Biologist.

About the role

We are seeking motivated applicants with strong biological and analytical skills, sound professional judgment, and a commitment to teamwork to support fisheries conservation and enhancement. Successful candidates will possess a firm grounding in fisheries science, excellent interpersonal communication abilities, and the initiative, integrity, and adaptability needed to contribute to a collaborative hatchery program.

Responsibilities

• Direct and accomplish daily hatchery operational activities to accommodate hatchery requests for a variety of coolwater species.
• Assist with spawning and propagation of coldwater and conservation species.
• Administer fish health surveys to control disease outbreaks and monitor the use of investigational new drugs.
• Maintain water quality parameters to maximize production efficiency.
• Perform operational activities such as administrative procedures and reports, general hatchery administration, and maintenance activities.
• Plan, schedule, and conduct projects throughout the hatchery facilities, grounds, and equipment.
• Conduct various hatchery studies and evaluations, and be familiar with propagational activities and fish cultural requirements of the wide variety of species reared at this station.
• Perform duties involving most phases of hatchery management, including planning extensive incubation schedules, developing pond production schedules, updating daily pond information on computer software, and creating annual fish culture reports for a sixty-four pond facility.
• Compute and record conversion rates and other dietary/growth information, observe and report results of treatments, prepare fish for shipment or distribution, and be state certified for the application of pesticides and chemicals (training provided if applicant does not have certification).
• Supervise and conduct hatchery effluent water quality monitoring to correlate with State Pollution Discharge Permit. Maintain water treatment system for the hatchery and residences.
• Respond to requests from the media, interested groups, and/or leadership regarding the hatchery. Prepare correspondence in response to public inquiries and/or respond to interested fishery or other conservational groups.
• Perform routine hatchery operations required for safe and efficient operation, including operation of hatchery water systems, pumps, valves, feeders, alarms, and other equipment.
• Other duties as assigned. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Physical Demands

The work involves a substantial amount of field work. When engaged in field activities, the work is at times strenuous, requiring exertion such as walking over wet, rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities. The work requires average agility and dexterity. Travel to remote study sites may be required via boats, small aircraft, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and/or on foot. Extended periods of camping in tents or cabins in remote field camps may occur. Incumbent must be able to cope with the pressure of short time deadlines, responsibilities of logistics to remote areas, cultural conflicts, and adverse weather conditions. The incumbent may be required to lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment

The work requires both office and outdoor work. The office is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. Frequent travel by various means of surface and air transportation is required to attend meetings and to conduct field work. A variety of temperature and weather extremes may be encountered while in the field. The incumbent may be subject to large numbers of biting insects and may be required to work in close proximity to large animals such as deer, elk, bear, and moose. The incumbent may need to carry a firearm for personal protection from wildlife. The incumbent may be exposed to work situations involving hazardous substances and must comply with Service health and safety policies, including appropriate safety clothing and equipment. The incumbent is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow workers, or property.

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.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, holidays, overtime, and shift work. Weekend work is required on a rotating schedule with other employees.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You may be required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles.
• As a condition of employment, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement (08/24/2026) unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Basic Educational Requirements

In addition to the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following:

• Degree: Successfully completed a full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to this position. You must submit transcripts.
• Combination of education and experience: Course work equivalent to a major (i.e., 24 semester hours) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a discipline closely related to biology; PLUS appropriate experience or additional course work. The quality of the combination must demonstrate that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of the position and is comparable to that normally acquired through the completion of a full four-year course of study with a major as described above.

GS-09 Grade Level Qualifications

To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must meet one of the following minimum qualifications:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: You must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes:
  • Manage assigned culture units (ponds, tanks, raceways) including feeding regimes, water quality monitoring, and routine adjustments.
  • Conduct broodstock handling, gamete processing, egg incubation, and fry rearing independently using established protocols.
  • Perform fish health observations, administer basic treatments, and document results accurately.
  • Maintain biological, water quality, fish health, and growth datasets with precision.
  • Prepare routine summaries or updates for project leads and apply findings to assigned culture units.
  • Collect, organize, analyze, and summarize biological, production, environmental, and water quality data.
  You must include hours per week worked in your resume to receive credit for experience.
• Education: Successful completion of at least two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in an accredited educational institution concentrated in a field directly related to the work of this position, such as biological sciences, agriculture, botany, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines. You must include transcripts to receive credit for education.
• Combination of education and experience: For example, applicants with 6 months of appropriate experience equivalent to the GS-7 (50% of the experience requirement), and 27 semester hours (50% of the education requirement to qualify for GS-9, in excess of that required for GS-7) would be qualifying for the GS-9 grade level (assuming one year of graduate education is defined by the college or university as 18 semester hours). You must include transcripts.

GS-11 Grade Level Qualifications

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must meet one of the following minimum qualifications:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: You must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes:
  • Troubleshoot hatchery systems when functionality needs to be restored.
  • Lead broodstock spawning, gamete handling, fertilization, incubation, fry start, rearing, and grow-out using advanced methods.
  • Manage genetic integrity through accurate family-lot recordkeeping, data verification, and error prevention.
  • Analyze trends across biological, water quality, fish health, and growth datasets.
  • Produce technical reports and adjust facility production plans or propagation schedules based on data-driven findings.
  • Lead stocking, pond management, loading, fish and egg shipments, and transport.
  • Coordinate fieldwork including harvest and shipment scheduling.
  • Communicate and review findings with stakeholders.