BIOLOGIST.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) at the U.S. Air Force Academy seeks a leader to plan, coordinate, and evaluate a comprehensive Natural Resources Program aligned with mission readiness and ecological stewardship.

The role includes developing INRMPs and integrating NR considerations into installation planning and cadet education. The position offers oversight of large-scale habitat projects, watershed restoration, and species recovery work (including Preble's jumping mouse) with contract

Qualifications

• Degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines. Transcript submission required.
• Combination of education and experience may be accepted where applicable.
• GS-12: one year of specialized experience at GS-11 level in the federal service; leading natural resource programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of the NR program.
• Develop, update INRMP and integrate NR into installation planning, operations, and training.
• Oversee habitat management, watershed restoration, and species recovery projects (e.g., Preble's jumping mouse).
• Manage natural resource contracts and provide technical direction to implement objectives.

Education

Degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines

Job description

Duties

• Lead the planning, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of the U.S. Air Force Academy's comprehensive Natural Resources Program, ensuring alignment with mission readiness, ecological stewardship, and applicable conservation priorities.
• Develop, implement, and update the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) and integrate natural resource considerations into installation planning, operations, cadet education, and training activities.
• Lead and oversee large-scale habitat management, watershed restoration, habitat conservation, and species recovery projects, including conservation and recovery efforts for Preble's jumping mouse.
• Manage and oversee natural resource contracts and projects, providing technical direction, evaluating work products, and ensuring effective implementation of program objectives.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and principal representative in regional and landscape-scale conservation initiatives, coordinating with U.S. Air Force Academy leadership and staff and collaborating with Federal, State, local, and other partners to advance shared natural resource objectives.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• 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
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.

This 1-year 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 1-year probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 09/29/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, 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.

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:

• Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. You must submit transcripts.
• Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level:

Specialized Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes: (1) leading or coordinating natural resource management programs or projects involving habitat conservation, habitat management, watershed restoration, species recovery, or ecological stewardship; (2) developing, implementing, evaluating, or updating species or habitat management plans (such as Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans (INRMP)) and integrating natural resource considerations into organizational operations or activities; (3) providing technical direction or oversight for complex natural resource conservation or restoration projects; and (4) coordinating with Federal, State, local, or other partners to address complex natural resource management issues. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified.

Volunteer Experience:

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.

Foreign Education:

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. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit:

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit:

Physical Demands:

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:

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. He/she may need to carry a firearm for personal protection from wildlife. In addition, 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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.