Full Job Description
You will serve as a Supervisory Fish & Wildlife Biologist within the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 8, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife office, located in Sacramento, CA.
Salary Range Information: First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.
• GS-13 - $117,984 - $153,382
Duties
As a Supervisory Fish & Wildlife Biologist your duties will include but are not limited to the following:
• Provides administrative, scientific, and technical leadership for a large, complex scientific program/division.
• Manages the formulation of program/division objectives, priorities, and techniques. Provides long range resource planning, program/division direction, coordination, and evaluation.
• Leads the development of overall program/division goals, objectives, policies and strategies necessary to direct the program/division. Evaluates and monitors the program's accomplishments against stated goals and objectives.
• Maintains and fosters positive partnerships both internally and externally.Communicates the Service's mission and program objectives effectively to diverse audiences through clear verbal and written communication.
• Directs and supports field activities such as monitoring, surveys, restoration activities, project reviews, site visits, and related efforts; provides or coordinates on-the-ground assistance when needed.
• Performs scientific reviews related to the Endangered Species Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and Sikes Act; analyzes complex biological data; evaluates or prepares policy and scientific arguments; provides review of scientific documents and develops training materials when necessary.
• Develops and tracks budgets for reimbursables and recommends funding allocations.
• Provides supervision including workload planning and management, assigning workload, conducting performance reviews, supporting employee development, identifying training needs, and conducting hiring actions.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
• 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.
• 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.
This is a supervisory position that may require completion of a supervisory probationary period.
Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement- 08/27/2026-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.
In order to qualify for this position, you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.
Basic Educational Requirement:
1. Degree: in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. You must submit transcripts. OR
2. Combination of education and experience includes coursework equivalent to a major (i.e. 24 semester/ 36 quarter hours) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Minimum Qualification GS-13:
One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes 1) Coordinating, supervising or leading a branch, field station, or team focused on the management/conservation of natural resources; 2) Identifying and solving challenging and complex issues related to natural resource management/conservation, visitor services, outreach, or other natural resource programs; 3) Serving as a natural resource or conservation organization manager or coordinator representing a federal entity in negotiating with diverse individuals or groups; 4) Exercising direct responsibility for developing or implementing policies, plans, standards or procedures to carry out fish and/or wildlife management/conservation; and 5) Managing teams focused on the planning, directing, or executing of short and long term activities in fish and/or wildlife management/conservation that affect a diverse group of stakeholders/partners.
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. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification
Additional information
Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.
PCS INFORMATION: Yes, entitlements for payment of basic moving expenses, as required and to the extent allowed by the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) 302-3.101, are authorized for eligible applicants changing duty station when the change meets the distance tests as provided in FTR 302-1.1 and 302-2.6. All moving expenses are taxable.
-Discretionary entitlements are not authorized for this position
If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive. A continued service agreement may be required if it is determined you are eligible for a permanent change in duty station (PCS), recruitment, or relocation incentive.
All Department of 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, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.
The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
Benefits
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.
Review our benefits
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.