Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Program Group Leader

Southwestern Region (R3) GS-401-13

Position Description:  This outreach notice is for the Regional Threatened & Endangered and Sensitive (TES) Program Manager for the Wildlife, Fish, and Rare Plants (WFRP) Director area.  The Southwestern Region contains 11 National Forests and 2 National Grasslands which occur within the states of New Mexico, Arizona, and portions of Oklahoma and Texas.  The focus of this position is to provide leadership, expertise, and Regional program direction to the field units for TES species issues/management and Endangered Species Act (ESA) implementation. For basic qualifications, the OPM qualifications handbook will be used.

Duties of the Position:    Duties and responsibilities may involve but are not limited to:

1. Serves as Program Manager in program planning, policy development, and implementation of the TES Species Program. Incumbent provides assistance to the Director and Deputy Director of the WFRP Program on, and in coordination with, other Regional programs, priorities, and accomplishments for the TES species program.

2. Serves as the Regional technical expert in interpreting National Forest legal responsibilities under the ESA and related agency policies. Leads the development of and reviews programmatic and project-level NEPA documents and biological assessments to assure compliance with Section 7 of the ESA.  Serves as principal liaison with other Federal and State wildlife agencies to coordinate programs for TES species.

3. Serves as principal liaison with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for ESA Section 7 consultation, species recovery efforts, and interagency coordination. Incumbent represents the Region on several interagency teams developing conservation strategies and recovery plans for listed and sensitive species.

4. Keeps Regional Director, Wildlife, Fish, and Rare Plants Director, other RO staffs, Forest Supervisors, and National Forest and Grasslands staffs informed of major TES species issues, listing decisions, litigation, and other developments.

5. Provides technical assistance, training, and direction to Forests in the application and integration of TES species management principles with other resource management programs and in Land Management Plans.

7.  Participates in all aspects of litigation for actions involving TES species or other ESA contentions and provides expertise as needed on appeals involving the ESA or TES species.

Vacancy Announcement:  The vacancy announcement for this position will be posted on the U.S. Government’s official website for employment opportunities at www.usajobs.gov.  Anyone who expresses interest in the position will be notified when the announcement opens.

Outreach Response:  Interested applicants, or those desiring further information, should contact Bobbi Barrera, Wildlife, Fish, and Rare Plants Deputy Director by email at blbarrera@fs.fed.us or by postal mail at 333 Broadway Blvd., S.E., Albuquerque, NM  87102, attention WFRP Program.  Outreach responses are requested no later than May 1, 2013.

USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region (R3):  The Southwestern Region is composed of approximately 22.3 million acres of National Forest system lands.  The TES Program is currently tracking 48 federally listed species and an additional 26 federal candidate species.  Threatened, endangered, and sensitive species of interest in the Region include the Mexican gray wolf, jaguar, Mount Graham red squirrel, California condor, Mexican spotted owl, and a number of unique TES desert fishes, amphibians, and reptiles.

The Southwestern Region contains a diversity of habitat types, ranging from the Southern Rocky mountains in Northern New Mexico, the southern Great Plains in Texas and Oklahoma, to the Madrean Archipelago woodlands and Sonoran and Chihuahua deserts in Arizona.  Land features include alpine peaks, mesas, steep canyons, prairies, and deserts.  Several large river systems are found with the Region, including the Colorado, Verde, Salt, Rio Grande, San Juan, Pecos, and Canadian Rivers.  Sky islands (small mountain ranges surrounded by desert) are a unique feature in the Region and make up a significant part of the National Forest system lands.  Elevations range from a high of 13, 1612 feet at Wheeler Peak on the Carson National Forest to a low of 1,600 feet on the Tonto National Forest.

Duty Station Specifics:  The Southwestern Region Regional Office located in Albuquerque, NM

Community Information:

ELEVATION:  5,300

POPULATION:  approximately 600,000

Albuquerque is the largest city in New Mexico and is situated in the central Rio Grande valley at the base of the Sandia Mountains.  The city offers a diversity of cultural opportunities stemming from its rich Native American and Hispanic history.  Cultural opportunities include the Indian Cultural Center, Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque Zoological Park, Maxwell Museum of Natural History, Albuquerque Aquarium and Botanical Gardens, Rio Grande Nature Center, Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum, National Atomic Museum, numerous art galleries, historic churches and the historic Old Towne Area.  Because of its proximity to mountain, desert, river, and alpine settings Albuquerque also offers year round outdoor recreational opportunities.  Within the area there are six public golf courses, 31 parks and public tennis courts, 13 public swimming pools, one downhill ski area, a number of libraries and community centers, and over 200 miles of biking routes and trails.  Portions of the Cibola National Forest occur in the Sandia and Monzano mountains located directly east and south of the city.  These areas provide for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, camping, hiking, and biking.  Albuquerque is also known for its annual Balloon Fiesta which hosts over 800 hot air balloons in early October.

Climate:

Average precipitation:  8 – 10 inches/year mostly coming as rain during the

monsoon season of July and August

Average summer high temperature:  90 °F at lower elevations to 70° at

higher elevations in the Sandia Mountains

Average winter low temperature:  49°, with snow anticipated in the city

fewer than 10 days/year

The climate of Albuquerque is considered high altitude semi-arid, also known as high desert.  The city has one of the best year-round climates in the United States, with four distinct seasons, 300 sunny days per year, with warm summer days and cool evenings.

Medical and hospital facilities:  Virtually every medical specialty is represented among the health professionals in the Albuquerque area.  Several hospitals occur in the city including:  Presbyterian Hospital, University of New Mexico Medical Center, Lovelace Medical Centers, Heart Hospital of New Mexico, and the New Mexico Veterans Administration hospital.

Housing:  The Albuquerque metropolitan area and the adjacent communities of Rio Rancho and Bernalillo and nearby communities of Los Lunas and various east mountain communities offer housing opportunities with a wide range of prices.  The median price for a 2 to 3 bedroom home is approximately $200,000 to $250.000.  Rentals are also readily available.

Schools:  The Albuquerque Public School system offers many programs for students and includes several charter or alternative schools.  Furthermore, Albuquerque has a number of excellent private and parochial schools serving elementary through high school students.  High educational facilities include the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico community college.

Churches:  There are a number of churches in the Albuquerque area, with all denominations represented.

Public Transportation:  Albuquerque has an International Airport which is located close to the Forest Service Regional Office.  There are numerous car rental agencies and many local cab companies. There is also a bus line and a train, which operates between Santa Fe, NM to the north of Albuquerque to communities south of the city.