Fresh Listing

Posted: February 25, 2026 (0 days ago)

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Supervisory Wildlife Biologist (Assistant State Director)

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Department of Agriculture

Fresh

Salary

$117,402 - $152,625

per year

Closes

March 3, 2026More USDA jobs →

GS-13 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $88,520 - $115,079

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-12. Expert-level knowledge in field.

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

Job Description

Summary

This job involves leading a team to manage wildlife damage that harms farms, people, property, and the environment across Michigan or nearby areas, by planning programs and providing expert advice.

A good fit would be someone with a strong science background in animals and plants, plus experience supervising staff and handling budgets for large projects.

It's ideal for a leader who enjoys fieldwork and solving real-world problems with wildlife.

Key Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in biological science with at least 9 semester hours in wildlife subjects (e.g., mammalogy, ornithology, wildlife management), 12 semester hours in zoology, and 9 semester hours in botany or related plant sciences
  • One year of specialized experience at GS-12 level or equivalent, including staff evaluation, performance management, and workforce planning
  • Experience formulating and administering budgets for complex programs with federal and cooperative funding
  • Experience managing large-scale wildlife damage programs, including logistical planning, resource allocation, and contract monitoring
  • Skills in collaborating with industry representatives, applying regulations, and resolving wildlife-related issues
  • 52 weeks of time-in-grade at GS-12 for current federal employees
  • Transcripts required to verify education qualifications

Full Job Description

If selected, you will be responsible for assisting in the planning, developing, organizing, and administering complex operational and technical assistance programs designed to efficiently, effectively, and safely reduce wildlife damage that adversely impacts agricultural interests, human health and safety, property, and natural resources.

Responsibility primarily spans a State/Territory or a combination of States/Territories, supervising a staff involved in wildlife damage management.

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: 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 sciences.

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 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement you will also need to meet the following: FOR THE GS-13 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Experience in evaluating and developing staff members, addressing performance problems, managing workforce staffing needs for overtime and TDY assignments.

Experience assisting in the formulation of budget estimates and administering expenditures, for a complex multi-faceted program consisting of federal and cooperatively funded budgets.

Experience managing wildlife damage management program administration, involving large-scale resources, a high degree of logistical planning, and multiple funding sources, monitoring contracts.

Experience gaining cooperation from, exchanging information, applying regulations, and resolving problematic issues with industry representatives relative to wildlife damage management requirements.

Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified.

You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.

This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Major Duties:

  • The duties may include, but are not limited to:
  • Assists in planning, developing, organizing, and administering complex operational and technical assistance Wildlife Services programs.
  • Works with State Director to conduct continuing reviews and evaluations of projects and activities to determine overall program effectiveness and compliance with required operating procedures.
  • Collaborates with State Director to prepare long-range work plans, work schedules and priorities, formulates budget estimates, and administers fund expenditures for complex, multi-funded programs.
  • Assists with directing and overseeing a large workforce of Federal and, in some cases, cooperative employees (collaborators), including administrative staff, wildlife biologists, technicians.
  • Assists in overseeing the planning, administration, and timely and effective execution of WS programs and projects to meet program goals and objectives.
  • Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, establishes and adjusts short-term and long-term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work.
  • Negotiates, establishes, maintains, monitors, and reports on reimbursable agreements such as Cooperative Service and Interagency Agreements.
  • Allocates, tracks, and manages budgets and funds provided for operations of the program.
  • Negotiates with a diverse group of cooperating entities that includes Federal, State/Territorial, county, and municipal governments, Tribes, agricultural organizations, and private companies.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/25/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/25/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: MP-12893744-26-WS