Conservation Planner
Job Location:
Honolulu, HI - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
This position is a Conservation Planner GS/12 working in Honolulu HI for the R1-Pacific Reefs National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
As a Conservation Planner your duties will include but are not limited to the following:
- Plans evaluates conducts a wide variety of complex analyses of refuge management and restoration projects to determine their effects upon biological physical cultural and socioeconomic resources to ensure that legal standards regulations policy and other requirements are met.
- Reviews and/or writes all or portions of environment assessment/impact statements for refuge plans to evaluate environmental consequences of proposed actions on the environment.
- Provides expert technical guidance review and comment on documents and other support (e.g. participation in public and inter-agency meetings and some document development) for refuge plans National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents compatibility determinations mitigation plans other compliance documents and processes and permits and approvals.
- Participates in the development review and processing of a variety of permits and other compliance documents for refuges in coordination with refuge and regional office staff Federal Tribal and state agencies; and with other parties as required. Examples include refuge appropriateness findings and compatibility determinations; ESA Section 7 compliance; and refuge wilderness reviews. Ensures that due dates are met and policies are followed.
- Leads and coordinates the development of comprehensive plans and project-level plans for the conservation of National Wildlife Refuge System natural resources and development of opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation under a variety of conditions.
- Leads develops coordinates or reviews plans that may encompass any and all programs that affect refuge fish and/or wildlife and their habitat conditions including but not limited to comprehensive conservation plans natural resources (habitat) management fire management visitor services hunting and fishing management and/or habitat restoration.
- Reviews and comments on reports or environmental documents prepared by environmental consultants to ensure they meet legal policy and contract requirements.
- Gathers organizes and interprets biological ecological socioeconomic public use or other pertinent information to ensure management and project plans are current and accurate. Supports the implementation of management plans studies and investigations required for species propagation/production resource protection ecological factors public information and other aspects of natural resource management.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300 Subpart F.
- Suitability for employment as determined by background investigation.
- Drivers License: This position requires the incumbent to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of their official duties. Selectee must hold and maintain a valid state drivers license throughout their employment in this position.
- A condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.
- Individuals assigned male at birth aftermust be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit .
Only experience and education obtained by 07/31/2026 will be considered.
In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.
Basic Requirement:
I have successfully completed a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelors or higher degree that included a major field of study in biological sciences agriculture natural resource management chemistry or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
I have a combination of education and experience--courses equivalent to a major as shown above PLUS appropriate experience or additional education. To combine education and experience first take the number of semester hours (or equivalent) earned towards your degree and divide by 120 semester hours (or equivalent). To determine the percentage of qualifying experience divide the total number of months of acceptable specialized experience by 12 months. Add your percentages of education and experience together. The two percentages must total at least 100%.
Minimum Qualification GS-11
One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-09 in the Federal service. Experience may include 1) Lead planning teams on natural resource planning projects for the conservation of public lands; 2) Develop comprehensive wildlife management plans related to wildlife resources and recreation opportunities of an area; 3) Prepare and review environmental assessments or portions impact statements or comprehensive resource planning reports to evaluate environmental consequences of proposed actions; 4) Understand and implement environmental laws (e.g. National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act Endangered Species Act specifically Sections 7 and 10; National Environmental Policy Act) regulations and polices involving management of the conservation of public lands.
NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient detail to prove you have one (1) year performing these duties.
OR
I have completed 3 years of graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in wildlife biology ecology or a field directly related to this position. NOTE: To be found qualified under this option you must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify your education.
OR
A combination of education and experience as described above which together equals 100% of the requirement.
Minimum Qualifications GS-12
One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-11 in the Federal service. Experience may include 1) coordinating within and across large regional partnerships (e.g. Migratory Bird Joint Ventures Fish Habitat Partnerships National Estuary Program Network for Landscape Conservation) to co-develop priorities action strategies and joint operations that achieve measurable ecological outcomes at scales ranging from local (or site) scale to watershed (or landscape) scale to regional and national scale; 2) applying conservation and resource management policies and objectives and their application to the conservation of trust resources at multiple spatial scales; 3) developing interagency projects and programs to define science-based objectives and provide guidance and direction in the implementation of private state and federal conservation programs on both public and private lands; 4) science collaboration associated with ecosystem conservation initiatives focused on specific fish and wildlife conservation issues.
NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient detail to prove you have one (1) year performing these duties.
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.
Time In Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically
i. Area of Consideration.
ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300 Subpart F.
iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502.
iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPMs Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions or for Federal Wage System (FWS)
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 institutions 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 schools 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 programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications International Affairs Office ().
PCS INFORMATION:
-No PCS entitlements authorized
-Discretionary entitlements are not authorized for this position
Telework:
This position is suitable for telework and may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.
Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated 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 CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified (i.e. meet the minimum qualification requirements including any selective placement factors; education and experience requirements) for the position with a score of 85 or above on the assessment questionnaire and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal proof of eligibility and most current SF-50 noting position grade level and duty location with their application.
For more information visit: Accommodation: The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.
Probation/Trial Period Cont:
The probationary or trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest meet the organization goals and mission of the agency and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the determining if your employment advances the public interest the agency will consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Under applicable law the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies in writing that the individuals employment should continue and that their appointment should be the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period -OR- trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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 that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
