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Posted: April 2, 2026 (0 days ago)

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Land Management Law Enforcement Officer

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Department of the Interior

Fresh

Location

Salary

$58,771 - $84,579

per year

Closes

April 15, 2026More DOI jobs →

GS-11 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $62,107 - $80,737

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-10. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 years graduate study.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves protecting wildlife refuges in North Dakota by investigating crimes like illegal hunting, poaching, and arson, while securing evidence and testifying in court.

It's a law enforcement role focused on natural resources, where you'll patrol lands, issue citations, and ensure the safety of protected areas.

A good fit would be someone with experience in investigations or a background in natural sciences who enjoys outdoor work and upholding environmental laws.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience at GS-7 level (for GL-9), including investigating criminal activity, resource protection like wildland arson or poaching, securing crime scenes, seizing evidence, issuing citations, and court testimony
  • OR Master's degree or equivalent in fields like natural resource management, law enforcement, or related sciences
  • OR Combination of education and experience equaling 100% of GL-9 requirements
  • One year of specialized experience at GS-5 level (for GL-7), including investigating violence, theft, property destruction, trespassing, preparing reports, and issuing warnings or citations
  • OR One year of graduate education in relevant fields like natural sciences or law enforcement
  • OR Superior Academic Achievement with a bachelor's degree in pertinent fields (e.g., GPA 3.0+, upper 1/3 class rank)
  • U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain necessary law enforcement certifications

Full Job Description

This position is a Land Management Law Enforcement Officer, GL- 1801-7/9 working in Foxholm, North Dakota, for the Division of Refuge Law Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

If 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.

Only experience and education obtained by 04/15/2026 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualification.

Minimum Qualification [GL-09] One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS/GL-7 in the Federal service.

Experience may include: 1) work investigating criminal activity; 2) providing resource protection which may include investigating wildland arson, illegal hunting, trapping, plant and wildlife poaching, or illegal sport fishing; 3) securing and protecting crime scenes, seizing evidence, or issuing citations, and 4) testifying or preparing documentation in court proceedings.

OR Master's, or equivalent graduate degree or have successfully completed 2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education, or LL.B.

or J.D, with major field of study in natural resource management, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, museum sciences, business administration, public administration, behavioral sciences, sociology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources.

OR A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement.

Minimum Qualification [GL-07] One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS/GL-5 in the Federal service.

Experience may include: 1) investigating criminal activity pertaining to violence against a person, theft, destruction of property, or trespassing; 2) preparing investigation case reports and searching records; and 3) issuing warnings or traffic citations.

OR Completed one full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: natural resource management, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, museum sciences, business administration, public administration, behavioral sciences, sociology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources.

OR A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement.

OR Superior Academic Achievement: bachelor's degree with a major field of study in natural resource management, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, museum sciences, business administration, public administration, behavioral sciences, sociology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources.

Superior academic achievement is defined as one of the following: 1) rank in the upper 1/3 of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision; 2) earned election to a national scholastic honor society; 3) earned a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of all completed undergraduate courses; 4) earned a grade point average of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of all undergraduate classes completed during the final 2 years; 5) earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of all completed undergraduate courses in a major field of study; or 6) earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of all undergraduate courses in a major field of study completed during the final 2 years.

To verify your claim for this provision, please submit a college transcript(s) showing that you maintained a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 for all 4 years of undergraduate courses, or, on all undergraduate courses completed during the final 2 years of your curriculum, including all transferred courses.

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.

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.

These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed.

To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements) for the position with a score of 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position., and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application.

For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.

Probation/Trial Period Con't: The probationary or trial 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; and - 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 -OR- trial period] your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.

Firearms: Applicants are ineligible for this position if ANY time they have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence, unless such conviction was expunged, set aside or the applicant receives a pardon.

Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area. Telework: This position is suitable for telework and may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval. Major Duties:

This is a developmental position leading to the GS-11 full-performance level. As the incumbent progresses, duties will increase in complexity.

At the full-performance level, a Land Management Law Enforcement Officer performs duties including, but not limited to, the following: Detect, investigate, apprehend, detain, arrest, and/or issue citations and file criminal complaints; and prosecute violators of a variety of law enforcement acts, laws, rules, and regulations that have been enacted to ensure the protection and safe use of national wildlife refuges resources.

Investigate the occurrence of theft or disturbance of archeological resources, illegal harvesting of plants and animals, traffic violations, marijuana cultivation, use or sale of illegal drugs, crimes against persons or property and trespassing.

Investigate violation of applicable Federal and State fish and wildlife laws including poaching, illegal hunting of waterfowl, illegal use of aircraft for hunting migratory waterfowl and commercial fishing.

Enforce applicable laws and regulations concerning the possession, use, distribution, trafficking, cultivation, and manufacture of controlled substances on Service managed lands Prepare investigations or case reports by documenting findings and facts, obtaining witness statements and copies of official records, and including pertinent evidence, correspondence, maps, historical information, exhibits, and photographs.

Promotion Potential: Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds.

Selectee may be promoted without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met.

Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 4/2/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 4/2/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: R6-26-12926070-SW-DE