. PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. 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. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov) Additional Information PCS INFORMATION: -No PCS entitlements authorized Telework: This position is suitable for telework and may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval. Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP):Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP or ICTAP applicants must be determined to be well-qualified for this position in order to receive special selection priority. To be well-qualified, a CTAP or ICTAP applicant must meet the following: OPM qualification requirements for the position, all selective factors, where applicable; special OPM approved qualifying conditions for the position; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate, to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and receives a rating of at least 85 on the questionnaire. For more information visit: OPM's Employee Guide to Career Transition Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.