Who May Apply: US Citizens
In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is
in this document.
Documenting experience: In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience. Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week, if part time. If you are a current/prior Federal employee, please include your grade level in your resume. If you have held multiple grades, please make sure to separate the dates and duties for each grade. Qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their Federal resume. For a brief video on creating a Federal resume, click
here.
This is a developmental position. The duties of this position lead to the full performance level of GS-12. Incumbent may be appointed to the GS-11 or GS-12 (depending on qualifications). Promotions are not automatic. If selected at one of the lower grades incumbent may be non-competitively promoted to the next higher grade upon (1) meeting all regulatory requirements; (2) certification by the supervisor of successful performance; (3) completion of all training requirements; and (4) the availability of work at the next higher grade level.
Position may be filled under one of the following position titles:
- Biologist (0401)
- Ecologist (0408)
- Fish Biologist (0482)
Basic Education Requirement for Biologist (0401): A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
B. Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Basic Education Requirement for Ecologist (0408):
Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in biology, or a related field of science underlying ecological research that included at least 30 semester hours in basic and applied biological sciences. These hours must have included at least 9 semester hours in ecology, and 12 semester hours in physical and mathematical sciences.
Basic Education Requirement for Fish Biologist (0482):
A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) 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, or excess course work (beyond the required 6 semester hours) in aquatic subjects.
OR
B. 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 in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:
Minimum Qualifications for the GS-11:
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes:
1) preparing environmental studies, investigations, or compliance documents in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act (CWA), or Endangered Species Act (ESA);
2) coordinating with Federal agencies or the public to ensure compliance;
AND
3) reviewing project plans dealing with environmental matters.
This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09).
OR
Education: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as the fields describe above, or a related discipline appropriate to the position.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.
Minimum Qualifications for the GS-12:
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes:
1) applying environmental regulations that include Clean Water Act (CWA), Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Air Act (CAA), and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA);
2) analyzing environmental impact statements to identify compliance;
AND
3) preparing environmental compliance documentation to implement environmental requirements.
This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).
???????At the GS-12, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.