Biological Science Technician (Fish)

Summary

There are two Biological Science Technician (Fish) vacancies, one is with the Saratoga National Fish Hatchery in Saratoga WY, and the other is with the Jackson National Fish Hatchery in Jackson, WY.

Salary Range Information (Per Annum): *First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level.

GS-05, Step 01- $40,736- Step 10 $52,957

GS-06, Step 01-$45,409- Step 10 $59,031

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Duties

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These positions are located within the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fish & W/l Svc Region 6, one vacancy is with the Saratoga National Fish Hatchery in Saratoga WY, and the other is with the Jackson National Fish Hatchery in Jackson, WY.

As a Biological Science Technician (Fish) at the full performance GS-07 level, your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Work individually or as part of a team to provide daily care and husbandry for fish and endangered species, including feeding, spawning, egg incubation, rearing, health, observations, cleaning, inventory, and maintaining suitable environmental conditions to support conservation and production programs.
• Perform routine hatchery operations and facility maintenance required for the safe and efficient operation of a national fish hatchery, including operation of hatchery water systems, pumps, valves, feeders, alarms, and other equipment, as well as using hand tools and power equipment to maintain buildings, grounds, raceways, and support facilities.
• Operate fish transport equipment and assist with fish/toad distribution and stocking activities, including loading, transporting, and stocking fish while following established safety, animal welfare, and biosecurity procedures.
• Collect, record, compile, and summarize biological, production, and water quality data using electronic databases and other recordkeeping systems to support hatchery operations, fish health monitoring, endangered species recovery, and management decisions.
• Support conservation partnerships and public outreach activities by assisting with educational programs, hatchery tours, volunteer events, and interactions with visitors, schools, Tribal partners, and other agencies while promoting the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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

Requirements

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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.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
• Must obtain within two years of start date and maintain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL Class B), including meeting all CDL requirements such as the Department of Transportation physical exam, drug and alcohol testing requirements, and the minimum age of 21.
• Pre-employment and random drug testing are required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.
• Occupancy of government quarters is required.
• 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 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.

*Additional Requirements located under qualifications*

Qualifications

Requirements Continued...

Upon completion of your probationary 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-10/08/2026-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.

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: (1) collecting and recording biological, physical, or environmental data in an aquatic or fisheries related field setting; (2) operation, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of sampling devices related to aquatic or fisheries related work; and (3) using computer software to manage and analyze data and draft scientific reports. You must include hours per week worked. -OR-
• Education: Successful completion of at least 4 years of education above high school (120 semester hour or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or 24 semester hours of course work in a related field of scientific or technical study, such as in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must be directly related to the position (such as fisheries or aquatic biology). You must include transcripts. -OR-
• Combination of education and experience . Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above. NOTE: Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting this requirement. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to 1 year of specialized experience. For example, 6 months of the specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement), and 3 years of college study from an accredited institution which included at least 12 semester hours of related coursework as specified above, and at least 3 semester hours directly related to the position such as fisheries or aquatic biology (50% of the qualifying education). The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:(1) leading others as part of a technical team to accomplish aquatic or fisheries related objectives; (2) collecting, recording and entering biological, physical, or environmental data in an aquatic or fisheries related field setting; (3) operation, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of sampling devices related to aquatic or fisheries related work; (4) training field staff on standard operating procedures and
  equipment use; (5) conducting program outreach to user groups and general public; and (6) using computer software to manage and analyze data and draft scientific reports. You must include hours per week worked. -OR-
• Education: Successful completion of at least one full year of graduate study leading to a Master's degree with major study in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, physical geography, ecology, geology, hydrology, statistics, entomology, botany or agriculture. At least 6 semester hours in any of these courses must be directly related to the position to be filled such as fisheries or aquatic biology. You must submit transcripts. OR
• A combination of specialized experience and education. Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above. NOTE: Only directed related graduate education is creditable toward meeting this requirement. For example, six months of the specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement), and 9 semester hours of directly related graduate coursework from an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education). The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must submit transcripts.

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

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.

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.

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.

Physical Demands: Physical demands will range depending on the project and use of the position. Most locations will be in locations around running water and requiring regular and recurring physical activity such as prolonged standing, walking over wet and/or rocky surfaces, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing, and carrying heavy items may occur.

Work Environment: Most locations will be in locations in and around running water where the incumbent could be exposed to extreme weather conditions, insects/wildlife, and/or other environments that would require the incumbent to use protective clothing or gear such as hard hats, masks, gowns, ear plugs, coats, boots, goggles, gloves, or shields to mitigate risks.

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.

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.

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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.