Fish Biologist

Summary

This position is a Fish Biologist GS-0482-7/9 at the US Fish and Wildlife Service R2-Alchesay/Williams Creek NFH Complex in:

• Whiteriver, Arizona

This position is also open to status candidates under announcement CBYO-26-13059213-ST-AWF . You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

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Duties

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

• Performs daily operational tasks required at a large-scale salmonid hatchery, including incubation of eggs; cleaning of raceways and tanks; grading, sample counting, and inventorying; water quality monitoring and management; and disease diagnostics, control and treatment as directed to maintain fish health and quality.
• Executes a conventional feeding program in accordance with established guidelines, utilizing mechanical and hand methods, observes for overfeeding, or fish not eating.
• Performs loading fish on to trucks, safely transport and release fish at target sites.
• Performs facility maintenance and assist with hatchery public use, environmental education and outreach programs.
• Prepares reports on progress and completion of activities and drafts recommendations for consideration in futureprograms or influences the improvements in hatchery/management/fish health practices.

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.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit .
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period 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 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-10/01/2026-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 Basic Education requirement (1) AND the minimum qualifications (2 or 3) :

1. Basic Education Requirement 0482 Series:

In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following:

A. Degree: with a major in biological science that included (1) 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 (2) 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.). Unofficial transcripts are accepted. Official transcripts will be required upon selection. -OR-

B. Combination of education and experience: possess a combination of education and experience that included courses equivalent to a major in biological science (i.e., at least 30 semester hours), of which a minimum of 6 semester hours were in aquatic subjects and 12 semester hours were in the animal sciences, as shown in 1A above, PLUS appropriate experience or additional education. This combination of education and experience is comparable to successful completion of a full 4-year course of study as described above.) This information must be supported by your resume.

-AND-

2. Minimum Qualification GS-0482-07:

A. Experience: One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-05 the Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as: 1) Assists with conducting fish culture and examinations of fish for diseases, parasites, and general fish health; 2) Collects and assists with the analysis of a wide variety of water management parameters and biological data; 3) Participates in and assists in the development of project plans and methods to conduct assessments of aquatic species; 4) Assists with the implementation of the hatchery outreach program by providing tours, maintaining the hatchery visitor center, and conducting fishing events.

B. Education: Successful completion of 1 full year (18 semester hours) of graduate education in biology or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

C. Combination: A combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described above that, when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement.

D. Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.): Successful completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in a field of study that demonstrates the competencies required by this position with either (1) a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 based on a 4.0 scale; (2) a 3.5 GPA based on a 4.0 scale for all required courses completed in a qualifying major field of study at either the time of application or during the last two years of your undergraduate curriculum; (3) class standing of upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or a major subdivision of the college; or, (4) membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society certified by the Association of College Honor Societies, excluding freshman honor societies.

OR

3. Minimum Qualification GS-0482-09:

A. Experience:One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-07 the Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as: Performing work in or directly related to Fish Biology to include (1) performing standardized fish husbandry techniques and practices on cold-water fish species; (2) monitoring water quality and performing maintenance on fish hatchery equipment; (3) gathering fish production data using software for data collection and record keeping; (4) generating reports on hatchery operations. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified.

B. Education: Successfully completed 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Master's Degree or Master's or equivalent graduate degree in a field of study that is directly related the position, and which provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.

C. Combination: I possess a combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement.

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.

Transcripts are required:

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.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

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.

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, .

The duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.