Land Management Law Enforcement Officer

About the role

You will serve as a Land Management Law Enforcement Officer, within the Division of Refuge Law Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This is a temporary promotion not to exceed 1 year and can be extended up to 5 years. This temporary promotion may be made permanent without further competition.

You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.

What you will do

• Serves as the senior advisor and technical expert for Refuge Law Enforcement, providing guidance to Headquarters leadership, coordinating national policy and operational planning, and ensuring alignment with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Acts as a liaison with the Service's Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) and other federal, state, and local agencies to exchange information and coordinate enforcement activities.
• Builds collaborative relationships across law enforcement partners and ensures consistent, Service-wide implementation of Refuge Law Enforcement policies and strategies.
• At the full-performance level GS-13, the duties include but are not limited to: Serves as a senior advisor and staff technical expert on the refuge law enforcement program and all law enforcement related issues for Headquarters Law Enforcement management.
• Serves as a senior level liaison between Headquarters management and other law enforcement entities including OLE, other land management bureaus/agencies.
• Reviews, edits, and assists in developing refuge law enforcement operational plans and implementation strategies at the national level.
• Ensures operational program is consistent with and conforms to all applicable policies, regulations, and legal guidelines.
• Develops working relationships, exchanges information, and coordinates law enforcement activities with other Service law enforcement staff along with other Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
• Coordinates the implementation of policy with other National Wildlife Refuge System law enforcement staff.
• Ensures national program consistency and conformance with all applicable policies, regulations, and legal guidelines to advance and accomplish the Service's primary mission.

Requirements

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• To learn more, visit ***
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Pre-employment and random drug testing is required.
• You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.
• A physical examination will be required, or a statement regarding physical ability will need to be completed.
• You must maintain physical fitness standards throughout employment.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards.
• A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment.
• Firearm qualification and certification are required for the role, and ongoing proficiency must be maintained.
• You must be at least 21 years old.
• You must be free of any domestic violence convictions.
• Must maintain a delegation of law enforcement authority.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 50% of the time.
• You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
• Land Management Law Enforcement Officers must successfully complete Land Management Police Training (LMPT) - Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Federal Wildlife Officer Basic Training (FWOBT), and Refuge Law Enforcement Field Training and Evaluation Program (FWS-FTEP).
• You will also be required to complete 40 hours of additional law enforcement training annually.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.

Education

Law Enforcement Commission: Must currently possess or previously held (within the past three years), a FLETC issued Land Management Police Training, full Type I Law Enforcement Commission or equivalent; or be qualified to receive a Commission upon appointment. This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

How you will be evaluated

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessment(s) required for this position. 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 characteristics): Knowledge of principles and practices of management to plan, organize direct, and evaluate law enforcement programs.

Skill in applying Service and NWRS policies, regulations, and management plans to support law enforcement programs, evaluate performance, and improve operational efficiency.

Skill in establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with diverse constituents to communicate law enforcement program objectives and garner support from law enforcement officials and Congressional representatives.

Knowledge of changing refuge system needs, emerging national priorities, critical issues, technological advances in law enforcement, and evolving training accreditation standards to provide technical advice to staff and personnel. 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 additional assessment(s), including a structured resume. These assessments measure 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 dated within the last 18 months 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 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.

Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Documents you must provide

• When the Department of Interior and/or associated Bureaus/Offices completes its hiring, the remaining list of qualified candidates may be shared with additional federal agencies.
• You will have an opportunity to opt-in if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results shared to be considered for employment with additional agencies.
• There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements.
• The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) -11/12/2026-unless otherwise stated.
• Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates in month-year format (include month/day/year format if needed for 52 weeks of experience), and indicate hours worked per week (or full-time).
• Your resume must clearly show how long you have held each grade/rank.
• Resumes must not exceed 2 single-sided pages and resumes longer than 2 pages will not be accepted.
• The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text.
• All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression.
• Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed.
• Your 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements.
• Resume Builder: *** Complete All Required Assessments.
• Performance Appraisals and Awards: All applicants must submit their most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record and signed by a supervisor.
• If the performance appraisal is not dated within the last 18 months OR no performance appraisal is available, you must submit a statement as to why it is not available (including if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level).
• Documentation that you meet the Selective Factors.
• All College Transcript(s), if qualifying based on education.
• Eligibility Documentation: Current and former Federal employees must submit latest SF-50 (i.e. Promotion, Separation, Within Grade Increase (WGI)) showing tenure 1 or 2 in block 24, grade, and if applicable, an additional SF-50 showing the highest grade or promotion potential held.
• Time in grade will be determined by reviewing your resume and required SF-50s.
• If your SF-50 showing highest permanent grade held has an effective date within the past year, your resume must clearly show that you held that grade for one year.
• Do not submit award SF-50s.
• Veterans Preference Documentation: Veterans eligible under VRA (GS-11 and below only), VEOA, 30% or more Disabled, or Disabled Veterans Enrolled in a VA Training Program must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (member 4 copy) or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15.
• If you are a Parent or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all documentation as listed on the SF15.
• You may request a copy of your VA letter from ***
• If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
• Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan (I/CTAP): If you are applying under I/CTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility including a copy of the agency notice, most recent performance rating, and most recent SF-50 showing your position, grade level, and duty location.
• For more information visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).
• 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.

Benefits

This is a secondary/administrative law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS).

While secondary positions are not subject to the maximum entry age (MEA) policy, applicants must have prior service in a primary position and meet the transfer requirement for movement from a primary to a secondary position to be eligible for special retirement coverage.

Applicants may meet qualification requirements but may not be eligible for special retirement coverage; if such an applicant is selected, they will be placed in the regular retirement system.

For FERS eligibility, an employee must transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding three days) from a primary position to a secondary position, complete three years of service in a primary rigorous position-including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld-and must be continuously employed in a secondary position since moving from a primary rigorous position, except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause).

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure this office has sufficient information to determine retirement status and prevent loss of benefits, typically by submitting an SF-50 or other documentation demonstrating work history in approved covered positions.

Applicants must inform human resources if they are currently in a primary position.

What to expect next

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 ***

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.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. All Department of the Interior (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. The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection.

Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level.