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Wildlife Inspector

Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is part of the Chief-Office of Law Enforcement. As a Wildlife Inspector you will provide the nations front-line defense against illegal wildlife trade. Provide day-to-day monitoring of wildlife imports and exports facilitate legal trade and helps detect and deter illegal wildlife trafficking.

The mission of the Office of Law Enforcement is to protect wildlife resources. Through the effective enforcement of Federal laws, the Office of Law Enforcement contributes to the Fish and Wildlife Service efforts to recover endangered species, conserve migratory birds, preserve wildlife habitat, safeguard fisheries, combat invasive species, and promote global wildlife conservation.

This position is currently advertised under GS-7 merit promotion under announcement number R9-18-10151936-JH. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under announcements.

Salary Range for Duty Stations:
Chicago, IL: 55,905 - 87,933
Memphis, TN: 50,598 - 79,586
Champlain, NY: 50,598 - 79,586
Valley Stream, NY: 57,948 - 91,147
Elizabeth, NJ: 57,948 - 91,147
Pembina, ND: 50,598 - 79,586

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
03/09/2018 to 03/19/2018
Salary
$43,857 to - $68,983 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 11
Locations
Chicago, IL
1 vacancy
Pembina, ND
1 vacancy
Elizabeth, NJ
2 vacancies
Champlain, NY
1 vacancy
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Promotion potential
11
Supervisory status
No
Announcement number
R9-18-10151917-JH
Control number
493379300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Federal Employee, Merit Promotion, Status candidate, Land Management, 30% disabled, Military Spouse, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Vista, VRA, VEOA, ICTAP, Schedule A, Indivuals with disabilities, Former Overseas Employees, Internal Employee, Agency Employee

Duties

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  • Independently plans, coordinates and carries out the full range of inspection and compliance activities for diverse and complex transactions, special and unique conditions, and where there is a high risk of smuggling, fraud, and hostile incidents.
  • Applies risk targeting profiles and integrates a variety of data and human intelligence to determine the level of scrutiny required in a particular situation.
  • Monitors wildlife shipments to ensure compliance with U.S. and foreign wildlife protection laws Examines shipping containers and other transport mechanisms and related documents to ensure compliance with all pertinent laws and regulations.
  • Inspects wildlife, their parts or products, and may also open and examine receptacles, containers or packages, take samples, and examine and copy records. Prepares correspondence, documents, and reports related to inspection duties.
  • Performs studies and analysis concerning compliance of importation and exportation of wildlife with appropriate Federal, State, and local environmental laws/regulations.
  • Participates in the development of preparing procedures and guidelines, and advises other inspectors, other Federal agencies, travelers, and business representatives of procedures and requirements and resolves problems.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
  • Valid State Driver's license is required
  • Required to wear U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform
  • Drug testing is required
  • May be required to work shift work and/or perform 24-hour on-call duty.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 03/19/2018 will be considered.
You may qualify at the GS-09 level, if you fulfill one of the following qualification requirements:

  1. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates your ability tounder close guidance performing inspection and compliance activities for a wide range of transactions, and unique conditions concerning smuggling, fraud and hostile incidents; under close guidance examining transport mechanisms and related documents to ensure compliance with all pertinent laws and regulations; preparing correspondence; applying laws, regulations and procedures to coordinate activities and resolve problems; performing outreach activities to increase compliance with wildlife laws; collaborating with other representatives to
    ensure compliance with wildlife laws. ; OR
  2. A master's or equivalent graduate degree in an accredited or pre-accredited college or university; or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or possession of a LL.B. or J.D degree, if related. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position, examples of qualifying fields include biology, zoology, law or another closely related field that provides you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work of the position or LL.B. or J.D., if related; OR
  3. A combination of education and experience as listed above.
You may qualify at the GS-11 level, if you fulfill one of the following qualification requirements:
  1. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates your ability to evaluating the inspection operations where the importation or exportation of wildlife is authorized; performing inspection and compliance activities for a wide range of moderately complex situations; examining transport mechanisms and related documents to ensure compliance with all pertinent laws and regulations; preparing documents and reports related to
    inspection duties; consulting with other representatives on procedures and requirements and resolving problems; ensuring compliance with fish and wildlife laws and regulations through education and other outreach activities.; OR
  2. A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or possession of a LL.M. degree, if related. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position, examples of qualifying fields include biology, zoology, law or another closely related field that provides you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work of the position if related. ; OR
  3. A combination of education and experience as listed above.
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.

Promotion Potential: This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-9/11. At lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-9/11. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds.The 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.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority:
(1) Eligibility: In order to be eligible for PLC non-competitive status, a former member of the PLC must provide documentation, as part of their application, verifying their eligibility and that they meet the following criteria:
(a) Served as a qualified youth on an appropriate conservation project completing a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service that included at least 120 hours through the PLC;
(b) Applied to a vacancy announcement for which applications are being accepted from individuals with non-competitive status;
(c) Meet the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) minimum qualification standards and any other qualification requirement(s) stated in the vacancy announcement for the position which you are applying; and
(d) Completed his/her most recent Corps service, which provided him/her with a total of 640 hours, inclusive of 120 hours on a PLC project as defined in 16 USC 1723(d), within the last two (2) years.
(2) Appointments must be effected within the two (2) years requirement.
(3) The two (2) year time-frame cannot be extended.
(4) Selectees will be subject to a probationary period consistent with other competitive service positions.
(5) This authority may be used for General Schedule and Federal Wage System positions.
(6) Competitive service appointments may be made for temporary, term or permanent positions.

The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (Act),P.L. 114-47, allows certain individuals ("land management eligible") who currently or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies to compete for permanent positions in the competitive service when such agencies are accepting applications from individuals within the agencies workforce under merit promotion procedures:
Current appointees:
·Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency,
·Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; AND
·Must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service
Former appointees:
·Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency,
·Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years;
·Must apply for position within 2 years after your most recent date of separation,
·Must have been separated for reasons other than misconduct or performance; AND
·Must have performed at an acceptable level throughout service period

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

Conditions of Employment:

  • Require to obtain and wear an official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform.
  • Must be able to operate a government-owned or leased motor vehicle. A valid state driver's license is required..
THIS IS A DRUG TESTING DESIGNATED POSITION: Applicant(s) tentatively selected for this position will be required prior to appointment to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use. As a condition of continued employment in this position, incumbent(s) will be subject to random testing for illegal drug use.

This position sensitivity level has been designated as critical sensitive. The selectee must undergo a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) prior to appointment.

The employee selected may be required to work a non-standard tour of duty that may include weekends, holidays, and night shifts.

FWS has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of 03/19/2018; OR More than one position 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

Probationary Period: If you have not previously completed a probationary period, you will be required to serve a one-year probationary period for this position.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the basic qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the basic qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience which resulted in you being listed in the highest quality category, you may lose consideration, or be assigned to a lower quality category for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

  • In-depth knowledge of U.S. laws and regulation, international laws and regulations governing fish and wildlife importation and exportation.
  • Knowledge of the principles and practices of compliance inspection procedures to monitor wildlife shipments in order to ensure compliance with U.S. and foreign wildlife protection laws.
  • Skill in oral and written communication to educate and inform those concerned in the import/export of wildlife, negotiate the solution to problems, and prepare clear, concise, accurate, and timely reports and presentations.
If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 showing you were honorably discharged. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must attach an SF-15," Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" in addition to the proof required by that form.

Career Transition Assistance Programs (CTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been or may be involuntarily separated (e.g. reduction in force, declining to relocate/transfer outside their local commuting area) 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 ICTAP or CTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal or Removal Notice; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; or Removal and most recent performance appraisal.). For more information visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System at https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx

Relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.
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