Fish Biologist

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to United States Citizens; U.S. Nationals; and Career transition eligibles (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).

You will serve as a Fish Biologist in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, working in the Sea Lamprey Control Program at either the Ludington Biological Station in Ludington, Michigan, or the Marquette Biological Station in Marquette, Michigan.

In this role, you will support efforts to control sea lamprey populations and assess fishery conditions across the U.S. waters of the Great Lakes. You will help carry out scientific fieldwork, data analysis, and cooperative activities that contribute directly to protecting and restoring Great Lakes fisheries.

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

Developmental Duties (GS-7 Fish Biologist)

• Assist senior biologists with sea lamprey control and assessment work by following established protocols and supporting daily field operations across Great Lakes tributaries.
• Adjust field schedules, locate sampling sites, and coordinate day-to-day work of same or lower-graded staff and contractors at remote locations.
• Perform treatment and assessment tasks such as preparing chemicals, collecting water samples, conducting bioassays, measuring stream flow, sterilizing lampreys, and gathering biological and environmental data.
• Operate, maintain, repair, and occasionally fabricate components for specialized fishery equipment, watercraft, ATVs, nets, traps, and lampricide delivery systems.
• Install, monitor, and service instruments and equipment to support accurate treatment and assessment activities.
• Handle aquatic organisms safely, monitor fish health, and document field observations while assisting with basic report preparation.
• Maintain inventory, track equipment use, and help procure supplies while following administrative, safety, and hazardous-materials procedures.
• Coordinate access with landowners and partner agencies and participate in outreach or public-facing activities as needed.

Developmental Duties (GS-9 Fish Biologist)

• Assist in planning field operations by helping draft annual work plans, identifying needed tools, summarizing biological data, and preparing materials for supervisory review, gradually building skills in selecting sampling sites and organizing field schedules.
• Support data collection and analysis by gathering, recording, and proofing scientific data, preparing summaries for statistical analysis, and contributing to technical reports and presentations under the guidance of senior biologists.
• Develop cooperative working relationships by interacting with partner agencies, schools, service groups, and the public, while learning to represent the Program effectively and maintain professional networks.
• Coordinate specific program tasks by scheduling field activities, leading small work teams at times, adjusting plans for weather and access, and reinforcing safe practices while progressing toward independent field leadership.
• Maintain and operate specialized equipment by ensuring proper care, safe use, and basic repairs of fishery tools, watercraft, and sampling gear while adhering to procurement and safety policies, gaining proficiency over time.

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 www.dhs.gov/EVerify/.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Must meet medical standards required to safely perform strenuous field work, including passing a pre-employment medical examination and maintaining medical clearance through periodic exams.
• Must successfully complete a physical capability test, which includes lifting, carrying, and emptying containers of lampricide (approximately 50-60 lbs), immediately upon entering on duty and periodically thereafter.
• Must apply for and maintain a Government travel charge card; failure to obtain or maintain the card may result in removal from the position.
• Must properly wear required uniform components, in accordance with Service uniform policy.
• May be required to obtain and maintain pesticide applicator certification depending on duty location and program needs.
• You must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements: This position involves strenuous outdoor fieldwork in remote areas, requiring long hikes over uneven or steep terrain, working directly in streams, and performing frequent physical movements while carrying heavy equipment. Fieldwork occurs year-round in very hot, cold, wet, or otherwise adverse weather and includes exposure to swift water, chemicals, machinery, and other hazards that require protective gear. Duties may take place during daytime or nighttime hours, weekends, and holidays, and can involve public interaction in situations where pesticide use may raise questions or concerns.

*Additional Requirements located under qualifications*

Qualifications

Requirements Continued...
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-08/11/2026-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, you must meet the following basic education requirements and minimum qualifications.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
1.Degree: major in biological science that included:

• 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
• 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.)

-OR-
Combination of education and experience: 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 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
- AND-
To qualify for this position at the GS-7 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in Federal service (or comparable experience in the private or public sector) that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the duties of a Fish Biologist.
Specialized experience is experience that demonstrates the ability to carry out the tasks and responsibilities of the position and must be equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level.
Examples of qualifying specialized experience includes activities such as:

• Assist senior staff with sea lamprey control and assessment tasks following established protocols.
• Adjust field schedules, locate sampling sites, and support efficient field operations under variable conditions.
• Participate in lampricide treatments, bioassays, water sampling, stream flow measurements, and biological specimen collection.
• Operate, maintain, repair, and occasionally fabricate components for specialized fisheries equipment, watercraft, and field gear.
• Collect and record biological, physical, environmental, and geographic data and prepare basic field summaries.
• Maintain inventory, assist with equipment procurement, and follow safety and hazardous-materials procedures.
• Coordinate access and field activities with landowners and partner agencies.

-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one year of graduate-level education in biological science or related field of study or superior academic achievement. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts.

-OR-
To qualify for this position at the GS-9 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in Federal service (or comparable experience in the private or public sector) that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the duties of a Fish Biologist.
Specialized experience is experience that demonstrates the ability to carry out the tasks and responsibilities of the position and must be equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level.
Examples of qualifying specialized experience includes activities such as:

• Conduct sea lamprey control and assessment activities and collect biological and environmental data using established methods.
• Perform water chemistry measurements, bioassays, and sampling to support treatment planning and evaluation.
• Operate and maintain specialized fisheries equipment, electrofishing gear, lampricide systems, and watercraft.
• Contribute to annual work planning by identifying field needs, tools, and sampling locations.
• Prepare data summaries, draft reports, and technical graphics for program documentation.
• Coordinate with federal, state, tribal, provincial, and international partners to complete assigned tasks.
• Provide guidance to small field teams and ensure adherence to protocols, safety, and equipment accountability requirements.

-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degreein biological science or related field of study. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of any additional assessment(s) required for this position.

Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into the following categories:

• Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position

• Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job

• Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.

You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Attention to Detail
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Teamwork

In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of the USA Hire Assessment, if required.

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.

Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 08/11/2026:

1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates in month-year format (include month/day/year format if needed for 52 weeks of experience), and indicate hours worked per week (or full-time). Your resume must clearly show how long you have held each grade/rank. 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. 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 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements. If you have federal experience, you should include series, and grade for each position held, and if experience is part of a career ladder position, you must clearly distinguish the job duties and length of time working for each grade level. More information on how to write a Federal Resume: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include
2. Complete All Required Assessments.
3. All college transcript(s), if qualifying based on education. Please submit both undergraduate and graduate level transcripts, as applicable.
4. Veterans Preference Documentation, if applicable. Veterans must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (member 4 copy) or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Parent or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.va.gov/records/ or call 1-800-827-1000. If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active-duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
5. Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan (I/CTAP): If you are applying under I/CTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility including 1) copy of the agency notice, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc.; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be well qualified. For more information visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).

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.

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from all documents.

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

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