What are the responsibilities and job description for the Wildlife Biologist position at USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)?
Find Your Future With Us at USDA – Animal Plant Health Inspection Service
Job Summary
This position is with the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), Management of Ungulate Damage and Disease (MUDD) Project located in Fort Collins, CO. The work is primarily concerned with wildlife damage management (WDM) research relating to the assessment, reduction, and/or elimination of problems associated with wild and/or feral swine in urban, suburban, and rural environments.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. 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 in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to the basic requirement applicants must also possess: FOR THE GS-09 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: Working knowledge and experience related to a variety of technical procedures used in wildlife biology including animal capture, restraint, marking, and transport; collection and preservation of biological data and samples; chemical immobilization; and animal euthanasia and necropsy. Ability to gather, organize, and analyze data using techniques and technologies such as telemetry, GPS, GIS, web-based systems for data entry, app development for data entry, and administrative processes, wildlife population census and surveys, and wildlife monitoring and surveillance. Good Laboratory Practices training and experience for evaluating new pesticides for feral ungulates. Experience leading research teams in remote, sometimes dangerous, field settings for data collection activities. Proficiency in evaluating the risks of foreign animal diseases from feral ungulates to domestic livestock. Background in handling feral swine and deer, attaching GPS collars and ear tags, and monitoring their movements. OR 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in one of the following degree fields: Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Ecology, or Wildlife Management or closely related field. 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-09 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 described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity. The duties may include, but are not limited to:Performs a variety of technical procedures including capture, restraint, chemical immobilization, marking, transport, euthanasia, and/or necropsy of wild ungulates.Conducts research design and data collection in field and pen settings.Conducts statistical analysis of experimental data, field and observational data, animal movement data, disease data, and camera data.Recommends research areas to supervisor, represents the program on committees and at meetings, presents to cooperators, stakeholders, and the public, and prepares written reports and peer-reviewed publications.Operates field equipment such as off-road vehicles, 4x4 trucks, trucks and trailers, firearms, remote cameras, cellular traps, and handheld data collection devices.Required to take extensive and recurrent training on wildlife damage/disease recognition, control methods, and techniques; monitoring and surveillance procedures; emergency response; and other training related to technical aspects of the job.Supports Wildlife Services’ (WS) safety program and procedures through participation in meetings, inspections, safety-related training, and implementation of safety requirements and protocols. Identifies safety-related opportunities and challenges.Assists other WS employees as requested and may assist in training new WS personnel. May be asked to provide technical direction and/or guidance to lower graded employees.May be responsible for procuring equipment and supplies necessary to conduct field activities and may be asked to complete other duties as assigned.May assist with research projects to increase knowledge of wildlife ecology and to develop or improve methods to reduce the risks of damage to resources or disease transmission to domestic animals and humans.Responsible for collecting, storing, and transporting biological data and samples; conducting telemetry; using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for surveys, surveillance, and data analysis.
Position Start Date:
09/21/2026
Position Close Date:
09/25/2026
Salary Offered: 68819 - 89470 USD Per Year
You can make a difference! The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) needs bright, energetic and committed professionals to facilitate the domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and to protect the health and care of animals and plants in the United States. We operate in domestic and global markets. Be part of an organization that protects the health and agriculture of the American people. Join our team! To learn more about what it's like to work at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, what the agency does, and the types of careers, please visit the APHIS careers site. APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. For details click: APHIS Emergency Response
Please see the full announcement on USAJobs by clicking on the APPLY button!
Job Summary
This position is with the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), Management of Ungulate Damage and Disease (MUDD) Project located in Fort Collins, CO. The work is primarily concerned with wildlife damage management (WDM) research relating to the assessment, reduction, and/or elimination of problems associated with wild and/or feral swine in urban, suburban, and rural environments.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. 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 in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to the basic requirement applicants must also possess: FOR THE GS-09 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: Working knowledge and experience related to a variety of technical procedures used in wildlife biology including animal capture, restraint, marking, and transport; collection and preservation of biological data and samples; chemical immobilization; and animal euthanasia and necropsy. Ability to gather, organize, and analyze data using techniques and technologies such as telemetry, GPS, GIS, web-based systems for data entry, app development for data entry, and administrative processes, wildlife population census and surveys, and wildlife monitoring and surveillance. Good Laboratory Practices training and experience for evaluating new pesticides for feral ungulates. Experience leading research teams in remote, sometimes dangerous, field settings for data collection activities. Proficiency in evaluating the risks of foreign animal diseases from feral ungulates to domestic livestock. Background in handling feral swine and deer, attaching GPS collars and ear tags, and monitoring their movements. OR 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in one of the following degree fields: Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Ecology, or Wildlife Management or closely related field. 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-09 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 described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity. The duties may include, but are not limited to:Performs a variety of technical procedures including capture, restraint, chemical immobilization, marking, transport, euthanasia, and/or necropsy of wild ungulates.Conducts research design and data collection in field and pen settings.Conducts statistical analysis of experimental data, field and observational data, animal movement data, disease data, and camera data.Recommends research areas to supervisor, represents the program on committees and at meetings, presents to cooperators, stakeholders, and the public, and prepares written reports and peer-reviewed publications.Operates field equipment such as off-road vehicles, 4x4 trucks, trucks and trailers, firearms, remote cameras, cellular traps, and handheld data collection devices.Required to take extensive and recurrent training on wildlife damage/disease recognition, control methods, and techniques; monitoring and surveillance procedures; emergency response; and other training related to technical aspects of the job.Supports Wildlife Services’ (WS) safety program and procedures through participation in meetings, inspections, safety-related training, and implementation of safety requirements and protocols. Identifies safety-related opportunities and challenges.Assists other WS employees as requested and may assist in training new WS personnel. May be asked to provide technical direction and/or guidance to lower graded employees.May be responsible for procuring equipment and supplies necessary to conduct field activities and may be asked to complete other duties as assigned.May assist with research projects to increase knowledge of wildlife ecology and to develop or improve methods to reduce the risks of damage to resources or disease transmission to domestic animals and humans.Responsible for collecting, storing, and transporting biological data and samples; conducting telemetry; using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for surveys, surveillance, and data analysis.
Position Start Date:
09/21/2026
Position Close Date:
09/25/2026
Salary Offered: 68819 - 89470 USD Per Year
You can make a difference! The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) needs bright, energetic and committed professionals to facilitate the domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and to protect the health and care of animals and plants in the United States. We operate in domestic and global markets. Be part of an organization that protects the health and agriculture of the American people. Join our team! To learn more about what it's like to work at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, what the agency does, and the types of careers, please visit the APHIS careers site. APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. For details click: APHIS Emergency Response
Please see the full announcement on USAJobs by clicking on the APPLY button!