Fish Biologist

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Develops and reviews comprehensive management plans and coordinates with external partners and programs that affect biological resources including but not limited to: fishery management sampling for exotic species assessing fish and mussel populations and recommending habitat restoration/management actions. Plans and conducts a wide variety of complex investigations including the design collection and analysis of biological data to evaluate the impacts of land and water development activities upon the fishery resources of an area.
• Plans organizes and implements biological and/or habitat development activities that affect aquatic resources. Prepares reports on progress and completion of activities and formulates recommendations that guide future programs and influences the improvements in management practices.
• Fosters and maintains good working relations with other Fish and Wildlife Service Programs other Federal agencies state agencies tribal agencies and private resource-oriented groups within the assigned area of responsibility for promoting cooperative efforts in solving fishery resource problems.
• Participates in technical work group meetings and scientific conferences. Advocates for agency trust species and other species of concern.
• Drafts grants and agreements that provide or are in receipt of funds and services for activities related to coordination aquatic habitat restoration biological monitoring and fishery management investigations.

• 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 possess and maintain a valid drivers license throughout employment.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.

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 period 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 - 08/27/2026-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 on 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: To qualify for this position you must meet the following minimum qualifications:
Basic Educational Requirement AND Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.

Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position you must meet at least one of the following:
A. Degree: with at least 6 semester hours in aquatic subjects such as limnology ichthyology fishery biology aquatic botany aquatic fauna oceanography fish culture or related courses in the field of fishery biology; and at least 12 semester hours in the animal sciences in such subjects as general zoology vertebrate zoology comparative anatomy physiology entomology parasitology ecology cellular biology genetics or research in these fields. (Excess course work in aquatic subjects may be used to meet this requirement when appropriate).. You must submit transcripts.
-OR-
B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above plus appropriate experience or additional education.

- AND -

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level:
A. Experience: To qualify you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) developing and sustaining effective working relationships with partners stakeholders and interagency collaborators to support and advance conservation objectives. 2) collecting analyzing interpreting and summarizing biological ecological or programmatic data and communicating findings clearly through written reports briefings and oral presentations. and 3) formulating and providing resource management recommendations that promote the conservation of fish and wildlife resources while considering and balancing the needs of diverse water users and other competing interests.. You must include hours per week worked. -OR-
B. Education: Successful completion of at least 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. (Degree must reflect the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work.). You must include transcripts. -OR-
C. Combination of graduate education beyond the first two years of progressive graduate study and appropriate experience as listed above.