Fish & Wildlife Biologist at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

About the role

You will serve as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist . This is a term position (more than 1 year) with an initial appointment expecting to last at least 13 months but may be extended up to a total of four years, or more based on any changes to regulations governing the number of years term appointments may last, without further competition at management's discretion. Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Conducts landowner outreach, conservation planning, project ranking, project design, and project implementation for wetland and wildlife habitat restoration projects funded through the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Farm Bill programs in the State of Delaware. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate. GS9 - 70,623 (Step 1) - 91,815 (Step 10) GS11 - 85,447 (Step 1) - 111,087 (Step 10) 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. Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following: A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. You must submit transcripts. -OR- B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. -AND- To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: 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) Conduct biological or ecological investigations on the impact of land and water development projects upon the fish and/or wildlife resources of an area;2) Develop fishery and/or wildlife management plans;3) Prepare biological or environmental assessment/impact statements fo resource planning reports. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least 2 years of graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in ichthyology, wildlife biology, ecology, or a directly related field appropriate to this position.. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience. To combine education and experience, first take semester hours of graduate education in excess of 18 or quarter hours in excess of 27. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week and transcripts. To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: 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) Develop habitat conservation or restoration projects;2) Serve as a technical advisor on the Endangered Species Act for other staff, government agencies, landowners, private interest groups, etc.;3) Interpret and implement Federal or State environmental laws, regulations, and polices involving natural resource issues. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least 3 years of graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in ichthyology, wildlife biology, ecology, or a directly related field appropriate to this position. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours of graduate education in excess of 36 or quarter hours in excess of 54. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. 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. 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 www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. 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.