Wildlife Inspector (Canine)

Wildlife Inspector (Canine)

Department: Department of the Interior

Location(s): San Diego, California, Torrance, California, Erlanger, Kentucky, Louisville, Kentucky, Memphis, Tennessee, El Paso, Texas

Salary Range: $89508 - $116362 Per Year

Job Summary: The Wildlife Inspector (Canine), GS-1801-12, serves within Region 9, Chief, Office of Law Enforcement. The position conducts complex inspection and compliance duties to enforce laws regulating wildlife trade. The inspector uses a trained canine to detect concealed wildlife in baggage, parcels, and cargo and may detain shipments. The role also serves as Lead Trainer, ensuring canine team proficiency while maintaining certification, continuous training, and full care and housing of the canine.

Major Duties:

• A Wildlife Inspector Canine (Lead Trainer) serves within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Office of Law Enforcement, supporting the mission to protect wildlife resources by enforcing federal conservation laws, regulating wildlife trade, and promoting voluntary compliance. The position carries a dual primary role as lead trainer for detection canine teams across FWS facilities, and an operational canine handler responsible for interdiction of illegal wildlife trafficking. Major duties include: Deploy and handle wildlife detection canines at ports of entry to inspect shipments and baggage, ensuring compliance with federal wildlife laws and international treaties. Design and implement canine training programs; evaluate team performance and introduce new techniques to maintain detection proficiency and operational readiness. Conduct interdiction operations using detection canines; perform risk assessments, identify high-risk shipments, and initiate investigations into wildlife trafficking. Maintain canine health and welfare, including daily care, grooming, medical needs, and accurate recordkeeping of training, certifications, and inspection activities. Serve as liaison and technical expert; provide training, mentorship, and outreach to law enforcement partners and stakeholders to enhance wildlife trade compliance.

Qualifications: Only experience and education obtained by 04/02/2026 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualification. Minimum Qualification GS-12: One (1) year of full-time specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level (comparable to GS-11) in the Federal government. Specialized experience includes 1) independently planning and conducting inspections of wildlife shipments at ports of entry; applying risk targeting profiles and verifying permits; 2) leading enforcement actions and collaborating with law enforcement in civil and criminal investigations; collecting and preserving evidence and testifying in legal proceedings; 3) deploying and managing a wildlife detection canine; conducting advanced maintenance training, maintaining certifications, and ensuring proper care and housing; 4) developing outreach strategies to promote compliance with wildlife laws; advising stakeholders and resolving operational issues; 5) preparing detailed reports, directives, and case documentation; operating automated inspection systems and managing program data for evaluation. NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 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, 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. Physical Demands: This position requires strenuous physical inspections, including lifting up to 50 pounds, and canine handlers must be able to lift canines up to 80 pounds. Work involves hazardous environments with live animals, physical obstacles, and potential exposure to bites, venomous wildlife, communicable diseases, biohazards, and hazardous chemicals. Employees must follow required safety procedures, use issued protective equipment, and complete mandatory safety training. Work Environment: Administrative duties occur in an office setting; inspections take place in warehouses, terminals, and other dispersed facilities. Potential exposure to hazardous chemicals, diseases, extreme temperatures, confined spaces, moving cargo and vehicles, and animal-related risks may occur. Canine handlers must ensure the safety of themselves and their canine. The position may require extended travel for training, special assignments, inspections at other locations, and occasional support to Special Agents. 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 OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions. Duty Stations: This position requires on-site presence. The selected applicant will be expected to report to one of the following Agency's offices, with the specific workstation to be determined by the Agency upon selection. A total of six (6) candidates will be selected - one (1) for each of the following locations: San Diego, California Torrance, California Erlanger, Kentucky Louisville, Kentucky Memphis, Tennessee El Paso, Texas Salaries will be set based on the geographic locality pay for the assigned duty station. Locality pay tables are available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/. Questions related to duty station placement should be addressed during the interview process. Reasonable 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.

How to Apply: Review the appointment eligibility criteria in the application preview linked below. The eligibility section of the application allows you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement. You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to and submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section or the application text. You may qualify for more than one eligibility, so please choose carefully. If you respond that you do not meet any of the eligibility criteria, you will not be considered for this position under this announcement. To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents section. Click 'Apply' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the questions presented in the application and upload required documents. To preview the questions presented in the application, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12901881. Please ensure you check the acknowledgement checkbox then click the Submit Application button to submit your application. Applications must be received by 04/02/2026, 11:59 p.m., EST, to receive consideration. Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, in Applications tab, click the position title you applied to for the status. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact the Human Resources Office via email at fwshiring@fws.gov.

Application Deadline: 2026-04-02