POSITION TITLE: wildlife biologist
Hiring Organization/Employer: USDA
Application Deadline: 10/5/26
Education Required: B.S.
Location: Chelan County, WA
Description:
Conducts integrated wildlife damage management activities where needed to prevent or reduce losses to property, agriculture, and natural resources, or to protect human health and safety.
Compensation & Benefits:
$50,460-$80,243 per year
13 Month Term Appointment with possibility for Benefits,
Excepted Service (may be extended up to 4 years)
Responsibilities:
Conducts integrated wildlife damage management activities where needed to prevent or reduce losses to property, agriculture, and natural resources, or to protect human health and safety.
Performs a variety of technical procedures including capture, restraint, chemical immobilization, marking, transport, euthanasia, and/or necropsy of wildlife.
Modifies or adapts established damage or disease control techniques as necessary to meet local conditions and environmental, economic, or political considerations.
Monitors and ensures compliance with program directives, and local, State, and Federal laws and regulations in wildlife damage management activities.
Develops and maintains categorical exclusions, environmental assessments, monitoring reports, and other documents required by NEPA.
Gathers, compiles, evaluates, and presents data on damage or hazards caused by various wildlife species to cooperators, stakeholders, and colleagues.
Establishes and maintains cooperative relationships with other Federal, State, county and city government agencies, Tribes, corporations, etc.
Communicates safe and effective damage management techniques through outreach and other channels to the general public.
Other duties as assigned
Preferred Qualifications:
- Degree: biological science 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
OR:
- Combination of education and experience: 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 in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional
In addition to the above, applicants must have:
FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 level) that demonstrates:
- Identifying North American wildlife species and assess their abundance, behavior, and habitats.
- Dealing with human-wildlife conflicts, principles of wildlife damage
- The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act.
- The Skilled use of firearms, traps, snares, pesticides, immobilizing drugs, pyrotechnics, electronic harassment devices, and other non-lethal control
- Using computers for word processing, spreadsheets, and database
OR
- 1 year of graduate-level education (18 semester hours) in Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Ecology, Wildlife
How to Apply:
Resume that includes:
1) Personal information such as name, address, contact information
2) Education
3) Detailed work experience related to this position as described in the announcement including
- Work schedule including hours per week
- Dates of employment;
- Title, series, grade (if applicable)
4) All supervisors' phone numbers and if they may be contacted
5) Other qualifications
Transcripts (if qualifying on education, must have been obtained from an accredited institution. Education completed in a foreign institution must include an evaluation by an organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs that it was deemed equivalent to an accredited U.S. education program, see: Foreign Education Evaluation. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.)
DD-214 (Member 4 copy)
VA letter required for applicable Veteran preference, if applies.
Current active duty members must submit a certification that they are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted.
Contact:
Aaron Bowden, State Director
USDA WS
720 O’Leary Street NW
Olympia, WA 98502
360/753-9884