Paid Scientist: Palmyra Atoll NWR permanent GS-9 Biologist/Refuge Specialist (HI)

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is accepting applications for a permanent position supporting Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. The appointee will support refuge missions and work closely with The Nature Conservancy’s Palmyra Program as well as a network of other non-profit, governmental, and university groups that conduct research and conservation work within the Refuge. Deadline to apply: January 2, 2025.

Agency/Organization: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Location: Palmyra Atoll NWR

Website: Click here

Job Description: The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is accepting applications for a permanent position supporting Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge through January 2nd. The position is designed to support the Refuge Manager in all aspects of refuge management including acting as the Refuge Manager for multiple months a year. The position is a permanent, full time, 0401 Biologist at the GS- 9 level. The duty station location will be in Honolulu, HI and the selected candidate will be required to spend up to 6-months a year at Palmyra Atoll supporting refuge missions and partner projects. Deployments will average about 4-months at a time with little to no options for leaving until the end of the deployment. The appointee will work closely with our conservation partner The Nature Conservancy’s Palmyra Program as well as a network of other non-profit, governmental, and university groups that conduct research and conservation work within the Refuge. Appointees will administer a permit system for researchers and visitors. In addition, appointees will oversee a volunteer program that will engage in mission critical work such as biological monitoring and the Rainforest Realignment Project, which is currently focusing on coconut control and reforestation. The ideal candidate will have experience working in remote locations, managing and working with diverse groups of people, possess both physical and mental agility and endurance, and most importantly, demonstrate an ability to maintain calm and steady leadership in the face of many unexpected challenges that such a remote location presents.

Palmyra Atoll is located in the central Pacific Ocean, about 1,000 miles south of Hawaii. Palmyra is a thickly vegetated set of islands with abundant rainfall; hot, humid temperatures; and rustic living conditions. It is uninhabited except for a small crew who manage The Nature Conservancy field station, Service personnel who manage the refuge resources, and users of the station. Appointees will have the rare opportunity to live in this remote setting surrounded by rainforest, seabirds, land crabs and thriving coral reefs.

As a Biologist your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Participates in the planning and execution of complex studies and assessments or independently plans, organizes and implements limited studies concerning biological, chemical, and physical processes that affect ecosystems.
• Conducts routine field experiments using various data-collection systems and extracts and analyzes data from these systems.
• Gathers, organizes, and interprets a wide variety of biological, ecological, pathological, public use data or other information pertinent to scientific studies.
• Participates in partnerships/collaborative groups and meets with partners, stakeholders, and general public to communicate the mission of the USFWS, respective USFWS office priorities and conservation needs.

Qualifications: In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.

Basic Requirement:

1. Possess a Bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited college or university in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR
2. Possess a combination of education and experience which includes courses equivalent to a major in the biological sciences (i.e. at least 24 semester hours) as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education that is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in the biological sciences, agriculture, or natural resources management or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

Minimum Qualification (GS-09)

1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-07 in the Federal service. Experience may include: assisting in the planning and execution of studies and assessments, organizes and implements limited studies concerning biological, chemical, and physical processes that affect ecosystems; Gathering, organizing, and interpreting a wide variety of biological, ecological, pathological, public use data or other information pertinent to scientific studies; Conducting geospatial analysis, gathering, analyzing, tabulating and summarizing scientific, programmatic, and/or budgetary data. OR
2. Two years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master’s degree or master’s or equivalent graduate degree in a discipline directly related to the position. OR
3. A combination of graduate education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement

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.

Wage: $62,517 – $81,272 per year

To apply: Click here for more information and to apply.

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on January 2, 2025 to receive consideration.

Application Deadline: January 2, 2025

Start Date: N/A

Contact: Stefan Kropidlowski (Stefan_Kropidlowski@fws.gov)