Fish Biologist

Summary

You will serve as a Fish Biologist for the Bureau of Reclamation.

Duties

• Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Prepares and/or oversees the preparation of highly technical and/or programmatic input into complex environmental evaluations, including environmental compliance documents, environmental chapters in planning reports, and related appendices as requested by the Bay Delta Office (BDO) and Regional divisions and area offices. Prepares budget projections and tracks group expenditures. Performs the duties of a contracting and grants officers' representative (COR/GOR) to obtain additional resources to support BDO and Regional efforts. Communicates and coordinates with BDO and Regional staff responsible for budget and accounting activities and presents budget or accounting issues identified to the BDO Manager with proposed resolutions. Maintains state-of-the-art knowledge on the technical aspects of fishery science, Bay-Delta and California Great Basin (CGB) Region operational issues, implementation of the Endangered Species Act, and other environmental statues that affect fishery/operational interactions in the Bay-Delta CGB Region. Oversees highly complex data gathering and interagency efforts in the areas of water quality and biological resources assessment, correlates efforts with a wide variety of other Federal, State, and local interests in an efficient and effective manner. Under supervision of the Branch Chief, conducts original applied scientific research in support of the BDO and Reclamation's CGB regional information needs. Conducts continuing liaison with other divisions and offices within the BDO and Region, local public and private organizations, and other Federal and State agencies involved in land and water resource development and biological resources management; represents BDO and Regional interests in obtaining the widest possible participation and assistance for the BDO and the Region's scientific resource work, and relates the BDO and Region's priorities and programs to programs being considered or conducted by other agencies, including BDO, Reclamation-wide, and Regional policies and objectives. Prepares and/or oversees the preparation and review of technical and policy-related comments on water quality, fisheries, and other aquatic biological aspects of technical and management reports dealing with a broad array of resources development and/or management prepared by numerous other Federal, State, and local agencies, particularly related to the Sacramento, American and San Joaquin rivers and the Bay-Delta. Consults with the BDO Manager and Science Division Chief in the formulation of policies, programs, standards, and procedures associated with fishery-related environmental compliance requirements, particularly the Endangered Species Act, relative to the Region's project operations that affect water quality, fisheries, and aquatic biology, and in establishing priorities and deadlines for the completion of work assignments. Assists the BDO Manager in administration of an effective safety program by promoting on-the-job-safety through discussions and distribution of literature. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Qualifications

Qualifications: All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/29/2026-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 Requirement AND Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying. Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following: A. 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- 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. 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-9 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: developing and conducting biological assessments and studies of migrating fish populations, aquatic organisms and water quality assessments with emphasis on anadromous fish; familiarity with computerized ecological models of fisheries data and fish population responses to water flow, water operations and water quality parameters. These examples are not all-inclusive. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. -OR- Combination of education and experience as listed above. To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: performing professional Fishery Biology work in support of complex and difficult restoration programs/projects involving conserving, enhancing and protecting fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitants; maintaining contact and collaborative working relationships with state, federal, local agencies, and Water Districts in implementing natural resources projects. These examples are not all-inclusive. 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.

Requirements

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/. A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment. Travel via auto or small boat is required. Must obtain and maintain certification as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and Grants Officer's Representative (GOR). 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.

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience at the GS-12 level. This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the 09/29/2026--unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13051854 Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status, visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.