Wildlife Refuge Manager.

Responsibilities

• Plans, manages, evaluates, and carries out the maintenance and biological program at assigned Refuge.
• Oversees, administers and/or develops required National Environmental Policy Act documentation including Environmental Assessments, Environmental Impact Statements, Findings of No Significant Impact, Categorical Exclusions, Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultations, and requests for cultural resource clearances.
• Updates, prioritizes, manages, and/or utilizes automated systems for budget tracking, procurement, time and attendance, asset inventories/maintenance, etc.
• Administers the facilities and equipment management program.
• Works with team members/regional experts to develop work plans and organizes projects covering construction, repair and maintenance of equipment, buildings, roads, trails, fences, dikes, and other infrastructure.
• Supervises a team of professional, technical, analytical, and administrative support staff (permanent and seasonal), setting a team attitude of adhering to high professional standards and completion of accurate, high-quality work.

Requirements

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards; a uniform allowance will be provided.
• Required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• Must file a financial disclosure report within 30 days of appointment.
• May be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate fitness and whether continuation of employment advances the public interest.
• This is a supervisory position that may require completion of a supervisory probationary period.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement (08/19/2026). Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

Basic Educational Requirement

• Possess a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited college or university in zoology, wildlife management, or an appropriate field of biology that included at least:
  • 9 semester hours in zoology;
  • 6 semester hours in wildlife courses such as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, or wildlife management;
  • 3 semester hours in botany;
  • 3 semester hours in conservation biology.
• OR possess a combination of education from an accredited college or university and specialized experience with courses equivalent to a major in one of the fields described above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
• OR previously occupied a position in the GS-0485 series prior to December 3, 2010, and met the basic education requirement of the previous qualification standard (bachelor's or higher degree with a major in zoology, wildlife management, or an appropriate field of biology, including 9 semester hours in zoology, 6 semester hours in wildlife, and 9 semester hours in botany).

You must submit a copy of your SF-50 (Personnel Action), dated prior to Dec 3, 2010, showing that you held a position in the GS-0485 series.

Specialized Experience (GS-12)

Specialized experience may include:

• Prepares proposals for developmental/improvement projects (including timeframes and costs) for the assigned Refuge and submits for review/approval during the annual budget cycle.
• Recognizes emerging conflicts with refuge management objectives and facilitates collaborative problem-solving with partners to reconcile differing interests and achieve mutually supported conservation outcomes.
• Plans and administers the Refuge's public relations/public use program, interpretive and educational programs, hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, and other recreational management activities.
• Develops and implements short- to long-range plans, annual work plans, budgets, and work schedules.
• Administers the facilities and equipment management program; develops work plans and organizes projects covering construction, repair, and maintenance of equipment, buildings, roads, trails, fences, dikes, and other infrastructure.

Additional Information

• Volunteer Experience: 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.
• This position does not allow substituting education for experience.
• You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if selected, you must provide official transcripts before beginning work.
• Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.