Fish and Wildlife Biologist

Summary

This position will serve as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist GS-0401-11/12 and technical advisor in at least one of the following specialty areas: Endangered Species; Federal Activities; Environmental Contaminants; and/or Partners for Fish and Wildlife.

Pay will vary based on grade level and/or duty location for which you're selected. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Duties

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

• Collaborates and builds productive internal and external relationships on matters of complex nature to promote conservation; especially with regards to transportation related projects and infrastructure. Communicates clearly and effectively, both internally and externally, such that technical or complicated subjects are presented or explained effectively to a variety of diverse audiences, both internal and external.
• Negotiates with project proponents and Federal/state agencies concerning measures, standards, and procedures to protect, restore, enhance, and conserve fish and wildlife resources. Proactively seeks out creative, conservation solutions.
• Project Management: Develops, establishes and maintains timelines, manages, coordinates, collaborates, evaluates, negotiates, documents, and monitors complex projects from cradle to grave using established processes that provide the full record of a project.
• Coordinates, facilitates, and leads activities on transportation related projects and infrastructure pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. Evaluates biological data and proposed project information to determine effects on threatened or endangered species through consultation procedures. Recommends ways to eliminate, minimize, or off-set impacts to listed species, as well as alternatives that will avoid jeopardizing the continued existence of a species or avoid destroying or adversely modifying critical habitat.
• Prepares written correspondence and reports based on the literature, observations, and investigations conducted. Reports and papers are used to analyze current conditions and assess implications of future actions on trust, rare, candidate, proposed, threatened and endangered species and their habitats.

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

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's 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 service. In 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 individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In 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 - 10/22/2026-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: Possess a degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.. 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-

Minimum Qualifications (GS-11) 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) facilitating activities pursuant to sections of the Endangered Species Act; (2) conducting status surveys for listed candidate species; (3) preparing written correspondence to partners internally or externally, communicating and facilitating activities pursuant to the ESA or conservation projects in general.. You must include hours per week worked. NOTE: To qualify under this option, your resume must contain sufficient detail to prove you have one year experience equivalent to the GS-09 level performing these duties

-OR-

B. Education: Successful completion of at least 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent degree -OR- have earned a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in the biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or closely related field which provided me with the knowledge skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

C. Combination of education and experience as listed above.

Minimum Qualifications (GS-12) To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level:

Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: (1) coordinating and facilitating activities pursuant to sections of the Endangered Species Act, particularly with transportation projects; (2) planning and conducting status surveys for listed and candidate species; (3) coordinating wide ranging initiatives to fully implement ESA programs; (4) reviewing rules, regulations and legislation pursuant to ESA; (5) preparing written correspondence to partners internally or externally, communicating and facilitating activities pursuant to the ESA or conservation projects, particularly as they relate to transportation projects. NOTE: To qualify under this option, your resume must contain sufficient detail to prove you have one year experience equivalent to the GS-11 level performing these duties. You must include hours per week worked.

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.

Education

This position has a mandatory education requirement.

You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

Salary:

GS-11: Step 1: $74,678 - Step 10: $97,087

GS-12: Step 1: $89,508 - Step 10: $116,362

Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)

Telework

The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

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Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.