Biological Science Technician (Fish)

The Red Bluff Fish and Wildlife Office monitors populations of salmon steelhead and sturgeon in the Northern Central Valley of California and evaluates fish restoration actions and hatchery operations. These positions are for the Mainstem Operations and Hatchery Evaluation Programs performing rotary trapping seasonal green sturgeon research acoustic telemetry array maintenance or hatchery assessments and carcass surveys. Up to 95% of work is in the field sampling by rotary-screw trap for Federally-listed threatened and endangered fish species native to the Mainstem Sacramento River maintaining an extensive acoustic telemetry array covering 200 rkm or working on various projects to evaluate the operations of two Federal fish hatcheries. Additional duties may include data entry and equipment interrogation/maintenance. Field work involves operation of inboard and outboard jet boats under various environmental conditions.

At the full performance level (GS-07) the major duties of this position include but are not limited to the following:

• Assists in planning and carrying out multifaceted fish and/or wildlife studies field investigations and surveys by contributing ideas determining research methods establishing practical procedures for accomplishing and reporting the work and determining other needs such as costs equipment and personnel.
• Assists in planning multifaceted habitat studies assessments and monitoring by contributing ideas determining research methods establishing practical procedures for accomplishing and reporting the work and determining other needs such as costs equipment and personnel.
• Collects biological samples ensuring correct documentation reporting storage transport and delivery of samples taken.
• Uses specialized techniques and methods to collect biological and physical environment data from field and/or facility investigations and reports findings to determine actual and potential impact on fish wildlife or plant resources from aquaculture research restoration projects or habitat improvement projects.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born aftermust be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more visit have and maintain a valid drivers license throughout employment.
• Must have a current or obtain within 12 months of employment a Swiftwater Rescue Technician 1 Certification.
• You may be required to work on-call evenings weekends holidays overtime and shift work.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You are required to obtain and maintain a Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC).
• You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 year probationary during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This probationary 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 your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications:

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/19/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

To receive credit for experience 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. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications GS-5
A) One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-4 in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience may include: 1) Performing work in an outdoor setting including all types of weather and terrain to include water; 2) Handling juvenile and adult fish; and 3) Use of computer applications. OR

B) Possess four years of education above high school (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours) leading to a (full four-year course of study) bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with coursework related to the biological sciences such as: biology chemistry statistics entomology animal husbandry botany physics agriculture mathematics etc. (You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts indicating the degree earned credit hours and course titles in order to qualify based on education). You must include transcripts. OR

C) Possess a combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and the number of semester hours (or equivalent) earned towards a bachelors degree in excess of 60 semester hours and divide by 60 semester hours (or equivalent) Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must have at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as: biology chemistry statistics entomology animal husbandry botany physics agriculture mathematics etc. (You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts indicating the number of credit hours in order to qualify based on the combination option).

Minimum Qualifications GS-6
A) One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-5 in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience may include: 1) Performing work in an outdoor setting including all types of weather swiftwater rough terrain and river wading; 2) Handling juvenile and adult fish; and 3) Use of Microsoft Suite applications. OR

B) Successfully completed one-half year of graduate education (9 semester/13.5 quarter hours or the schools equivalent) in an accredited college or university that included courses directly related to the occupation such as fishery biology ichthyology limnology aqua culture etc. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify your education. OR

C) A combination of specialized experience (as described in A above) and education (as described in B above) that when prorated combine to meet the qualification requirements for this position. Experience and education are each computed as percentages of their respective requirements and must equal 100 percent when combined. (Only education beyond the second year is creditable to meet this standard.)NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts to verify your education and include proof of your experience in the text of your resume.

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.