Biological Science Technician (Fish).

Responsibilities

• Participates in investigations of moderate complexity to determine fish population status, trends, age and growth, movement, survival, and behavior.
• Captures, applies visual and radio tags, and gathers biological, physiological, and spatial data on fish/wildlife.
• Assists in planning and carrying out multifaceted fish and/or wildlife studies, field investigations, and surveys.
• Monitors elements of the physical environment, such as temperature, precipitation, water flow, snow depth, wind speed, and humidity.
• Assists biologists in studying and preparing reports on effects to ecosystems from development proposals of local, state, and Federal government organizations.
• Develops and uses automated databases to enter, organize, and perform preliminary analysis of collected data, using standard statistical methods in preparation of fish, wildlife, and/or botany reports.
• Provides basic information on fish and wildlife resources and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to groups and individuals.

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

Requirements

• 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.
• Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license throughout employment.
• Must have a current or obtain within 12 months of employment a Swiftwater Rescue Technician 1 Certification.
• May be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and shift work.
• Required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards; a uniform allowance will be provided.
• Must be able to pass PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) open water swim test within 12 months of employment.
• Must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles.
• Must serve a 1-year probationary period during which fitness and whether continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement (08/19/2026).

Minimum Qualifications [GS-5]

• One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to grade GS-4 in the Federal service. Examples include:
  • Participating on a technical team to accomplish aquatic or fisheries-related objectives.
  • Collecting and recording biological, physical, or environmental data in an aquatic or fisheries-related field setting.
  • Operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of sampling devices related to aquatic or fisheries-related work.
  • Using computer software (e.g., ArcGIS, Field Maps, R programming, Survey123) to manage and analyze data.
• OR four years of education above high school (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, mathematics). Transcripts must be submitted.
• OR a combination of education and experience. To qualify, the total must equal at least 100 percent when combining:
  • Education beyond 60 semester hours (divide excess hours by 60).
  • Months of full-time experience (divide by 12).

  At least 24 semester hours must be in biological sciences. Transcripts must be submitted.

Minimum Qualifications [GS-6]

• One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to grade GS-5 in the Federal service. Examples include:
  • Participating in investigations to determine fish population status, trends, age and growth, movement, survival, and behavior.
  • Carrying out fish and/or wildlife studies by following research methods and established procedures.
  • Assisting in planning the logistics of habitat studies, such as establishing schedules and procedures.
  • Utilizing specialized techniques to collect biological and physical environment data and reporting findings.
  • Summarizing data using database software or other presentation methods.
• OR one-half year of graduate education (9 semester/13.5 quarter hours) in fishery biology, ichthyology, limnology, aquaculture, or related fields. Transcripts must be submitted.
• OR a combination of specialized experience and education that meets 100 percent of the qualification requirements. Only education beyond the second year is creditable. Transcripts and proof of experience must be submitted.

Volunteer experience, including work through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) or other organizations, may be credited.

Education

• Transcripts must be submitted to support education claims. They must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), GPA or class ranking, and date of degree conferral (if applicable). Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application, but official transcripts are required if selected.
• Foreign education must be evaluated by a private organization specializing in interpretation of foreign credentials and deemed equivalent to U.S. education. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.