Job Description

Summary

These position are Fish and Wildlife Biologists, GS- [click to reveal phone number]0401-11/12 working in Davis, West Virginia for the R5-West Virginia Ecological Services Field Office.

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Duties

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As a Fish and Wildlife Biologist your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

• Independently conducts consultations pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, focused on activities related to facilitate expeditious completion of oil and gas industry project reviews.
• Plans, investigates, conducts, and reviews on-site ecological investigations on a wide variety of complex and diverse Federal land and water resource development proposals to determine their effects on fish and wildlife resources.
• Participates in diverse, complex, and multi-disciplinary planning efforts with public and private groups and state, local, and Federal agencies to achieve Service policies, objectives, and goals.
• Negotiates mitigation of complex project impacts with project proponents and regulatory agencies and develops reasonable and prudent alternatives and conservation recommendations or measures.
• Monitors projects for compliance with policies, standards, guidelines, agreements, and plans; makes recommendations for action to assure compliance.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• 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.
• 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.
• Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 04/10/2026 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-11]

1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-09 in the Federal service. Experience includes: 1) conducting investigations of moderate complexity to determine the impact of various land and water development projects upon the fish and/or wildlife resources of an area; 2) assisting in developing comprehensive fish and/or wildlife management plans; 3) assisting in preparing and reviewing biological implications of environmental assessment/impact statements or comprehensive resource planning reports to evaluate environmental consequences of proposed actions; and 4) implementing federal environmental laws (i.e., Endangered Species Act, specifically Sections 7 and 10; Clean Water Act; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act; National Environmental Policy Act), regulations, and policies involving natural resource issues. NOTE: Your resume MUST contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified ; OR
2. Completed 3 years of graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree in wildlife biology, ecology, or a directly related field appropriate to this position; OR
3. A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement. Please note that only graduate education in excess of the first two years may be used in this calculation

Minimum Qualification [GS-12]

One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-11 in the Federal service. Experience includes: 1) independently conducting biological or ecological investigations into complex consequences of proposed land or water projects, on endangered species and their habitats; 2) negotiating alternative actions or mitigation measures; 3) developing habitat conservation or restoration projects; 4) serving as a technical advisor on the Endangered Species Act for other staff, government agencies, land owners, private interest groups, etc.; and 5) preparing biological portions of environment assessment/impact statements or comprehensive resource planning reports. 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.

Education

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION : If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Additional information

PCS INFORMATION: No PCS entitlements authorized

Telework: This position is suitable for telework and may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.

Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements) for the position with a score of 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position., and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application.

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Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.

Probation/Trial Period Continued:

The 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 -OR- trial period] your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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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.

Benefits

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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.

Job Tags

Full time, Part time, Work at office, Local area, Remote work, Trial period

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