Fish Biologist.

About the Role

In this role, you support fish culture and conservation by helping manage daily hatchery operations, monitoring fish health, collecting and analyzing biological data, assisting with projects and studies, and engaging with partners and the public to support fishery restoration and outreach.

Responsibilities

GS-07 Fish Biologist

• Assist with daily hatchery operations including fish culture, disease control, broodstock care, egg incubation, feeding, cleaning, and tagging programs.
• Conduct visual and microscopic examinations of fish for diseases and parasites, and implement disease control plans under supervision.
• Collect and help analyze water quality and biological data to support healthy fish production and apply corrective measures as directed.
• Maintain electronic records and generate reports on hatchery operations, including feeding, water quality, disease incidents, inventory, and production.
• Support technical and administrative tasks such as annual reporting, facility management, safety, training, budgeting, partnerships, outreach, and public relations.

GS-09 Fish Biologist

• Lead daily hatchery operations by managing fish culture activities, disease control, broodstock care, egg incubation, feeding, cleaning, and tagging programs.
• Conduct visual and microscopic examinations of fish for diseases and parasites, recommend actions, and administer treatments as needed.
• Collect, monitor, and analyze water quality and biological data to ensure healthy fish production and implement corrective measures.
• Maintain electronic records and generate reports on hatchery operations, including feeding, water quality, disease incidents, inventory, and production.
• Assist with technical and administrative tasks such as annual reporting, facility management, safety, training, budgeting, partnerships, outreach, and public relations.

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.
• Position may require possession of a valid state driver’s license.
• Position may require wearing a uniform in accordance with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service policy.
• Position requires responding to emergency alarms for mechanical or water supply failures, which may interrupt sleep and require extended physical effort (removing ice/debris, clearing pond screens, repairing equipment).
• Work may be performed alone, and the employee is responsible for performing duties in a safe and orderly manner in accordance with Service policy.
• You may be required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with purchase authority.
• You must be at least 18 years old or at least 16 years old and meet one of the following:
  • Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or
  • Have completed a formal vocational training program; or
  • Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or
  • Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement (08/31/2026) unless otherwise stated.

Basic Educational Requirements

In addition to the specialized experience requirements, 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.)

  You must submit transcripts.

• 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.

GS-07 Grade Level

To qualify for this position at the GS-7 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following:

• Specialized Experience: at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
  • Assist with daily hatchery operations including fish culture, disease control, broodstock care, egg incubation, feeding, cleaning, and tagging programs.
  • Conduct visual and microscopic examinations of fish for diseases and parasites and implement disease control plans under supervision.
  • Collect and help analyze water quality and biological data to support healthy fish production and apply corrective measures as directed.
  • Maintain electronic records and generate reports on hatchery operations, including feeding, water quality, disease incidents, inventory, and production.
  • Support technical and administrative tasks such as annual reporting, facility management, safety, training, budgeting, partnerships, outreach, and public relations.

  You must include hours per week worked.

• Education: Successful completion of at least one year of graduate-level education in biological science or related field of study. You must include transcripts.
• Combination of education and experience: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience described above. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts.

GS-09 Grade Level

To qualify for this position at the GS-9 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following:

• Specialized Experience: at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
  • Lead daily hatchery operations by managing fish culture activities, disease control, broodstock care, egg incubation, feeding, cleaning, and tagging programs.
  • Conduct visual and microscopic examinations of fish for diseases and parasites, recommend actions, and administer treatments as needed.
  • Collect, monitor, and analyze water quality and biological data to ensure healthy fish production and implement corrective measures.
  • Maintain electronic records and generate reports on hatchery operations, including feeding, water quality, disease incidents, inventory, and production.
  • Assist with technical and administrative tasks such as annual reporting, facility management, safety, training, budgeting, partnerships, outreach, and public relations.
• Education: Successful completion of at least two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master’s degree or master’s or equivalent graduate degree in biological science or related field of study. You must include transcripts.
• Combination of education and experience: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience described above. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts.

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.

Education

This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. 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.