Summary You will serve as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist with US Fish and Wildlife Service.
This position serves the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.
Learn more about this agency Duties Help
Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following (duties are described at the full performance level):
- Plans, designs, and implements wildlife and habitat management projects, focusing on restoration and conservation of native, threatened, and endangered species; coordinates approvals and ensures effective project execution.
- Collects, organizes, and analyzes biological and ecological data using field methods, GIS, and statistical tools; maintains databases and prepares technical reports with management recommendations.
- Conducts inventories and assessments of habitat conditions and species status; investigates population trends, reproductive success, and demographic indicators to inform conservation actions.
- Develops and communicates data visualizations, summaries, and presentations for FWS leadership, partners, and stakeholders; utilizes diverse methods to convey scientific findings.
- Provides technical biological guidance and outreach to internal staff, partner agencies, Tribal entities, conservation organizations, and community groups; builds and maintains cooperative relationships to support collaborative conservation efforts.
Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.
Requirements Help
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 possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
- You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one-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 - 10/27/2026-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/OR 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 : Bachelors or higher degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a similar discipline related to this 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.
In addition to meeting the Basic Education Requirement you must meet specialized experience as outlined below: To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level: Experience : To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) Assisting in the Design and Execution of Biological or Habitat Management Projects; 2) Collecting and Maintaining Biological Field Data Using Standard Sampling Techniques; 3) Entering, Managing, and Analyzing Biological or Ecological Data Using Software Tools; 4) Contributing to Technical Reports or Scientific Documentation; 5) Supporting Habitat Assessments for Sensitive, Rare, or Threatened Species. You must include hours per week worked. -OR-
Education : Successful completion of at least at least 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in a major such as biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. You must include transcripts. -OR-
Combination of education and experience as listed above. To combine education and experience. You must include hours per week and transcripts.
To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level: 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) Designing and Implementing Biological or Habitat Management Projects; 2) Collecting, Managing, and Analyzing Biological and Ecological Data; 3) Preparing Technical Reports and Presenting Scientific Findings; 4) Conducting Habitat Assessments for Priority, Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Species; 5) Participating in Interdisciplinary Environmental Review Processes. -OR-
Education : Successful completion of at least at least 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. (Degree must reflect the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.) You must include transcripts. -OR-
Combination of education and experience as listed above. To combine education and experience. You must include hours per week and 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 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:
Additional information Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.
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 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, DOI Ethics Prohibitions | U.S. Department of the Interior.
Physical Demands/Work Environment: There is substantial field work that will require strenuous exertion such as walking over wet, rough, uneven or rocky surfaces; bending crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, lifting objects weiging up to 50 pounds, etc. Travel to remote sites may utilize non-motorized boats, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, on foot, etc. May require camping in tents or cabins in remote areas. May be subject to temperature extremes, biting insects, and close proximity to animals. Outdoor work can occur in wetland and high-altitude environments.
The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
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.
Help
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.
