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Wildlife Inspector
Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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Summary
The Wildlife Inspector, GS-1801-11/12, serves under Region 9, Office of Law Enforcement, conducting complex inspections and enforcing federal laws on the import, export, and interstate transport of wildlife and wildlife products. The position ensures regulatory compliance, identifies violations, and supports efforts to prevent unlawful wildlife trade.
Learn more about this agency
Summary
The Wildlife Inspector, GS-1801-11/12, serves under Region 9, Office of Law Enforcement, conducting complex inspections and enforcing federal laws on the import, export, and interstate transport of wildlife and wildlife products. The position ensures regulatory compliance, identifies violations, and supports efforts to prevent unlawful wildlife trade.
Learn more about this agency
Overview
Help
Accepting applications
Location
20 vacancies in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection
No matching locations found.
Work site options
Telework eligible Yes-as determined by the agency policy. Remote job No Relocation expenses reimbursed No Salary $74,678 - $116,362 per year
Salary shown is from the 2026 GS Salary Table (RUS). Final locality pay will be based on the geographic location at the time of selection.
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Promotion potential 12 - Promotion is at the supervisors discretion and may be granted when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at the lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full-performance level.
Learn more about pay scale and grade
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule Full-time Travel Required 25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status No Federal service type This job is in the Competitive Service Represented by a union Yes - American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
Drug test Yes Security clearance Secret Position sensitivity and risk Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number R9-26-13021045-ALM-IMP Control number 879753200
This job is open to
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Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.
Land and base management
Current or former employees of a base management agency.
Clarification from the agency
Department of the Interior (DOI)-Wide: This is a Merit Promotion announcement for career and career-conditional DOI employees, Career Transition eligibles (CTAP), and current or former time-limited employees eligible under Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA). Refer to Required Documents section for more information.
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Duties
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The Field Senior Wildlife Inspector serves as a frontline enforcement officer for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Office of Law Enforcement, protecting wildlife resources by detecting and deterring illegal wildlife trade. As a technical expert at assigned ports of entry, the position conducts complex inspections, leads interdiction activities, and ensures compliance with federal, state, and international wildlife protection laws. Working across cargo facilities, passenger terminals, warehouses, and other port environments, the inspector applies advanced biological and analytical expertise to regulate legal wildlife trade and counter trafficking efforts. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full-performance level. At the full-performance level GS-12, the duties include but are not limited to:
Physical Demands: This position requires performing physical inspections that may involve pushing, pulling, lifting, and moving items weighing up to 50 pounds, as well as working with live animals and animal products that present significant safety hazards. Wildlife Inspectors may encounter bites, scratches, and potentially dangerous envenomation from reptiles and invertebrates, and may be exposed to various communicable diseases, and hazardous chemicals used on wildlife products. Strict adherence to safety procedures is required, including use and maintenance of protective equipment and completion of required safety training.
Work Environment: Administrative work is performed in an office setting; however, inspections occur at warehouses, container stations, passenger terminals, quarantine facilities, and other locations throughout the port of entry, sometimes many miles apart. Frequent or extended travel for special staffing assignments may be required, including work at non-designated ports of entry, and assisting Special Agents with executing search warrants.
Medical Surveillance Program: Position is subject to enrollment and ongoing participation in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Medical Surveillance Program in accordance with 242 FW 4 and 5 CFR Part 339. Incumbents must complete periodic medical surveillance examinations due to potential exposure to hazardous chemicals and communicable diseases encountered during inspection and interdiction activities.
Work Schedule: Position may require working at a fixed workstation or at multiple stations/work sites under established, rotating, or other work schedules (i.e., evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and shift work).
Foreign Language: Depending on the duty station, this position may necessitate demonstrating basic to fluent proficiency in a foreign language (speaking, reading, and writing).
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
The probationary period is an extension of the appointment process. During this time, the Agency will evaluate whether an employees continuation in the position supports the Agencys mission and organizational goals, aligns with Agency needs and interests, promotes the efficiency of the service, and otherwise advances the public interest. In making this determination, the Agency will consider the employees performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the Agency; whether continued service supports broader Agency or Government objectives; and whether continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Under applicable law, an employees service during a probationary period automatically terminates at the end of that period unless the Agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the employees continued employment advances the public interest and that the employees appointment should be finalized. If the Agency does not issue this written certification, the appointment will be terminated at the conclusion of the probationary period.
Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date, 08/20/2026, of this announcement - unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
Competitive candidates must also meet time-in-grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
For current Federal Employees, if hours worked per week are not included in your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.
Minimum Qualification Requirements GS-11:
One (1) year of full-time specialized experience comparable to difficulty and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: 1) conducting targeted interdiction and inspection activities to detect noncompliance with U.S. and foreign wildlife laws, treaties, and regulations; 2) identifying wildlife, parts, and products, and referring specimens requiring advanced identification; 3) conducting risk assessments and analyzing trade data and trends to develop criteria for evaluating compliance with permits and regulations; 4) communicating mission objectives through analytical reports; 5) supporting civil and criminal investigations with partner agencies involving illegal wildlife trade and other violations of federal, state, tribal, and international laws. -OR-
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M, in a field of study directly related to the position. You must include transcripts. -OR-
Successful completion of a combination of graduate education and specialized experience, as described above, may be used to meet 100 percent of the qualification requirements for this position. Only graduate education beyond the first two (2) years may be combined with specialized experience. To combine graduate education and specialized experience, first take the amount of qualifying graduate education beyond the second year and divide that number of semester hours by 18. Then take the number of full-time months of specialized experience and divide that number by 12. Add the resulting percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.
You must include the number of hours worked per week for all experience listed and must submit transcripts to verify qualifying education.
Minimum Qualification Requirements GS-12:
NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level.
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.
Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP): Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.
Education
Proof of Education: 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. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
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: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications.
Additional information
Additional Vacancies: One or more positions 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.
Duty Stations: This position requires on-site presence. The selected applicants will be expected to report to one of the Agency offices listed below. The specific duty station will be determined by the Agency upon selection. A total of twenty (20) vacancies are available, allocated as follows:
Salaries will be based on the geographic locality pay for the assigned location. Locality pay tables are available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2026/general-schedule/. Questions regarding duty-station placement can be addressed during the interview process.
Cost of Living Allowance: In addition to the yearly salary, this position is entitled to a cost-of-living allowance (COLA) for eligible non-foreign areas, limited to Hawaii and Guam, as determined by the Office of Personnel Management (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/nonforeign-areas/#url=cola2026). This allowance is subject to annual review, adjustment, and potential rate decrease.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Information: No PCS entitlements authorized.
Telework: This position is suitable for telework only in an emergency or natural disaster.
Promotion Potential: Promotion is at the supervisors discretion and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds. 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.
Foreign Language: Some duty stations may benefit from familiarity with non-English languages due to local community and trade interactions. While not required, the following languages may be helpful:
Language skills are optional, will not affect qualification or rating, and will not be assessed.
Reasonable Accommodation: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 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.
Ethics Restrictions: All DOI employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, DOI Ethics Prohibitions | U.S. Department of the Interior.
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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.
Benefits
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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.
Review our 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.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessment(s) required for this position. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.
Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.
You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of an additional assessment - a structured resume review. This assessment measures the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.
All qualified non-competitive applicants and the best-qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.
Due Weight: Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g., superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last five (5) years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, you must submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration or your score may be lowered. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
Benefits
Help
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.
Review our 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.
Required documents
Required Documents
Help
The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) -08/20/2026- unless otherwise stated.
Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Help
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for 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 the 08/20/2026 to receive consideration. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation.
The application process is as follows:
Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To view the announcement status or your application status, visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.
Agency contact information
DOI Staffing Team 6 (FWS)
Email StaffingTeam6@ios.doi.gov Address Division of Human Resources
Division of Human Resources
5275 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
US
Next steps
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account as we will not be responding to inquiries about the status of applications as long as the system has been updated.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
You can find your path with the Department of Interior at https://careers.doi.gov/.
Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability New employee probationary period
Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy
Selective Service Signature and false statements
Social security number request
Required Documents
Help
The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) -08/20/2026- unless otherwise stated.
Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Help
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for 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 the 08/20/2026 to receive consideration. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation.
The application process is as follows:
Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To view the announcement status or your application status, visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.
Expand Hide how to apply
Agency contact information
DOI Staffing Team 6 (FWS)
Email StaffingTeam6@ios.doi.gov Address Division of Human Resources
Division of Human Resources
5275 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
US
Next steps
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account as we will not be responding to inquiries about the status of applications as long as the system has been updated.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
You can find your path with the Department of Interior at https://careers.doi.gov/.
Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.
Expand Hide next steps
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability New employee probationary period
Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy
Selective Service Signature and false statements
Social security number request
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The Department of the Interior protects and manages the Nations natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and affiliated Island Communities. Click here to learn more about the Department of the Interior and its bureaus.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is to work with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Click here to learn more about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Agency contact information
DOI Staffing Team 6 (FWS)
Email StaffingTeam6@ios.doi.gov Address Division of Human Resources
Division of Human Resources
5275 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
US
Visit our careers page
Learn more about what its like to work at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/nKonBsAFNbY
Summary
The Wildlife Inspector, GS-1801-11/12, serves under Region 9, Office of Law Enforcement, conducting complex inspections and enforcing federal laws on the import, export, and interstate transport of wildlife and wildlife products. The position ensures regulatory compliance, identifies violations, and supports efforts to prevent unlawful wildlife trade.
Learn more about this agency
Overview
Help
Accepting applications
Location
20 vacancies in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection
No matching locations found.
Work site options
Telework eligible Yes-as determined by the agency policy. Remote job No Relocation expenses reimbursed No Salary $74,678 - $116,362 per year
Salary shown is from the 2026 GS Salary Table (RUS). Final locality pay will be based on the geographic location at the time of selection.
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Promotion potential 12 - Promotion is at the supervisors discretion and may be granted when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at the lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full-performance level.
Learn more about pay scale and grade
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule Full-time Travel Required 25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status No Federal service type This job is in the Competitive Service Represented by a union Yes - American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
Drug test Yes Security clearance Secret Position sensitivity and risk Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number R9-26-13021045-ALM-IMP Control number 879753200
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| Location | Washington, DC |
| Salary | $74,678–$116,362 Per Year |
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