Clarification from the agency

FWS- wide: Open to current U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees serving under a Career or Career-Conditional appointment, CTAP.

The position provides scientific and technical leadership for fish hatchery programs that support the conservation, recovery, and management of native fish populations throughout the Central Valley and Bay-Delta ecosystem. The incumbent applies fisheries science principles to hatchery operations, including broodstock management, fish health and genetics considerations, production planning, monitoring and evaluation, and adaptive management. Responsibilities include coordinating with federal, state, tribal, and regional partners; analyzing biological data to assess hatchery performance and fish population outcomes; developing and implementing science-based management strategies; and providing technical guidance on fish culture practices and conservation hatchery programs. The position plays a key role in integrating hatchery operations with broader species recovery, fisheries management, and ecosystem restoration objectives.

As a FISH AND WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

• Plans, coordinates, and evaluates fish hatchery programs and activities that support the conservation, recovery, and management of native fish populations and aquatic resources.
• Conducts and reviews biological studies, monitoring programs, and hatchery evaluations to assess fish production, health, genetics, survival, and population performance and to inform management decisions.
• Collaborates with Tribal governments, state and Federal agencies, and other partners to advance fisheries conservation objectives, hatchery program priorities, and species recovery goals.
• Develops and implements science-based management strategies, operational guidance, and adaptive management recommendations to improve hatchery performance and conservation outcomes.
• Monitors hatchery programs and activities for compliance with applicable policies, standards, guidelines, agreements, and management plans, and provides recommendations to support effective program implementation.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
• Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation.
• Driver’s License: This position requires the incumbent to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of their official duties. Selectee must hold and maintain a valid state driver’s license throughout their employment in this position.
• Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform is required.
• Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration, visit SSS.gov.
• Unusual tour of duty may be required: The employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Occasional overnight travel may be required.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 06/09/2026 will be considered.

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

Basic Requirement:

1. Possess a Bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited college or university in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR
2. Possess a combination of education and experience which includes courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Minimum Qualification [GS-12]

1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience may include 1.) Evaluating the impact of pollutants/chemicals on fish and wildlife resources and their habitat; 2.) Evaluating and interpreting biological reports, scientific research papers, or environmental assessment/impact statements; 3.) Experience designing, implementing, or managing environmental studies to assess impacts to natural resources following release of oil/chemicals in the environment; 4.) Demonstrated experience with federal environmental laws (or their state counterpart) (e.g. Oil Pollution Act (OPA); Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA); Endangered Species Act (ESA); National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); or Clean Water Act (CWA)); and 5.) Coordinating with a variety of stakeholders such as Federal and State agencies regarding fish and wildlife, habitat assessment, or restoration.

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.

Time In Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically,
i. Area of Consideration.
ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502.
iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications which resulted in you being listed in the highest quality category, you may lose consideration, or be assigned to a lower quality category for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

• Knowledge of the roles of state and other Federal agencies, including policies and applicable statutes related to protection, consultation, and recovery efforts.
• Knowledge of the biology of rare, candidate, proposed, and listed species occurring within the area of responsibility, including habitats, distribution, life history, food habits, habitat use, behavior, taxonomy, and population ecology.
• Knowledge of the latest theories, principles, and methodologies of fish and wildlife biology and ecology, their application.
• Knowledge of the Service's organization functions, and policy and management philosophy particularly as related to resource priorities, goals, objectives, and relationships between Service programs.

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, you will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), and your responses to the USA Hire assessment, which is required for this position. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Attention to Detail
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration .In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

You must submit a complete application package. We will not make assumptions about your experience and/or education.

Required Documents:

1. Resume: You may only submit one resume. Only the resume submitted under the "Resume" "Document Type" will be used to determine your qualifications and for rating purposes. Your resume must describe your job-related qualifications (paid and non-paid work experience) that includes job title, beginning and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and description of job duties. You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included. If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form, you must ensure this information is provided. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. Note: Current and former Federal employees should include pay plan, series, and grade level for relevant federal experience. If experience is for a career ladder position, please ensure to clearly distinguish the job duties for each grade level and how long you were working in each grade level.

• Do not include the following types of information in your resume:
  • Classified or government sensitive information
  • Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Photos of yourself
  • Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
  • Encrypted and digitally signed documents.

2. College Transcripts: Please refer to the education section above for additional information. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. A copy of your official transcripts may be required if you are selected.

3. SF-50: (non-award), or equivalent Notification of Personnel Action if you are a current or former Federal employee. Your SF-50 (non-award) must show tenure code 1 or 2 in block 24, and position occupied code 1 (competitive service) in block 34. If you have previously held a higher grade than the grade/position you currently occupy, you must submit a copy of the last non-award SF-50 you received for that position.

If you have any questions regarding which SF-50's to submit, it is highly recommended that you contact the person listed on this vacancy announcement before the closing date.

4. Performance Appraisal: Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.

Additional Documentation if applicable:

1. Cover Letter

2. CTAP Documentation: If you are applying under CTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility under 5 CFR 330.602(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP eligible.

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

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