Biologist

The Biologist serves as technical specialists or project leaders for refuges or other biological field locations, complexes, on the staff of a regional office performing work in the professional biological sciences or related natural science field or a position of comparable complexity and responsibility. Duties are primarily to lead, develop, coordinate, and implement biological programs for a refuge/complex, or to provide technical support for assignments requiring special or unique attention.As a Biologist your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

• Serves in a technical staff assistance capacity to program or complex management relative to a wide range of topics and policies; develops and/or reviews project study and investigation plans to ensure validity of experimental design, statistical rigor, and scientific merit; and assesses, develops, and analyzes project results, and guides the development of research and information gathering.

• Examples include impacts of point and non-point source pollution, land and water resource development projects, studies to determine the status of populations of rare species, the development of comprehensive fish and/or wildlife mitigation or management plans, the review and assessment of proposals and/or license applications/renewals to determine their impact upon fish and/or wildlife resources and habitats, or the development and implementation of strategies to conserve and protect habitats and populations.

• Reviews and/or prepares work plans, budgets, program accomplishment reports, and technical reports of findings, conclusions, and/or recommendations regarding appropriate courses of action such as management approval/disapproval, offering alternative projects or approaches, or taking remedial action.

• Coordinates, collects and processes field data for analysis according to established procedures, as methods and techniques; and gathers, organizes, and interprets a wide variety of biological, ecological, pathological, public use data or

other information pertinent to scientific studies.

• Represents the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at professional meetings and other meetings pertaining to individual assignments and attends public meetings and hearings to discuss proposed or existing development projects.

Only experience and education obtained by 05/21/2024 will be considered.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.

GS-401 Educational Requirements

Degree: major in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. A photo copy of official transcripts MUST be (uploaded) submitted, by the closing date, to document educational accomplishments to receive consideration for this position. OR

You must have an appropriate combination of education and experience that included course work equivalent to a major (i.e. 24 semester hours) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a discipline related to this position; PLUS appropriate experience or additional course work. The quality of the combination must demonstrate that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of the position and is comparable to that normally acquired through the completion of a full four year course of study with a major as described above. A photo copy of official transcripts MUST be (uploaded) submitted, by the closing date, to document educational accomplishments to receive consideration for this position.

Minimum Qualification GS-11

• one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade-level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience may include: 1) Preparing species status summaries and assessments, conservation plans, environmental assessments, or other scientific documents related to management of endangered, threatened or at risk species; 2) Conducting site visits and studies as necessary to document pre-and post-restoration conditions; 3) Applying the principles and regulations which govern the management of natural resources and at risk species; 4) Applying the principles and regulations which govern the Endangered Species Act (ESA); 5) Communicating with staff members and members of the public; ??OR
• Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR
• A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement.

Minimum Qualification GS-12

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade-level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience may include: 1) Conducting a wide variety of investigations, assessments, inspections, and studies to determine the status of populations of rare species; 2) Designing and managing the development of fish and/or wildlife management plans, to determine their impact upon resources and habitats; 3) Development and implementation of strategies to conserve and protect habitats and populations; 4) Conducting field experiments using a wide variety of data-collection systems, and extracting and analyzing data; 5) Applying the principles and regulations which govern the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and other pertinent natural resources management statutes; 6) Communicating with staff biologists and with officials from federal, tribal, state, and private sector, in disseminating scientific and resource information. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified.

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.