Fresh Listing

Posted: February 24, 2026 (0 days ago)

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Wildlife Biologist

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Department of Agriculture

Fresh

Salary

$74,678 - $97,087

per year

Closes

March 2, 2026More USDA 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 managing wildlife damage in urban, suburban, and rural areas by assessing problems caused by wild or feral animals and implementing solutions to reduce or eliminate them, often with little oversight.

You'll handle projects, train others on techniques like capturing and marking animals, and communicate with various groups.

It's a great fit for someone with a biology background who enjoys hands-on fieldwork and has experience in wildlife conservation or management.

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 plant sciences
  • One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 level, including coordinating aerial wildlife damage management projects and communicating with organizations
  • Experience in wildlife damage technical procedures such as animal capture, restraint, marking, and transport, sufficient to train others
  • Ability to modify or revise standard techniques for wildlife damage management and recommend research areas
  • For GS-11: Alternatively, 3 years of graduate education leading to a Ph.D. in Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Ecology, or Wildlife Management, or equivalent combination of education and experience
  • Current federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks at GS-9 level
  • Transcripts required if qualifying based on education or combination of education and experience

Full Job Description

If selected, you will be responsible for project and program delivery, management, and administration with minimal supervision.

The work is primarily concerned with wildlife damage management (WDM) operations relating to the assessment, reduction, and/or elimination of problems associated with wild and/or feral animal species in urban, suburban, and rural environments.

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: A.

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 B.

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 education.

In addition to the basic requirement applicants must also possess: FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-9 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Has coordinated and performed aerial wildlife damage management projects while representing the program in communications with other organizations and parties.

Sufficient experience in a variety of wildlife damage technical procedures such as animal capture, restraint, marking, and transport, to be able to train others.

Modified or revised standard techniques for wildlife damage management operations, to include recommendation of areas for potential research.

OR 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree in one of the following degree fields: Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Ecology, or Wildlife Management.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying 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 COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements.

The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level.

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:
  • Independently manages, plans, develops, and conducts integrated wildlife damage management (WDM) projects statewide, regionally, or nationally to prevent or reduce losses to property, agriculture, and natural resources.
  • Implements new or revised WS policies and protocols in response to annual levels of appropriations or changes in national policy or legislation.
  • Conducts large scale WDM activities to accomplish objectives as assigned by the supervisor.
  • Tracks budgets and funds provided for WDM operations of the work unit. Determines personnel, fleet, equipment and supplies, and other needs.
  • Gathers, compiles, evaluates, and presents data on damage or hazards caused by various wildlife species to cooperators, stakeholders, and colleagues.
  • Develops, plans, and administratively provides biological guidance designed to efficiently and effectively reduce wildlife damage.
  • Manages and summarizes data and/or inventories for the purposes of reporting permitted activities.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/24/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/24/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: MP-12892572-26-WS