Biologist

Summary

This position is a Biologist, GS-5, full performance level GS-9, working in Kulm, North Dakota for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Kulm Wetland Management District. As the Biologist, you will perform a variety of conventional biological, wildlife and habitat projects and investigations.

Duties

• As a Biologist, your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Proposes, designs and conducts biological, wildlife and habitat projects on public and privately owned lands with an emphasis on restoration, enhancement and management of native and threatened and endangered species. Prepares management plans and other necessary documents to ensure preservation, protection and enhancement of fish and wildlife populations and habitat. Delivers technical presentations to other agencies, organizations, conservation districts, wildlife clubs, and community groups; works with print, radio, and television media to promote local Service initiatives. Plans and conducts investigations of moderate complexity to determine population trends, patterns in reproductive success, timing of natural history events, and other demographic parameters of a suite of indicator species. Establishes, and maintains cooperative, working relationships with partners, including government agencies, Tribal entities, conservation organizations, local community groups, individual farmers and ranchers, and stakeholders with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/13/2026-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 are required at the GS-7 and GS-9 level. Applicants who meet the Basic Education Requirement are fully qualified for the GS-05 level. Basic Educational Requirements: you must meet at least one of the following: A. Degree: Bachelor's degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry or related disciplines appropriate to the position. You must submit transcripts. -OR- B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. -AND- To qualify for this position at the GS-7 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in Federal service or non-Federal equivalent. Experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience performing biologist duties: assisting with biological or natural resource projects; collecting and recording biological or habitat data; and compiling or organizing data for use in reports or other project documents. You must include hours per week worked on your resume. -OR- Education: Successful completion of 1 full year of graduate level education. Education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. Areas of Study include, but are not limited to, biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. You must include transcripts. -OR- Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): Successfully completed a bachelor's degree in a directly related field AND meet one of the following: (1) Class Standing: rank in the upper 3rd of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, based on the completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (GPA): earn a GPA of (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on 4 years of education, or based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum -or- (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field, or the required courses completed during the final two years. Note: GPA will be rounded to one decimal place, for example, 2.95 = 3.0, 2.94 = 2.9; OR (3) Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society. -OR- Combination of education and experience. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience described above. You must upload transcripts and your resume must show the number of hours worked per week showing the total equals at least 100 percent. To qualify for this position at the GS-9 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in Federal service or non-Federal equivalent. Experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience performing biologist duties: conducting biological or natural resource project activities; collecting and analyzing biological or habitat data; and preparing biological information for reports, management plans, or recommendations. You must include hours per week worked on your resume. -OR- Education: Successful completion of a master's or equivalent graduate degree -OR- 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate degree leading to such a degree. Areas of study include, but are not limited to, biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. Education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work or the position. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience described above. You must upload transcripts and your resume must show the number of hours worked per week showing the total equals at least 100 percent. 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) for the basic education requirement and 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. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification

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/. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a one-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.

Grade: GS 5 to 9. . Telework eligible. Apply by 2026-11-13 on USAJOBS.